- 1 hour ago
- #realityrealmus
#RealityRealmUS
Reality Realm US
🎞 Please subscribe to our official channel to watch the full movie for free, as soon as possible. ❤️Reality Insight Hub❤️
👉 Official Channel: />👉 THANK YOU ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00Now there, Picklet.
00:02Steam trains are my world, and I help run one of Britain's most popular heritage lines,
00:10the North Yorkshire Moes Railway.
00:15Stretching 24 glorious miles from the traditional market town of Pickering,
00:22heading over the North York Moes,
00:26and onto the coastal town of Whitby.
00:29North Yorkshire, what's not to like?
00:32It's breathtaking.
00:35I'm proud to be part of a thousand-strong team working hard to keep this 200-year-old tradition alive.
00:42That's what's brought me back all these years, it's just one big family.
00:46Together, we're facing the challenges of taking steam into its third century.
00:52It takes passion.
00:54Everything that we do, I'm really proud of.
00:56Skill.
00:57When you're ready, Tom.
00:59Two more.
01:00And as a charity, some serious funds to keep the wheels turning on this heritage line.
01:08Five pounds.
01:10Six pounds.
01:12But when you look out over this.
01:14It's beautiful.
01:15It's absolutely stunning.
01:17And get to make people this happy.
01:19There's not a better sight than that pulling out the station.
01:25There's nothing else I'd rather do.
01:27That's my kind of day in the office.
01:29Today, a huge moorland blaze threatens to derail our summer season.
01:35The fire services are under massive stress.
01:38Young volunteers get involved in the engine shed.
01:41Amazing.
01:42Absolutely amazing.
01:44And a chance to pay tribute to the people who have got us where we are today.
01:48She loved and tended these gardens, which are her everlasting memorial.
02:03It's the height of the summer season.
02:05Our busiest time of the year.
02:07And crucial for boosting ticket sales.
02:13And this year, a key part of our finances are relying on Tornado.
02:18The celebrity new build engine I've loaned in to pull in the passengers and raise much needed funds.
02:24But just when my plan seems to be working, disaster strikes.
02:32The latest from the York Mix newsroom now.
02:34The Langdale Moor wildfire is now consuming an area of nearly 10 square miles.
02:41A change in the weather means the fire doubled in size at the weekend.
02:47Locals have been told to pack a bag of essentials.
02:49As planned are being drawn up to evacuate residential areas if the blaze spreads.
02:55Barely 10 miles from our railway, a vast wildfire has spread across the North York Moors National Park.
03:02It's been declared a major incident and the fire crews are struggling to contain it.
03:07For us at the railway, a catastrophic event of this scale leaves us no choice.
03:13We can't risk a lineside fire caused by a spark from the engines.
03:17The fire crews are already under too much pressure.
03:21We have no choice but to pull our steam services.
03:24It's only 10 miles away and this is like, this is a big fire.
03:28We have to consider everybody in this and I think we've got a responsibility to do the right thing here.
03:33Yeah, well the fire services are under massive stress.
03:37For me, I think we have a duty of care.
03:39There's a lot at stake up there, isn't there?
03:40Well, I mean, just for us, like, we just got Tornado and we'd probably lose 25% of our passengers but it is what it is, isn't it?
03:47It is.
03:48That isn't important right now.
03:50I think the right thing to do is to run a diesel service, basically.
03:54Yeah, yeah.
03:55Taking steam out of service is a huge decision for us and that includes Tornado.
04:05We do have a fleet of heritage diesel engines so we can keep the timetable running.
04:11But losing 25% of our passengers is a big financial hit.
04:17With a disaster of this scale though, safety has to be our number one priority.
04:26Over the next days, the fire became one of the biggest the area has ever seen.
04:32Declared a major incident, it spread more than 10 square miles across Langdale More.
04:37Farmers, landowners and gamekeepers did everything they could to get it under control.
04:43And fire crews from right across the country were called in to help.
04:47Among the first on the scene was our local Pickering fire crew.
04:53We'll get briefing.
04:58Morning, Chris.
04:59Morning, Pete.
05:00Pickering appliance reporting for duty.
05:02Morning.
05:03Morning, Donny.
05:04Morning, mate.
05:05Alongside other teams, they've been working round the clock to tackle the blaze.
05:10And now, four weeks after the fire first flared up, the fight to put it out safely is still ongoing.
05:17We've split the moor into seven different sectors because it's such a large area to cover.
05:22Major issues that we need to be aware of today is the unexploded ordnance that's on there after the World War II.
05:28We've got to tank shells, grenades, munitions, all the rest of it.
05:32So I don't want anybody working actually where there is burnt peat and moorland.
05:37Because there is a big danger of getting injured if one of them goes off near you.
05:42The fire's proximity to Aria Filingdale's, a key radar base, is making operations more complex and more dangerous.
05:49The area was used as a military training base during World War II, and the fire has already triggered unexploded bombs.
05:57So crews have been forced to take a more defensive approach in some areas, rather than fighting the flames head on.
06:04If we can get the rest of our kit on that we need, we'll jump on the wagon and we'll head down to the forestry sector.
06:09The Pickering crew are on-call firefighters, which means they have other full-time jobs, and when the fire service calls, they respond.
06:20We've had to call on national resilience, so we've had fire engines from loads of different counties just to come and help us.
06:28Because predominantly we're an on-call fire service here.
06:32We have 31 on-call fire stations, two volunteer stations, and then eight all-time stations.
06:38So we very much rely on the on-call system, and that's really difficult.
06:48Although the visible flames have died back, the peat is still burning beneath the surface.
06:54Is it deep there, Mickey? Is it deep?
06:58Yeah.
06:59I mean, this is where we came here two days ago and put water on this, so it's still really burning pink underground, isn't it?
07:10I think they want us to get under here and make sure this isn't going to go again, so we'll spend some time here and make a really good job of making sure it's right out.
07:19Oh, it can't get going again.
07:21All right, Matt.
07:22They're using a wildfire suppression technique called hotspotting, tackling the most active parts of the blaze first to stop it spreading.
07:31The fire's burning underneath in all that thick vegetation that's built up over time from the trees.
07:37Yeah, come through the middle.
07:39So the fire's burning so deep and so hot, the only way to really properly extinguish it and show it's not going to spread any further is to dig it out.
07:47So dig in, expose the fire, extinguish it with the water.
07:50So just on this edge, Mickey, I've just come across a little bit of burning, some embers in the bottom.
07:55I've jagged it out.
07:57If you could just douse it and make sure it's all right out from that edge and then maybe the bit over there.
08:04I don't think I've ever seen anything like this in North Yorkshire in any sort of operational incident.
08:09And I think this is probably the biggest one in England that we've had to date.
08:13Let's get under there, mate. I dragged the wood out. It's still burning underneath.
08:16You live in an area and you see it on a daily basis and to see how it is now, it's upsetting for a lot of people.
08:28Obviously, it's not just what we can see, but it's the impact it has on the ecosystems as well and, you know, the wildlife as well.
08:35It's quite upsetting.
08:42The on-call teams have the same responsibilities as the full-time stations and it's very physically demanding work.
08:49And on top of their full-time jobs, it's been a tough few weeks for everyone involved.
08:53On one of the days when I was driving over what we call Blue Bank and you just saw the sheer scale of the incident and I just thought, how are we going to put this house because it is so big.
09:06My daughters knew how big the fire had got and they were kissing me and sort of saying they love me and things like that.
09:12And you're going to work and thinking, I don't know what's going to happen today.
09:17But thankfully, after facing one of the biggest fires the Moors has ever seen, the fire teams are finally starting to get a handle on it.
09:24We are quite satisfied at the moment that we're on top of any major developments.
09:29We're starting to come into autumn now, so we're hoping the weather conditions will run in our favour.
09:36We start to get some rain again.
09:38Church, Nick, see you later, Matt.
09:41Hats off to all the heroes who battle this fire.
09:44It'll take a long time for the landscape to recover, but no homes were lost and no lives were harmed.
09:51And we have to be thankful for that.
09:52And so, as summer rolls into autumn, we get the all clear and steam is back on the tracks.
10:07To celebrate, I'm putting on a special 32 mile round trip for the Tornado fans.
10:13Starting and finishing at the southern end of our line, Pickering.
10:16And yes, word has got out, and the fans have turned up.
10:22I've been coming on the Norte, watching Moors Row, you know, for all my life, basically.
10:27Brilliant, brilliant to be here today.
10:29It's a, you know, unique engine that's pulling this today, and it's a lovely day for it.
10:33So, yeah, very excited.
10:35As long as it makes him happy, I'm quite happy to come along.
10:39I love steam trains, and I've been to lots and lots of heritage railways around the country.
10:44When I heard Tornado was coming, I decided to make a special effort and drag my family along today.
10:51Oh, take my hat off.
10:53Thank you, Eric.
10:55But while the passengers are setting off from Pickering, I'll be waiting further up the track.
11:00The train is standing on back on the wall is the 10.30 departure to Gromont behind Tornado.
11:07I've already travelled the section of our heritage line that runs between Gromont, Gauthland and Levisham.
11:12So today, I'm picking up where I left off, boarding at Levisham, to finally fire up Tornado for the last eight miles of the round trip.
11:20Levisham is one of my favourite stations on the line.
11:30It's just so peaceful, sitting where it's been for almost 200 years at the bottom of a huge valley, surrounded by the spectacular moorland above.
11:39All right. Living the dream, yeah.
11:43So now I just have to wait until I hear that very distinct whistle in the distance that will tell me Tornado is on its way.
11:49This is really exciting, you know, it's been really challenging.
11:53I was nervous that we weren't even going to get this engine out into service.
11:57So the fact it's here, we're up and running, you know, happy days, just hope plenty of people come out and see it.
12:03And for me personally, I mean, this is a top-link job. I'm about to get to fire Tornado, you know, when I love every minute of it.
12:09Living the dream, as they say. And there we are.
12:14Great big engine and a tiny little tooty whistle.
12:16I'm firing one of the rock stars of the steam engine world along a seven-mile stretch of our heritage railway.
12:34All right.
12:36Let's have a look at this fire a minute before we depart.
12:39On the footplate with me today is volunteer driver Gary.
12:44Right away, driver.
12:46And Andy, a member of the team that looks after Tornado.
12:52All good this side.
12:53All right, mate.
12:54Right, so it's actually between here and Pickering, this next section of line, Levisham to Pickering, slightly downhill all the way.
13:01So from my point of view, it's not too difficult, not a lot of shoveling, but I do need to make sure we've got water.
13:08And I do need to make sure that we still have some firing up for the lighter work that we're doing.
13:13So we've got a two-mile straight. This is actually the straightest part of the railway down here.
13:19You know, you can get a moment just to sit back, look at the scenery and enjoy it.
13:25And what is an amazing engine.
13:27As we depart Levisham, we'll set out along the two-mile long section called Levisham Strait.
13:34We'll pass through forested gorges in a valley carved out in the last ice age.
13:39As we approach the boundary of the North York Moes National Park, I'll be keeping an eye out for the ramblers using the footpath crossings.
13:49And as this part of the line is a single track, I'll hand over the all-important token.
13:55And then we finally arrive in Pickering, the end of the line.
14:01Yeah, I mean, this is, you don't get better than this. This is as good as a steam engine gets.
14:07We're here to ride behind Tornado. I've seen it many times, photographed it many times, but never ridden behind it.
14:14It remembers the North York Moes the other way, so we come here quite often and have travelled behind various locomotives.
14:23Yeah, cruising along, 25 miles an hour. This engine's actually done 100 miles an hour, so we're barely working it really.
14:31We've got seven coaches on behind us, but for all intents and purposes, this is just cruising along.
14:37But a really, really capable machine, this. An honour to be on it.
14:44As we steam along Levisham Strait, it's hard not to be impressed by the scenery and the landscape of the National Park.
14:54We're surrounded on both sides by dense woodland and dramatic valleys.
14:59Plenty of steam, plenty of water.
15:03Just because it's new and newly designed, the fundamentals are still the same.
15:08They're the same as they have been for the last 200 years.
15:10Boilers require a lot of maintenance, and we have to do that and carry that out.
15:15So, yeah, it's a mixture of old and new. New and old technologies on this engine.
15:20But, right, it's lovely. Super smooth. It's like a coach. It is good, isn't it?
15:25It's a testament to just how special this engine is, that the volunteer crew who look after it day in, day out, are among its biggest fans.
15:34I'm Jacob. I am the support crew for the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust. I look after the tornado.
15:40Just really just love it. We travel everywhere with it. Keep maintaining it so people can enjoy it.
15:45And it's just, yeah, really good fun. Just seeing everyone's faces when it sort of rolls into stations and around the country makes it really worth it.
15:50So you've got a relatively new steam engine completed in 2008, and it just goes to show that things like this can still be made, still be done.
16:03You know, it's an amazing thing, really, to think we're building an engine that was, you know, built years ago, and they've recreated that a bit of missing history.
16:10And that's really good and exciting, and particularly for the new generation coming and working on these engines.
16:18We need the new volunteers and the people that are going to look after these to keep the railways running, you know.
16:23These machines don't operate on their own.
16:26Every weekend at the engine sheds in Gromont, we have a roster of young volunteers who come along to learn how we look after the steam engines.
16:35I've had to put my jacket on for the first time this morning.
16:40Did you?
16:42Aye.
16:44Freezing.
16:45Will and Jack are part of a new generation.
16:47At just 16 and 17, they're learning the same skills that once kept British Railways running.
16:53Skills that this line still depends on today.
16:57If you've got nice-looking rods, it sort of makes the whole thing look a lot better.
17:00People are always willing to teach you stuff and sort of pass on that information, and you can always remember who taught you something.
17:07Your grandparents were on the footplate in their steam days.
17:10You can be like them. You can look up to them and do what they do.
17:16Like many of us here, Will and Jack first caught the steam bug from their families.
17:20I've been off the railway since I was a baby, six months old.
17:25And my family, they brought me to the railway with my uncle and my granddad.
17:30And it was amazing. It was one of the best things I've seen.
17:34And I was like, I want to do it. I really want to do it.
17:39So as soon as I was 16, signed up, and here I am now, working on them.
17:47My granddad was interested in it. He'd take me to come and see them.
17:51And then when I was about six, we got chatting to a volunteer who then said,
17:56Well, you don't have to wait until you're 16. You can start when you're 10 as a junior.
18:00Here at the railway, we've been running our young volunteers scheme for nearly two decades,
18:08with around 300 youngsters taking part since then.
18:12Dozens like Will and Jack have been inspired to pursue a career in the rail industry.
18:17I'm doing rail engineering at Newcastle College.
18:20I want to work with Network Rail, so still volunteer here.
18:23Like, still get to drive the steam engines and everything.
18:26And work on the main line.
18:28Sorted. Done.
18:33We'll be all shiny for the public to see.
18:37For Will, it's not just about the work or qualifications.
18:40It's about carrying on a family tradition.
18:43His uncle Adrian, one of the railway's most experienced fitters,
18:47is here to pass on his knowledge.
18:49All right, OK then, yeah. So what we've got to do now?
18:52We've got to go underneath and do the ash pan.
18:53We've got to do the front and the back.
18:55All right, so we'll go and do that then.
18:59The ash pan sits beneath the firebox and collects the waste ash as the locomotive runs.
19:05Watch your head, because everything's low. We've got a torch.
19:07It needs regular cleaning and fitting with screens to prevent ash falling out.
19:13Can you up the front damper, please?
19:15And keep the engine running efficiently.
19:17I remember when he was five years old, he used to come with my dad, his granddad, most weekends.
19:21And it's definitely in his blood. He loves it.
19:24And he's coming on, he's just got a lot to learn.
19:26And hopefully he'll keep going at it and carry it on.
19:29All right, water on, please.
19:31Yeah, I see it's coming to water, do you know?
19:33Yeah.
19:34That's it, that's what you want.
19:35There you go, that's it.
19:37There you go.
19:39That's it, so you need the rake now.
19:40Right, you're going to get your rake and start raking it in that corner.
19:44All right, let's get that big lump and we'll get it washed again.
19:47Marvellous.
19:49Right, so water on, please. Half.
19:51Bit more, please.
19:53If you're feeling near, I'll get wet.
19:55Yeah, yeah, you will get wet.
19:59I'll try it on a winter's day, it's freezing.
20:04All right, I'm after about to throw water off, please.
20:07That's, that's the loss.
20:08There you go, done with the water. Marvellous.
20:11Shall we check this side?
20:13Yep, that's fine.
20:14Right, you can shut the back damper now, please. The pan's done.
20:18There you go.
20:20Job's good, let's get out.
20:21Adrian started volunteering in 1991 with his dad.
20:25And after they both received their 20-year volunteer award,
20:29Adrian was offered a full-time job as a fitter.
20:32How many people can say that, you know, there's been three generations,
20:34four generations working on steam engines?
20:38Yeah, he did a good job, just need to keep practising.
20:41The more time you do it, the easier it is.
20:42Really, so...
20:44Yeah.
20:45It does look hard, but it is quite easy.
20:47It is, it's getting yourself into a decent position,
20:49not to cover yourself in, in ash and water.
20:51I mean, you will get wet, but, erm, jobs are good.
20:54Yeah.
20:55All right.
20:57Right, I think a tea break is well-earned.
21:01No worries.
21:02A quick stop down memory lane with some of Will's favourite photographs of his granddad.
21:07So, when was this?
21:08It was, like, years ago.
21:09It must have been about 2,090, something like that, I think.
21:12That's one of my favourites.
21:14You haven't changed, have you, apart from the beard?
21:16Yeah.
21:17No, you haven't.
21:18I think we've still got that.
21:19Somewhere, probably.
21:20Yeah, yeah.
21:21Yeah.
21:22Hi.
21:23Yeah, good.
21:24Good memory, sir.
21:25Yeah, this one in here, one of my favourite ones have gone up there.
21:28Oh, yeah, 6619, yeah.
21:29Yeah.
21:30I think it was its last one.
21:31Yeah, it would have been.
21:32That would have been, what, 2013, wouldn't it?
21:35Steam isn't Will's only passion.
21:37He loves snapping the railway in action, too.
21:40And, like most of us, he's got a particular soft spot for our celebrity engine, Tornado.
21:46So, where do you want to go, then, Will?
21:47Just to the corner here.
21:50The corner?
21:51Yeah.
21:52On that curve?
21:53Yeah, so I can just get Tornado.
21:55One of the perks of all the safety training you get as a volunteer is that you are allowed to go trackside.
22:00And for Will, that means getting VIP access to snap some truly memorable souvenirs.
22:08Amazing.
22:10Absolutely amazing.
22:14Yep, there you go.
22:17All right.
22:18Confess like that.
22:19And having spent the morning working on engine 548 Eric Tracy,
22:24Will is keen to get a shot of its steaming past Tornado to add to the memories.
22:30It should be long.
22:31A couple of minutes, I think, isn't it?
22:32Yeah.
22:34Yeah, four minutes.
22:35Four minutes?
22:36Yeah.
22:37Four minutes.
22:38Have you got Tornado on your screensaver as well?
22:39Yes, I do.
22:41I haven't really seen the headboard on it.
22:43He's that keen.
22:44He's that keen.
22:45Yeah, I'm that keen.
22:46You get a good shot?
22:47What have you got?
22:48Yeah, it's good.
22:49That's lovely, that.
22:50Yeah.
22:51Very nice.
22:52Nice position, that.
22:53I like that, yeah.
22:54Looks good.
22:55It's not just a day's work.
22:56Every task is part of a tradition that's carried on through the years.
23:02I remember working with a load of older guys, and they all said, oh, well, in the future,
23:09you'll need to pass on the information so it needs to stick in.
23:12Now I'm doing that.
23:13It's weird.
23:14You know what I mean?
23:15So I'm thinking, God, I'm the older guy now.
23:16Right, excellent.
23:17Yeah, it was a good shift, that.
23:18Yeah.
23:19So, time to go, I think.
23:20And that's what keeps the railway alive.
23:21One generation teaching the next, just as it has for decades.
23:25I'm firing tornado across the North York Moores National Park.
23:26We're travelling from the remote village of Levesham to the Eastside Pricot.
23:30Nice finish.
23:31You're not going to be audible, but it needs to stick in.
23:33And no one's doing that.
23:34It's weird.
23:35You know what I mean?
23:36So I'm thinking, God, I'm the older guy now.
23:37Right, excellent, yeah, it was a good shift, that.
23:38Yeah.
23:39Time to go, I think.
23:40And that's what keeps the railway alive.
23:41One generation teaching the next, just as it has for decades.
23:54Levesham to the end of the line at Pickering. After having to press pause on our beloved
24:00steam engines right in the heart of our busiest season getting Tornado out on the tracks again
24:05feels like a huge win and I'm loving every minute of it. So another thing with Tornado you'll hear
24:11it does sound slightly different to the other engines in that it's three cylinders so it's got
24:16a different kind of beat to it. This is a thoroughbred racehorse that's designed to
24:21go express passenger trains up and down the east coast main line. Of course we can't really put
24:26Tornado through its paces on this line it has travelled at a record-breaking 100 miles an hour
24:32but we have to stick to the 25 mile an hour speed limit. But at least that means you can appreciate
24:38the countryside more as you steam through at a more leisurely pace. Nice area this round there you
24:44got to keep an eye out you can see the others sunbathing on the side of the line quite often
24:49out warming up particularly on a day like today. Yeah overall living the dream.
25:00We're just so lucky that this is our place of work and we get to share it with
25:04so many people who love the railway as much as we do.
25:10North Yorkshire Moors is different to some heritage railways in the fact that it's not just a straight
25:15line you go through the moors and you can see all the scenery and you get a real experience of what
25:21it was actually like with like the restored stations like Pickering. It's very impressive.
25:26I'm seven and my favourite things about trains are the salt steam and like the engineering bits.
25:37I was able to travel on steam trains a long time ago.
25:48The heritage aspect is so important. I admire so much the volunteers who keep these railways going.
25:56So obviously as well as the engines requiring a huge amount of maintenance everything on the railway
26:07requires maintenance and when you've got a long railway like this that means there's a lot of assets to
26:13look after. We'll double check the fire. And that includes the stations themselves all of which are looked
26:21after by some of our thousand strong army of volunteers. Down at Pickering, the last stop on the line,
26:28there's a group of around 15 volunteers. They're responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the
26:34station and it's something they take great pride in.
26:37I've loved railways all my life so although I'm not driving a railway engine or anything like that,
26:52I do like being around them and so combining sort of woodworking, painting skills, yeah those sort of
27:00things. A lot of satisfaction. John is in the group of volunteers who come along twice a week and get
27:08stuck in with whatever jobs need doing. I started volunteering here roughly 16 years ago. Sadly my
27:16wife died and I had to find things to occupy myself and living in Pickering it's only a short walk here
27:23so it's a natural progression to come here be around my beloved railway and engines. One regular job
27:30these loyal volunteers do is to wind the station clock 13 times to ensure it can keep time efficiently.
27:38It's an old mechanical one, got a pendulum, got a big weight that actually makes the mechanism work
27:44and so it needs doing every single week. Once the clock is wound the team can then check it's set
27:51to the right time. Right this is how we adjust the time, put the spanner on that nut there and if I
27:59turn it you should see the hands move so somebody hopefully out there will shout to me and tell me
28:05when we're spot on. Keeping time on the railway is clearly important but back in the 1800s it was
28:12common for towns to set their own time. As the railway expanded in the 1850s Greenwich Mean Time was
28:19adopted as standard and platform clocks including ours have been set to GMT ever since.
28:25OK John, take it back a couple of minutes. OK. Keep going. Slowly. Slow, yeah that's lovely. Thank you.
28:35That it finished? Yep, we're done. As well as looking after the station clock the team are responsible for big
28:43jobs like paintwork, maintenance and keeping the platforms tidy. But they also sometimes get the chance
28:50to be a bit creative with the station decor. The bunting goes in and out the box probably several
28:57times a year and depending on who's put it away sometimes it's tangled and sometimes it's not.
29:04It's all about making the station look lovely for visitors and giving them a good customer experience.
29:10It's what drives us all, creating a great day out for visitors while we get to indulge in our love of
29:15steam engines. Right we have to move back just a little bit. That will do.
29:31Don't go reaching too far Tim. There we go. My father worked on the railways as a locomotive fitter
29:38and really I guess I caught the bug from him. I first visited the railway in 1977 just after I
29:46graduated and I always promised myself I'd like to volunteer but due to life circumstances that
29:52wasn't really possible until I retired which I did six years ago. I was a supply chain specialist
30:02so it was really quite a stressful job. There we go, job done. So it's just a real pleasure to come,
30:10meet with some nice people, have some banter and do something that's really worthwhile.
30:18Well I think that looks all right. Yeah it looks much better now, it matches nice and tight.
30:22Very nice. So it matches everything else so I think it's 10 o'clock in time for coffee.
30:29Right. Yep. Yep.
30:39While the guys at Pickering have a well-deserved coffee break, further down the track the Goatland
30:44station group are cracking on with their list of jobs. The 1920s style platform with its tea room and
30:50souvenir shop is looked after meticulously by the team but the flower beds which adorn both sides of
30:57the platform are cared for by Anne who's been a volunteer since she was a young girl.
31:02Try not to get too modern a plant. You know I'll put a few grasses in which I'm not too sure they
31:09wouldn't have had those in those days. This is a rambler rose. I think it's called seagull.
31:16It's a white single flower. Very good scent and it's out around May, June.
31:30Anne started volunteering with her mum and dad right at the start of the North Yorkshire Moes Railway.
31:35The whole family started on the railway about obviously over 50 years ago. My elder brother
31:43started first but my dad was a joiner, an industrial model maker and my mum followed
31:49my dad so she loved gardening. That's where I've got my love of gardening and we started here because
31:56nobody was doing it. It was a bit of a ruin. For Anne, like many of our volunteers, the family connection to
32:04the railway runs deep. This seat is a memorial to both my parents
32:13and they love the area so much that their ashes are scattered at the top of the moor
32:21overlooking the station and we've got the two plaques there. It's in memory and appreciation of
32:28William Clifford Wetherill, 1908 to 1978, whose love for this railway is shown in all his work.
32:37This seat is donated by his friends and this is my mum's plaque in memory and appreciation of Margaret G.W.
32:47Wetherill, 1920 to 2012, she loved and tended these gardens which are her everlasting memorial.
32:58I still get a bit emotional with my mums. I think of them all the time.
33:01You do with your parents, you think they're going to last forever but they don't.
33:04As well as the day-to-day jobs, the station groups get involved in bigger restoration projects that unfold
33:17over years of hard work. One of those projects is this North Eastern Railway ballast brake wagon dating
33:25back to 1914. It would go out on the rails to assist in track maintenance and it's a real piece of railway
33:32heritage and the team has spent the last six years lovingly restoring it. You begin to get a feel for
33:40heritage when you're here of keeping things going instead of just scrapping and replacing. We're so
33:46used to that in our world and I think it's very important that when you've got something which is
33:52recoverable you should try to do that and it's our pet project at the minute for the station.
33:57I don't think it'll ever run again but it'll look lovely. It really is a constant source of pride that
34:04the railway attracts such a dedicated bunch of skilled folk from all over the country. Well the
34:10volunteering is really about forming the team. I live in the village but although these guys come a long
34:15way they've got to call for a good reason and the fact we've got good jobs challenging things to do and
34:22that's that idea of pride that restoring things that is one of the main things that makes volunteering
34:28very worthwhile for them and it's that sense that you're not just improving things but you're actually
34:36making things possible that would not be if there weren't these volunteers to come and do it.
34:41I'm approaching the end of the journey on the footplate of Tornado, steaming across the Yorkshire
34:57countryside between the village of Levisham and the market town of Pickering. Our passengers always
35:05enjoy the unique steam engine soundtrack. The connectors between carriages, the sound of the steam going
35:14through the valves and letting off with the steam release valves on the engines and actually it's
35:21almost like breathing you know when you hear that the engine goes past. Pickering is a busy little town
35:31right at the foot of the North York moors. It's known for its 13th century castle that's right beside our railway track.
35:40The castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1069 and used as a hunting lodge by a
35:45succession of kings who no doubt took advantage of the surrounding moorland.
35:51And as we get close to the town itself I need to start looking out for the signals.
35:55So we've got a green on the repeater and that repeats the signal around the corner.
36:08Green. Green. Nice one. Green signal. So it's important on an engine relaying the signals
36:15as we're heading towards Pickering. I'm just going to put a drop of water in the boiler now.
36:20Especially as we'll be stopping soon.
36:29We've also got a road crossing here. It's all about keeping a look out and being aware of what's
36:34happening on the railway.
36:39So literally an engine like this even with seven coaches on.
36:43Barely working. From a fireman's point of view this is easy.
36:45Now you can just have a moment to sit down and enjoy it.
36:50That pretty much sums up my day. What a privilege to get out on Tornado.
36:55And I'm never happier than when I know our visitors are having a blast themselves too.
37:01So we're always working hard to make sure even more people can experience the joys of steam trains.
37:09And just a few days ago we had an exciting visit from some special passengers.
37:13Thanks guys for coming today. It's not rainy. It's a bonus isn't it?
37:19Guide dog puppies Charlie, Mitch, Alma and Scrumpy from a charity that specialises in training guide dogs for the blind and partially sighted.
37:29They're learning to navigate the world with independence.
37:33Something we want everyone to feel when they travel on our line.
37:37Like us, they're supported by hundreds of volunteers.
37:40All helping them gain experience they need to grow into life-changing companions.
37:45Well today we have been invited very kindly to bring our puppies onto the train.
37:51So we can see how they enjoy going onto a train, see that they can relax and that they can cope with the environment.
37:57Partnerships like this are a wonderful chance for us to see how guide dogs in training help people
38:02who are partially sighted or blind and learn how we can make the railway welcoming for everyone.
38:07Today they will have their first ride on the steam train with lots of new sights, sounds and smells.
38:16Socialisation like this helps them become confident, adaptable and ready for the next stage of training.
38:23So one thing we also need to consider today is the whistle that occurs before they set off.
38:28Maybe using a bit of kibble or a toy that they've got with them.
38:31Give them a stroke just so that when that whistle does occur and the steam sets off,
38:35it doesn't make them jump and that they can be nice and happy and relaxed with it.
38:40Okay?
38:41It's experiences like this that help prepare the pups for the day they become someone's guide dog.
38:46We give out our dogs to guide dog owners to enhance their independence and if what we do
38:53helps the dogs get through the process so that the guide dog owners can live as normal life as possible,
38:58then we're doing a good job.
39:00As they take a few pause steps towards that mission,
39:02it's a great chance to practice the skills they will need for their future role.
39:08Lovely!
39:09This is Mitch and he's 14 months old and he's about to go to big school any minute
39:14and I'm sure he'll enjoy his ride with his friends and colleagues today.
39:18Wow! Look at the train!
39:22Yeah! Good boy! Good boy!
39:26With a whistle and a puff of steam, it's time for their first big journey.
39:37Come on then, young lady! What a good girl!
39:40Well done! Good boy!
39:44Good boy! Good boy!
39:45That's lovely! Brilliant stuff!
39:49That's it! Just get a bit of kibble out and encourage them under.
39:53That's it!
39:56Wonderful! Good boy!
39:58Why?
40:14Mitch is trying to just understand what the noises are.
40:18He's normally used to going on normal diesel trains that are quite quiet,
40:22so it's just constant reassurance to make sure he's OK so that he knows he's not in danger.
40:28Good boy! Well done!
40:32The pups are travelling 20 minutes along the line from Levisham to Gaithland,
40:36in the opposite direction to my journey today.
40:39It's just enough time for them to get used to the train without tiring them out.
40:44How's Charlie doing?
40:45It's Charlie!
40:45He's Charlie!
40:46It's Charlie!
40:46Yeah, it's just Charlie.
40:48He's insane.
40:50Wherever you go.
40:51Wherever you go, he's very chilled out.
40:53Brilliant stuff.
40:54Well, his tail's wagging now and he's very, very happy.
40:57Yes, you are. Well done!
40:59You are very clever, aren't you?
41:01Yes, you are.
41:03He's very lovable.
41:04He is, isn't he?
41:05Very lovable.
41:05Yeah.
41:06He loves it.
41:08Thank you for all the time you're putting into him.
41:10It's invaluable.
41:11It really is.
41:12It's the best thing I've ever done in my life.
41:13Really?
41:14Yeah.
41:14You get lots out of it.
41:15Yeah.
41:16No point.
41:17When they go on to full training, he makes a life-changing for anybody who's blind.
41:24That's the best thing about it.
41:26I've been a puppy raiser for five years now.
41:38We've got Alma at the moment.
41:40She's eight months old.
41:42Alma's never been on a train before, let alone a steam train.
41:45So this is a really great experience for her.
41:48She loves going out and about and she didn't hesitate to get on board the train.
41:52She loved it.
42:00When we look at matching a dog with a client, we're going to take into account how much
42:05time they spend on public transport.
42:07So if we can cover as much as possible at puppy raising, then we've got a better idea
42:11of which dogs are going to excel in that area later on as adults.
42:16The puppies have coped well with the journey so far, but now they are facing a real test,
42:21getting off at the busy and noisy platform at Gautland.
42:25Right.
42:25We need to start walking through the carriageway now, guys, to get off at the other end.
42:29So if you keep the dogs behind you, and if you follow me, well done that young man.
42:36Well done.
42:39As they climb off the carriages, the puppies seem to have enjoyed the experience.
42:43So we've got sensory overload, so we've got steam coming out, we've got doors banging,
42:50we've got people waiting to get on and people getting off.
42:54It's all happening all at once, and the dogs are having to take all in their stride.
42:58And they're again smashing it, doing really well.
43:04Today's training has been a huge success.
43:06Now it's time for the K9 students to put the paws up.
43:10Right, okay, guys, if you want to set yourselves down,
43:13um, jackets off, have the pups nice and relaxed,
43:16and then you all deserve a coffee, most definitely.
43:19Well done, everybody.
43:21They've done brilliantly, really pleased with them.
43:24It's been nice to get all the puppy raisers together and get on the train
43:27and see all the countryside of the North York malls again.
43:31The last time I was here was when I was six, so it's bringing back some memories.
43:37So yeah, I think it's been fun, and I think the dogs have been really well behaved,
43:41and they've all taken it in their stride really well.
43:45It's been a lovely day for the puppy raisers and for us.
43:47Teaching our pups how to behave and how to accept these environments is vital,
43:52and then hopefully when they go out to be guide dogs,
43:54they can take their owners anywhere and everywhere
43:56and have an amazing time out and enjoy their lives together.
44:01I've got to concentrate now as we come into Pickering
44:05and make sure I'm looking out for all the lights and signals.
44:13Yeah, so we're coming up to Newbridge Crossing.
44:16I'm going to pass this to the signaler.
44:26Right.
44:31And approaching the station itself, they come thick and fast.
44:35White flashing light.
44:36White flashing light.
44:38Crossing clear more times.
44:39Crossing clear.
44:42There we are, across that.
44:44Two whites for number one.
44:46So the indicator's telling us we're going into platform one.
44:51We're nearly at the end of the line.
44:54And I'm going to open the firewall door so I don't put too much smoke in the station.
45:01There we are under the roof of Pickering station.
45:10The end of the line.
45:19So I really enjoyed that.
45:20We've handed it over to another crew now.
45:22They're going to get their go on the engine.
45:23But that was a really nice experience to have a go on a thoroughbred steam engine.
45:29For me, coming into the platform and seeing all of them people on it was just amazing.
45:34That's what it's all about.
45:35People coming to see it and experience it.
45:37So, well happy.
45:40Tornado just needs to keep working her magic for a few more days
45:44before she goes back to her home in Darlington.
45:46But if today is anything to go by, I'm feeling optimistic.
45:50But now it's on to my next job, which is Steam Gala.
45:53It's like our World Cup.
45:54Big event for us in a few weeks.
45:56So my focus is making sure we deliver that event.
45:59We want everyone to have a great time.
46:00It's going to be super busy.
46:01So I'm going to go get myself a cup of tea and then I'm going to crack on with gala planning.
46:10Next time, I attempt to bring a 60 tonne steam engine
46:14300 miles across land and sea from the Isle of Wight.
46:17The North York Moors reveals hidden secrets of railway history.
46:25And everything is on the line as the gala approaches.
46:36The North York Moors reveals hidden secrets of the Revolution.
46:42The reason is that this is a great place to use and the support that you saw in London,
46:44is suddenly a great place to be able to use.
46:47It's a great place to be and to take a 40 minute in the game.
46:49The North York Moors is a great place to be able to use that convention.
46:51It's a great place to be able to use that convention.
46:53The North York Moors feels as though a major part of a new place,
46:57including the North York Moors,
46:59also means the South York Moors is a great place to achieve that.
47:01The North York Moors wants to be able to live in London,
Be the first to comment