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Short filmTranscript
00:00Steam trains are my world and I help run one of Britain's most popular heritage
00:07lines, the North Yorkshire Moes Railway, stretching 24 glorious miles from the
00:17traditional market town of Pickering, heading over the North York Moes and on
00:26to the coastal town of Whitby. North Yorkshire, what's not to like? It's breathtaking. I'm proud to be part of a thousand-strong team working hard to keep this 200-year-old tradition alive. That's what's brought me back all these years, it's just one big family. Together we're facing the challenges of taking steam into its third century. It takes passion. Everything that we do I'm really proud of.
00:56Skill. When you're ready Tom, do your book. And as a charity, some serious funds to keep the wheels turning on this heritage line.
01:08Five pounds, six pounds. But when you look out over this. It's beautiful, it's absolutely stunning. And get to make people this happy. There's nothing better sight than that pulling out the station.
01:21There's nothing else I'd rather do. That's my kind of day in the office.
01:29Today, I attempt to bring a 60-ton steam engine 300 miles across land and sea from the Isle of Wight.
01:36It's going to be the ultimate stage to perform.
01:39The North York Moes reveals hidden secrets of railway history.
01:43These conjure up wonderful things, these places.
01:46And everything is on the line as the gala approaches.
01:52It's just spinning plates and not enough sticks.
01:53So far this series, I've travelled 18 miles along our heritage railway through some of the most picturesque and dramatic parts of the North York Moes National Park.
02:14Between Pickering, Levisham, Goatland and Gromont.
02:27Today, I'm starting at the most northern point of the railway in the historic Yorkshire coastal town of Whitby.
02:35And I'll be firing Repton, a 1930s engine that's a reliable member of our fleet, along with volunteer driver Stuart.
02:48Right, I'm just going to put a couple of lumps on.
02:53We're right away.
02:54Right, right away, driver.
02:57And we're off.
02:57The port here at Whitby is one of the very reasons our railway exists.
03:06It was the need to transport goods like coal and timber to inland towns and to bring produce to the ships in the port that led to the opening of a single track railway in 1835,
03:17designed and built by railway pioneer George Stevenson.
03:21It makes Whitby a pretty significant place for us at the railway, but it's important for me too.
03:30Right, we're leaving Whitby.
03:32It's a real special place for me, Whitby.
03:33I was born here.
03:34This is my hometown.
03:35So it's really nice to fire a steam engine out of the station, all the way up to Gromont.
03:44Almost 200 years after that first line opened, quite a few things have changed.
03:49But we do our best to keep the history and heritage alive, to keep our loyal customers coming back time and time again.
03:56We are a bit old-fashioned, you know, in terms of enjoying this sort of thing, but it's, we're just, we're like,
04:04It makes us happy, doesn't it?
04:04It makes us happy, we enjoy it.
04:07There's steam passing the window, it's got beautiful scenery, the distant sound of the steam local,
04:12working hard if you're going up a hill or the whole balance of the carriage, it's fantastic.
04:19Today, we're travelling on what is now a mainline section of track from Whitby, six miles inland to Gromont.
04:29Starting here, right alongside Whitby Harbour, with all of its boats and plenty of tourists,
04:35we'll head away from the famous ruined abbey.
04:38With the harbour behind us, we'll pass under the majestic Larpul Viaduct, travelling alongside the river Esk for most of our route.
04:49Heading through the village of Sleights, we'll pass over nine bridges and navigate plenty of tight curves
04:55as we cross and recross the river on our approach to Gromont.
04:58It's lovely to be on Recton today, one of my favourite engines.
05:07It's not a too bad bit of line from a fireman's point of view, it's not too difficult, it's relatively flat,
05:13but there's a lot of things we've got to look out for.
05:16Different signals, lots of crossings.
05:19But yeah, it's a beautiful day for it as well.
05:22It's a privilege to be helping driver Stuart power the engine along the line today,
05:30but if I'm honest, I'm thinking about one thing, our Steam Gala.
05:34It's the final hurrah of our summer season and the biggest event in our calendar,
05:39and we rely heavily on it to raise valuable funds.
05:43We've got a lot of stuff going on, we've got a lot of engines coming,
05:46I'm really looking forward to seeing the Isle of Wight engine come,
05:49but in between that, we've got to get this train to Gromont's.
05:55For us, the annual Steam Gala is like our World Cup final.
06:00It takes months of planning, and it's vital we put on the best show we can
06:03to attract as many visitors as possible.
06:07And one way we do that is to bring guest engines from all over the country to run on our line.
06:12So this year, I set the team the task of bringing a 60-tonne steam engine
06:20up to North Yorkshire from the Isle of Wight steam railway.
06:24Travelling by road and sea, the logistics are tricky to say the least.
06:28And we've made it. That's a good start. We've made it here.
06:42Most steam engines aren't allowed to travel on the National Rail Network anymore,
06:46so the only way I can get one from the Isle of Wight, over on the ferry,
06:50and up here to North York Moors, is on the back of a low loader.
06:53With specialist driver Chris and Stuart in a support vehicle.
07:00But at 25 metres long and with nine pairs of wheels,
07:04driving the low loader is no easy task.
07:07The first stage to get the engine onto the trailer
07:09is to build a special section of track on a carefully angled slope.
07:14You're negating as much risk as possible of anything going wrong, basically.
07:17Five minutes now setting it up can save you two hours of messing around
07:20because you've tried to rush. It just makes life easier.
07:23Once the track is all squared up and steady,
07:27the 60 tonne engine is winched slowly up the track
07:30and into position on the low loader.
07:33Now with a combined weight of 110 tonnes,
07:37it's just the start of many logistical challenges ahead.
07:42The first is the small matter of the seven miles of water
07:46between the Isle of Wight and the mainland.
07:49As Steam Buff and Heritage Railway boss Mark knows all too well.
07:53The biggest logistical challenge is just getting an engine on and off the Isle of Wight.
07:57It's got to go on a particular ferry route,
07:59it's got to go on a particular vessel,
08:01it's got to go at a particular time of the tide.
08:04To comply with the ferry regulations,
08:07the combined height of the lorry and the engine can't be over 16 feet.
08:12What's that there?
08:13Hang on, 16 at the minute.
08:15And these experts know all the tricks of the trade
08:17to make sure they're following the rules to the letter.
08:21Just kick the bottom in a little bit, it's leaning out.
08:24OK.
08:24A little bit more.
08:26Is that 16?
08:27Yeah.
08:28Come down to the chimney?
08:30So about here.
08:30Oh yeah, there we go.
08:33Happy days, we're good at that?
08:34Yeah.
08:35Planning and executing this type of mammoth transportation costs serious cash.
08:40But I'm banking on this little engine bringing in the fans.
08:45Part of its appeal is the story it tells.
08:48When steam was replaced by diesel and electric in the 60s,
08:52most steam engines were sold for scrap and left to rust.
08:55Many, like 41313,
08:59ended up at a steam graveyard in Barry Island in South Wales.
09:04It was only thanks to steam enthusiasts
09:07that some of the engines, including this one,
09:10were rescued and restored.
09:13And now, for Mark,
09:15seeing her set off on a big journey to Yorkshire
09:17is a proud moment.
09:18It's the equivalent of your child
09:24going somewhere like,
09:27I don't know,
09:27the Royal Albert Hall
09:29or the Tower Ballrooms in Blackpool
09:31or Wembley
09:31to perform to a huge audience.
09:34And do you know what?
09:34The North Yorkshire Moors,
09:35it's probably the most beautiful scenery
09:38of a steam railway in Britain.
09:40So she's going to the ultimate stage to perform.
09:44Now she's safe and secure,
09:46it's down to Chris to start his challenging route to Yorkshire
09:49and make it to the ferry on time.
09:53If he can navigate the Isle of Wight's country roads, that is.
09:57When you're looking at the trees that are in front of us,
10:01they're down at 13.5, 14fts, some of these trees.
10:04Some of them are even lower.
10:06It's just one of those things,
10:07it's someone who's got a...
10:09you're always battling with, unfortunately.
10:11Luckily, driver Chris's experience
10:13ably backed by Stuart's support in the truck behind
10:16means the first part of the journey is going well.
10:20Keep that line, mate, you're all good.
10:25Looking good at the minute, mate.
10:27We should be in plenty of time for a ferry now,
10:29so, yeah, it's all gone quite well.
10:34With the narrow roads navigated safely,
10:37getting onto the ferry is the next hurdle.
10:39And whilst the team has got the height of weight correct...
10:44Right, you want to stop there, mate, you've got to ground down.
10:48Tide's a bit too high.
10:51Unfortunately, Mother Nature doesn't always play ball.
10:54If the tide is too high,
10:56getting on and off can be impossible,
10:57so the team has to adjust the trailer
10:59to avoid damaging the ferry infrastructure.
11:02Keep going.
11:06Oh, yeah, it's a minute, mate.
11:08You'll be all right now, mate.
11:11With the engine safely loaded onto the ferry,
11:13Chris can take a moment to enjoy the ride.
11:16Oh, definitely a steam fan, yeah.
11:18Yeah, I mean, I'm a fan of anything mechanical,
11:21whether it's steam, diesel.
11:23Yeah, anything that can move
11:25and you can get interested in and look at,
11:26I enjoy all that sort of stuff.
11:28But certainly steam engines, it's a living, breathing thing.
11:31Before it's time to get back on the road...
11:33..and we will pre-power way off.
11:36You're all OK at the back at the minute, mate.
11:43You cleared the last post on the concrete post
11:45on the right-hand side.
11:46Safely back on land...
11:48And we're rolling.
11:49..now begins a 300-mile journey up to North Yorkshire.
11:55And for Chris, it's a chance to return to where he grew up.
11:59I remember going to the railway with my dad when I was a kid.
12:02I don't get back here as often as I should
12:03cos I'm always working.
12:04So, yeah, it is quite nice to come back to the area
12:07and trucks and trains is an ideal job for me, really.
12:13Even though 41313 is in Chris's capable hands,
12:17I won't relax until it's here.
12:21So, I'm actually not going to be here
12:23when the Ivet arrives, unfortunately.
12:25But, you know, I'm sort of keeping my fingers crossed
12:28it turns up, it's got a long journey, you know,
12:30pretty much the full length of the country.
12:31It literally lands just in time for the gala,
12:34so there's not a lot of, you know,
12:36fudge factor in it, so to speak, if it goes wrong.
12:39So, you know, I've got everything crossed.
12:41We'll be reed.
12:41In the heart of the North York Moles,
12:56the summer season is coming to an end.
12:59But for us at the railway,
13:01the most exciting weekend of our year is approaching.
13:03And right now, a very special guest is about to arrive.
13:09After a 300-mile journey on the back of a low loader
13:12from the Isle of Wight,
13:15engine 41313 is almost here.
13:20An engine fitter bungle and track engineer Martin
13:23are waiting excitedly to greet her.
13:25It's always good to see one arrive
13:27even though it's better when it's back on the rails.
13:30I'm glad I'm not reversing all 110 tonnes of engine and lorry.
13:35Keep it coming, mate.
13:40But it looks like Chris and Stuart
13:42have it all well under control.
13:44OK, mate, that'll do you there.
13:50How are we doing, Martin?
13:51Long time, no see?
13:53Yeah, it's not so bad.
13:54Good to see you back again.
13:55Right, we'll get this lined up and get it off.
14:05Happy with the progress.
14:06It's a successfully completed job.
14:08It's what we like, no issues.
14:11It's a nice sense of achievement getting here
14:12and these guys will enjoy it.
14:14I'll be back in a few weeks to pick it up
14:16and take it back.
14:22I can't wait to see our visitors' reactions
14:24to the guest engines we've got lined up for them
14:26at the gala this weekend.
14:29And while preparations are happening
14:31at every station already,
14:33normal service continues.
14:36So today I'm firing a 91-year-old steam engine
14:40from the Yorkshire coastal town of Whitby
14:42to the heart of our railway in Gromont.
14:47This part of the world does hold a very special
14:49if bittersweet place in my heart.
14:52I met my great-grandmother, Sarah Jane Walker,
14:55at Whitby Hospital.
14:57She held me just after I was born
14:59and then sadly passed away shortly afterwards.
15:02I only recently found out she worked
15:04at the booking office at York Railway Station.
15:06And her father, Samuel Walker,
15:09was a railway police officer.
15:13So I think it's safe to say
15:14I was destined for a life on the railway.
15:18Well, mornings like this,
15:20it's a privilege to be involved in the railway
15:22because this is what it's all about.
15:23Teamwork on the footplate,
15:25beautiful scenery,
15:26nice engine.
15:28Although it's rattling a little bit,
15:29I mean, it's sort of all timing out,
15:30but other than that,
15:32it's the perfect way to spend a day.
15:35The thing about the landscape here
15:36is how open it is
15:37and the beauty of it.
15:40You can see for miles.
15:42The landscape is...
15:46Keep on changing.
15:48It's brilliant.
15:49It's breathtaking.
15:52Keep an eye out.
15:55We're off now.
15:56This section on the line,
15:57it's a really tight curve round here.
16:01As we leave Whitby behind us,
16:03the first highlight of the route
16:05is the majestic La Poole Viaduct.
16:07With its 12 soaring piers
16:09and 13 arches,
16:11this 36-metre-high piece
16:13of railway history
16:14was built using
16:15an incredible 5 million bricks.
16:19And the middle piers
16:20were designed on a twist
16:22so as not to affect
16:23the natural flow of the river Esk.
16:26We're just going under La Poole Viad
16:28at the moment,
16:29heading out towards Ruzum.
16:33It must have been amazing
16:34to watch the steam engines
16:35go across that back in the day.
16:39There's a footpath over it,
16:42the Cinder Trail,
16:43so you can walk
16:44that beautiful part
16:45of the railway.
16:48The Cinder Track
16:50that passes over the viaduct
16:51is one of the many trails
16:53that follow the routes
16:54of disused railway lines
16:55across North Yorkshire.
16:59They all make a lovely day out,
17:01but the one closest to my heart
17:03is a bit further
17:04along the line from here,
17:05and it's known as
17:06the rail trail.
17:08How are they?
17:09How are they?
17:10Hi Chris, you all right?
17:10Yeah, good to see you.
17:12The rail trail
17:13is a three-mile ramble
17:14between Goatland and Gromont
17:16that's littered
17:17with railway history.
17:19It runs across the hills
17:20and valleys
17:21close to our line,
17:23following the route
17:23of the original
17:24horse-drawn line,
17:25which eventually closed
17:27because of the demands
17:28of steam travel.
17:30It's a really lovely walk,
17:32and it's popular
17:33with train buffs
17:33who want to get
17:34unique shots
17:35of passing trains.
17:38Today, Chris,
17:39a volunteer
17:39in our station group
17:41and archive team
17:42who's passionate
17:43about local history,
17:44is walking the trail
17:46with Dave,
17:46a volunteer signaller
17:48and professional photographer
17:49who's keen to add
17:51to the railway's
17:51historic records.
17:53I can photograph
17:54things that have been
17:56left behind
17:57from the railway years ago.
17:58Chris will know the dates.
18:00He will also know
18:01where these spots are.
18:03He's got more
18:04in-depth knowledge
18:05of the history than me.
18:06The trail begins
18:07just above Goatland Station.
18:10Well, this is the start
18:12of the rail trail.
18:14OK.
18:14Three miles to Gromont
18:15from here.
18:16Right.
18:17So you're going to see
18:18a lot of history
18:19on this line.
18:20Plenty of places
18:21for me to take pictures.
18:23A few minutes
18:24into the walk,
18:25there are some clues
18:26to the railway's past
18:27and the original
18:28horse-drawn line
18:29which ran here.
18:31Here, you'll see
18:35two bricks
18:36with holes in.
18:38They were
18:39what the rope
18:40went through
18:41the days of horses
18:42before steam locos came.
18:44They just pulled
18:44the coaches up.
18:46These holes in the wall
18:47are evidence
18:48of a real feat
18:49of early engineering,
18:50an ingenious rope
18:51and pulley system
18:52that hauled carriages
18:53up the steep
18:54molland incline.
18:56And this would have been
18:57the point where
18:58the incline started.
18:59We can feel it
19:00going down.
19:01You can, we can.
19:02You can feel it
19:02going down, yeah.
19:04Back then,
19:05the carriages
19:06were pulled by horses.
19:07So while the horses
19:08rested in the stables,
19:09the carriages
19:10were coupled
19:11to a mile-long rope
19:12that ran up
19:12the steep hill
19:13anchored by heavy stones
19:15at the top
19:15with huge water-filled
19:17tanks acting
19:17as counterweights.
19:19Carrying on,
19:20the path passes
19:21the old incline cottage,
19:23once home to the men
19:24who performed this task.
19:25This is where
19:26the guy
19:27that was responsible
19:28for dealing
19:29with the service
19:30down here
19:31would live.
19:32When it was horses,
19:33you'd have had stables here.
19:39From the bottom
19:39of the steep incline,
19:41the trail drops
19:42into Beckall,
19:43now a quiet hamlet,
19:44but once a popular station
19:46on the original route.
19:48It's also now
19:49a favourite stopping-off point
19:51for hikers.
19:55Right,
19:56so here we all are
19:57at the Birchall Inn.
20:00And I believe
20:01it's a pub
20:03with a sweet shop
20:04in the middle?
20:05Well, that's right.
20:06It does have a sweet shop.
20:07Yeah, that's quite unusual.
20:09Plus a mannequin
20:10on the phone
20:10in the phone box.
20:12I'll get some shots
20:13and we can pop in,
20:14can't we?
20:14Be great, let's do that.
20:21Known as the smallest pub
20:22in Yorkshire,
20:23the inn was built
20:24from two cottages
20:25in 1860.
20:32Hello there.
20:33Can I have an orange juice, please?
20:35Fresh orange juice.
20:36There's still a half
20:37of Beckwater, please.
20:39It owes its existence
20:40to the railway.
20:42When miners and families
20:43moved to the area,
20:44they needed a shop
20:45and a pub.
20:46And they got both
20:47in the same place.
20:49It's lovely to see
20:50all the old sweets
20:51from years ago.
20:52Ah, my favourites.
20:54Licorice torpedoes.
20:56I tried to get some
20:57the other day
20:57and I couldn't get them.
20:58Ah, this is great.
20:59I'll just grab a shot,
21:01actually, of the...
21:02Yeah, I would, yeah.
21:09Landlady Glenys
21:10runs the inn
21:11and the shop
21:12with her husband, Neil.
21:13It's lovely to see
21:15your old sweet shop
21:16with all this.
21:16This reminds me
21:17of my childhood.
21:18How many years
21:19have you been in here, then?
21:21Four and four.
21:22I'm counting.
21:23Oh, right.
21:24Right, yeah.
21:25Ah, it's lovely.
21:26Is it all right
21:27if I take a picture of you
21:28while you're stood there?
21:28I think so.
21:30I was right.
21:31Yeah.
21:31Thanks a lot.
21:37Bye-bye.
21:41Leaving the inn behind,
21:43the path follows
21:43the old track bed
21:44towards what was once
21:46Beckhull Station.
21:47It's now little more
21:48than a clearing in the trees.
21:50Station closed in 1865.
21:53It was kept open for freight,
21:54but then,
21:55in about 1908,
21:57there was an idea
21:58to run Sunday tourist
22:00specials from Whitby.
22:02So they ran these
22:03just for a short period.
22:05First of all,
22:05put an end to it.
22:06They were never restarted
22:07and the line
22:08basically fell into disuse.
22:11Walking this trail today,
22:13it's hard to imagine
22:14a busy railway line
22:15running through
22:16this tranquil part
22:17of the moors.
22:18But the evidence
22:18is still there
22:19if you know
22:20where to look.
22:22I like following
22:23where railways
22:24used to be years ago
22:25and then taking pictures
22:26of all the little plaques
22:27and parts
22:28that were left behind
22:29when it was all dismantled.
22:31One of the things
22:31that I always find exciting
22:33is who travelled
22:34along this railway.
22:35Charles Dickens
22:36has been right past here.
22:39These conjure up
22:40wonderful things,
22:41these places.
22:43But not all the memories
22:44held here
22:45are good ones.
22:46Just beyond the station
22:47on a freezing February
22:49in 1864
22:50when early steam engines
22:52were still using
22:53the old rope
22:54and pulley system,
22:55tragedy struck here.
22:57The train came from York,
23:00came down the incline
23:02and unfortunately
23:03the rope broke
23:04due to lack of maintenance.
23:06There was five coaches
23:07and the first class
23:09was the first coach.
23:11It survived to here
23:13then it hit this bend
23:15and came off
23:17and was littered
23:18in that field
23:19just there.
23:20And unfortunately
23:21there were two commercial
23:22travellers from Whitby
23:23who were killed
23:24along with the brakesman.
23:26Shortly after that fatal accident
23:28the railway line
23:29was re-routed
23:30to the line
23:31we still use today.
23:33It's safe to say
23:33that without history buffs
23:35like Chris
23:35these stories
23:36might get lost
23:37in the mists of time.
23:39This is a unique line.
23:42The rail trail itself
23:43is unique
23:44and we have to preserve
23:46everything
23:47that's along its way.
23:49Just ahead
23:50stand the Esk Valley cottages
23:51built in the 1850s
23:54for the workers
23:54at the nearby
23:55Ironstone mine
23:56and their pretty exteriors
23:58are a real treat
23:59for photographers.
24:00I love all the different colours.
24:04I've seen this picture
24:05so many times
24:06in railway magazines
24:07and to get a shot
24:09with one of the steam engines
24:10coming past
24:11would be great.
24:12They are iconic
24:12as far as this railway's concerned.
24:15And right on cue
24:16the telltale sound
24:18of an engine approaching.
24:20You've got one coming.
24:25Get the camera out quick
24:27and then I can get them
24:28from just here.
24:29There's a chance you'll get.
24:35What a fantastic sound.
24:40Looks great.
24:41The steam carries
24:43across the countryside.
24:44That does look good.
24:49Ah, what a fantastic sight.
24:51I haven't actually been here
24:52to take that shot before
24:54so it's great to see it.
24:55There are a few photos
24:57of the old line
24:57so every one Dave takes
24:59adds to its story.
25:04It's been brilliant today.
25:06I love my photography
25:08especially with the railways
25:09and the buildings
25:10but it's made it 10 times better
25:12with Chris coming along.
25:13Thank you very much for that.
25:14I've really enjoyed it.
25:16That's my pleasure.
25:21The trail continues down
25:23into Gromont
25:23where of course
25:24you can hop on a train
25:25and get back to where you started.
25:28For us
25:28the rail trail
25:29is more than just a ramble
25:31through the moors.
25:32It's a way of keeping
25:33Yorkshire's railway past alive.
25:35I'm steaming across Yorkshire
25:45on the footplate
25:46of one of the workhorses
25:47of our heritage railway.
25:51I've left Whitby behind me
25:53and I'm now passing
25:54some of the most beautiful scenery
25:56navigating tight curves
25:57and travelling over the bridges
25:59as we cross and re-cross
26:01the river Esk.
26:05Absolutely stunning morning.
26:08Beautiful.
26:09Absolutely beautiful.
26:14The engines just live
26:15and breathe
26:16and if you cut them
26:18they bleed steam
26:19and they're such
26:20a lovely machine.
26:23If you've not been
26:24on a steam train before
26:25I could really recommend it.
26:29This section of line
26:30is littered with crossings
26:32farm crossings
26:33so you've got to keep
26:34an eye out all the time.
26:35It's all just about controlling
26:39making sure that I've got
26:40enough steam at the right time
26:42for when the driver needs it.
26:44Don't want too much
26:45because that's a waste of energy
26:46but at the same time
26:47we need enough
26:48to be able to haul the train.
26:50Probably won't need
26:51to put any more coal on now
26:52until we get into Gromont
26:53but we'll see.
26:55We'll make that judgment
26:56when we get a little bit nearer.
26:57It might be hard work up here
27:01at the front
27:02but for our passengers
27:03it's all about enjoying the ride
27:05and revelling in the unique combination
27:07of the living machine
27:09and the Yorkshire landscape.
27:10It gets you.
27:11Yeah.
27:12It's the engine heartbeat
27:14the chuff, chuff, chuff.
27:17It's like music isn't it?
27:20When you're going along this track
27:21there will be so many
27:23different engine sounds
27:25and so many different
27:27speeds that we go at.
27:29Now as we approach Gromont now
27:34the hub of the railway
27:36and in the engineering
27:38we're looking forward
27:39that's going to be a hive activity
27:40at the gala
27:41there's going to be engines everywhere
27:42it's going to be super busy.
27:46Get some water in the boiler again.
27:49Although we've been preparing
27:50for the gala for months
27:51now less than 24 hours
27:53before kick-off
27:54everything starts coming together.
27:56Well that's the plan.
27:59So today
28:01every workshop
28:02every platform
28:03and every volunteer
28:05is busy with last minute jobs
28:07before the big event begins.
28:10Volunteer Peter
28:11is giving engine Eric Tracy
28:13a final gloss.
28:14There is always
28:15a lot to do at gala weekend
28:17and more often than not
28:20it's last minute.
28:21In this case
28:22this locomotive
28:23will have a fire in this afternoon.
28:27It's to be helped
28:28this varnish
28:29will dry off quickly you know.
28:32Breakfast.
28:33Come on.
28:33But before the crowds arrive
28:35and the engines
28:35take centre stage
28:37Bungle has a very important job to do
28:39for a few unexpected stars
28:41who are stealing the show.
28:45So it's gala weekend
28:46while most people
28:47are coming to see the trains
28:48I dare say that
28:49a select few
28:50will be coming to see the kitties.
28:52We've been a petting.
28:53They're doing really well
28:54they're about 18 weeks old now.
28:56They're the priority
28:57I think they're in charge of us
28:58to be honest.
28:58They ask who the boss is
28:59and I think it's definitely these.
29:00You're doing really well aren't you?
29:03Our furry friends
29:04Ash,
29:05Klinker
29:05and Titch
29:06are part of a long-standing tradition.
29:08If you look back
29:09at old railway photos
29:11right back in British Railway's days
29:12they always have cats on shed
29:14and it's just
29:14it's another bit of
29:15keeping heritage alive.
29:20She's now going round
29:21everyone else's bowl
29:22making sure
29:23nothing goes to waste here.
29:25While the kittens
29:26get ready for their big moment
29:27Nick,
29:28our head of mechanical engineering
29:30is mastermining
29:31the shunting of the engines.
29:33So they're in the right order
29:34to go out on the tracks
29:36for the gala.
29:36And this involves
29:38the shunting locomotive
29:40doing a lot of
29:41pushing and pulling.
29:43So if we don't have things
29:43in the right order
29:44for tomorrow
29:44the duty fitter
29:45will have to do loads of shunting
29:46and then everything will be late.
29:49We're never short of jobs.
29:50The gala is the railway's
29:52biggest event of the year.
29:54We go all out
29:55to make a splash
29:56and every engine
29:57every platform
29:58every carriage
29:59has to be prepped and ready
30:01before the first whistle blows.
30:03It's our main event
30:04it's our FA Cup final
30:05is the gala.
30:06It's just
30:07spinning plates
30:08with not enough sticks.
30:10It's a massive undertaking.
30:12Even the shunt
30:12on the sheds are big.
30:14It's going to take
30:14all day today shunting.
30:16This year we've got
30:17an incredible line-up
30:19of guest engines
30:19from all over the country
30:21joining our home fleet
30:22with more than a dozen
30:24in steam for the weekend.
30:26Including 41313
30:28safely arrived
30:29from the Isle of Wight
30:30257 Squadron
30:34another rockstar engine
30:36built in 1948
30:37and my pride and joy
30:40my very own
30:42little steam tram
30:43Lucy
30:43which will be driving
30:44up and down the tracks
30:45near Levesham.
30:46The team is also
30:49prepping the steam crane.
30:51This is one steam-powered
30:53piece of railway history
30:54that's not an engine.
30:57This impressive piece of kit
30:58is strong enough
30:59to lift 45 tonnes.
31:01I have no doubt
31:04that visitors
31:05will be in awe
31:06when they see it in action.
31:09Charlie!
31:10You got a minute?
31:11Charlie is our
31:12steam crane driver.
31:14This crane's got a fire
31:15in it then?
31:15Yeah.
31:15So tomorrow we'll put
31:16the legs out
31:17and then we'll set up
31:18and we're picking
31:19that boiler up.
31:20Yeah.
31:21Are we getting on, boys?
31:22All right?
31:23Yeah.
31:23Yes.
31:24So this one was
31:26in bits yesterday
31:26as you know.
31:27So all this cleaning
31:28we'll get it back out
31:29for the gala hopefully.
31:31So there's no wasted effort.
31:33That's much appreciated.
31:34There's a lot to do
31:35and we couldn't do
31:36any of it
31:37without our
31:37thousand strong
31:38army of volunteers.
31:40Another unseen job
31:41getting all the wood ready.
31:42Yeah, yeah,
31:43we'll burn some
31:43this weekend.
31:46Yeah.
31:47Hello, Charlie.
31:48Good morning.
31:49So these chaps
31:50have been breaking
31:50the wood up for an hour,
31:51bless them.
31:52We can't run this shed
31:53without volunteers
31:54and they can't volunteer
31:55without paid staff.
31:56It's a bit of a synergy.
31:58And then they get paid
31:59in lots of tea.
32:01It's not just the engines
32:06in the sheds
32:06where preparations
32:07are taking place.
32:09Every station
32:10along the line
32:11is being readied.
32:12Polishing name boards,
32:14cleaning up
32:14and setting up the bar,
32:16everyone's adding
32:16those finishing touches
32:18that make the gala
32:19weekend special.
32:21Back in the sheds,
32:23it's less about polish
32:24and more about graft.
32:26To make sure
32:27the engines
32:27are in top condition,
32:28we give them an MOT
32:30or washout
32:31as we call it
32:32and it means
32:33they'll perform
32:34at their best
32:34for the gala.
32:36It gets rid of
32:36all the impurities
32:37out of the water
32:38and out of the boiler itself
32:39but over its 28-day cycle
32:40it creates sludge
32:42and limescale
32:43much like your kettle
32:43at home
32:44just on a larger scale.
32:46The team needs to access
32:48the boiler's internal spaces
32:49with a hose
32:50and doing the especially
32:51mucky work on this engine
32:53is Sam.
32:54When I was growing up
32:55we always went to Goughlin
32:58to watch the trains go past.
33:00It wasn't until 2021
33:02when I finally started volunteering
33:05straight out of college.
33:07It's a tough and dirty job
33:09but it's vital to ensure
33:10the engines are fit to run.
33:12The smoke box
33:13in a sense
33:13is an incredibly mucky area
33:14because that's where
33:15all the smoke
33:15and the soot
33:16comes through
33:16from the firebox
33:17and the soot and water
33:19when it sticks together
33:20it becomes a horrendous paste
33:21and it just gets everywhere
33:22it's awful.
33:24I do feel for Sam
33:25a little bit.
33:26Once the hosing is done
33:27Chris needs to see
33:28if Sam's cleaning skills
33:30are up to scratch
33:31which means peering
33:31right into the beating heart
33:33of the engine itself.
33:34The kit we use
33:35for the inspection
33:36is very old school.
33:37It is a cotton rag
33:39with wire around it
33:40and it's soaked in paraffin.
33:43And we use the mirror
33:44to get into all the various places
33:46and see around the corners.
33:51So if I have a look
33:52in this one
33:53I'll be able to see
33:55right down to the corner
33:56which I can
33:58and it is clear
33:59there's nothing there
34:00in there.
34:01Yeah, Sam's done alright
34:03he's not too bad
34:04I might keep him
34:05for another day maybe.
34:07With the boiler now clean
34:08and ready for its next steam up
34:10it's almost showtime
34:12in the sheds.
34:13And it's the vantage point
34:15on the sheds viewing platform
34:16that will give the visitors
34:17a front row seat.
34:19On Garda this will be rammed
34:21and it will probably be open
34:22from about half past five
34:23in the morning
34:23with people getting
34:25atmospheric shots
34:26of engines being lit up
34:27the prep that goes on
34:29but you really get a sense
34:31of an engine being lit
34:32from here
34:33and how it's coming to life
34:35almost when the steam
34:36is raised
34:37because you're
34:38chimney level.
34:40It's what we look forward to
34:41all year
34:42but we just have to
34:43keep everything crossed
34:44we've done enough
34:46to bring in the crowds
34:47and make this gala
34:48a success.
34:49I'm steaming across
35:01the North York moors
35:02on the footplate
35:03of a 1930s engine.
35:06I'm almost at the end
35:07of my journey
35:08from the coastal town
35:09of Whitby
35:10to Gromont
35:11the beating heart
35:12of our railway
35:13and it's been
35:14a glorious ride.
35:15I do like the ride
35:17on Repton
35:18from a fireman's
35:19point of view
35:19it's really really nice
35:20it's a good traffic engine
35:22everything's in the right place
35:24everything just works
35:25it's easy to operate
35:27and now we've shut
35:29the regulator
35:30the pressure will come back up
35:31which means I can grab
35:33the opportunity
35:33put some water
35:35in the boiler
35:35trying not to lose
35:39my hat
35:39when I stick it out.
35:45so much more interesting
35:46so much more fun
35:47than going on
35:48a modern train
35:49even though it's slow
35:50it's scenic
35:52and it's lovely
35:52and I think
35:53you can stand
35:55on the platform
35:56and look at these
35:58beasts coming in
35:59gently
36:00it's lovely
36:00the steam belching out
36:02it's good fun.
36:04Just this last section
36:06of track to navigate
36:06and we'll be at the platform.
36:09It's on the curve
36:10slight hill going in
36:11so the driver
36:12will have to really focus
36:13on trying to get it
36:14into the station
36:15without too much slipping.
36:19There we are
36:20falling into Grosmont platform.
36:28So I've just got off Repton
36:30here at Grosmont
36:31and this is like
36:32the calm before the storm
36:34as you can see
36:34there's not many people around
36:35but at the weekend
36:36when we get this gala
36:38up and running
36:38it's going to be
36:39an absolute hive of activity
36:41excited people
36:42engines everywhere
36:43you know
36:44it's going to be
36:44a real real
36:45showcase event for us
36:47so I'm just making sure
36:48that you know
36:48we've got everything
36:49in place
36:49before this big event
36:50and fingers crossed
36:52everything goes all right.
36:57It's gala day
36:59months of preparation
37:01all culminating
37:02into one big celebration
37:04of steam heritage
37:05and our chance
37:08and our chance
37:08to put on a show
37:09and it all starts
37:21here in Grosmont.
37:22It's always busy working
37:23in Grosmont's signal box
37:25but on a gala day
37:26we have almost twice
37:27as many trains
37:28as normal
37:28so it's going to be
37:29a very busy day.
37:32And guest locomotive
37:3378019
37:34gets the honour
37:35of launching
37:36the celebrations.
37:39This is the first train
37:41of the day
37:42this is what kicks
37:43the gala off
37:44all the way to Pickering
37:45and so yeah
37:46it's going to be
37:46a great day.
37:48It takes every bit
37:49of teamwork
37:49every volunteer
37:50every lump of coal
37:52Gates are open
37:54so we're ready to go
37:55aren't we?
37:56We are.
38:00But when that first
38:01whistle blows
38:02and the trains roll out
38:04through the moors
38:05it's pure magic.
38:15And with that first
38:16engine on its way
38:17the gala can really
38:19get going in style.
38:33We've only just opened
38:35but already the platforms
38:36are buzzing
38:37with steam enthusiasts
38:38and I'm chuffed to see
38:40the Isle of Wight engine
38:41is delighting the crowds.
38:43You come to a railway
38:46when there's about
38:47ten locomotives running
38:48at one time
38:50it's just mind-boggling.
38:52It's like being
38:52in a chocolate factory
38:53there's so much choice
38:55but the good thing is
38:57you don't get indigestion.
39:00This place is quite special
39:02because there's
39:02different landscapes
39:03as you go through
39:04and it's got a good
39:05variety of locomotives.
39:06Having a ride behind
39:07the invited locomotives
39:08that are here today
39:09yeah it's just
39:10it's a great day.
39:14With the engines
39:15steaming their way
39:16through the Yorkshire
39:17countryside
39:17packed with happy visitors
39:19back at the
39:20Gromont engine sheds
39:21crowds are gathering
39:23to watch the steam crane
39:24in action.
39:24We're just putting
39:27the jib up
39:28so we can do
39:28our demonstration
39:29when you're ready Tom
39:31jib up
39:31so we're going to
39:33demonstrate to the public
39:34what the crane can do
39:35but we're nowhere
39:38near its capacity
39:39because it can lift
39:3945 tonne
39:40but people will get
39:41a good idea
39:41on what you can do
39:42and why we use it.
39:44The steam crane
39:45was designed
39:46as a breakdown crane
39:47for lifting
39:48derailed locomotives
39:49and it's now essential
39:51for railway maintenance
39:52and operation.
39:53There's not many
39:54working cranes left
39:55steam cranes
39:56thank you
39:57The crane is looked
39:59after mostly by Charlie
40:01and he's rightly proud
40:02of this unique piece
40:03of railway heritage
40:05It was built in 1926
40:06which makes it
40:0799 years of age
40:09we bought it in 1979
40:11and since then
40:12we've maintained it
40:13in the state it's in
40:14it's in full working order
40:16We think this is more
40:17exciting than steam trains
40:18crane days are good days
40:20we like crane days
40:21it's even attracted people
40:23from the other side
40:24of the world
40:24We're from the Gold Coast
40:25in Australia
40:26we've extended our trip
40:27just to come and see the gala
40:28what we're watching
40:29at the moment
40:30is a steam crane operating
40:31which is something
40:32fairly rare
40:33I've never seen another one
40:35it's brilliant to see
40:36It's good to see it in motion
40:38doing what it was designed
40:40to do
40:40fantastic
40:41With the gala in full swing
40:46every platform
40:47and every station
40:48is full of steam engines
40:49with people from all over the world
40:51here to take in
40:52the best in steam heritage
40:54and it looks like
40:55our three kittens
40:56Titch, Klinker and Ash
40:58are delighting the crowds too
41:00Hi little cat
41:02Hi
41:02Oh it's tiny
41:04The bird one here
41:05Oh yeah
41:07Sunny spot
41:09and with the sun shining
41:12and happy faces all round
41:14it's always a good chance
41:17to get a bit of customer feedback
41:18Good day?
41:20Yeah so far
41:21Where most of you came from then?
41:23Where do we live?
41:25Dardysey
41:26Yeah Dardysey
41:27What's your favourite engine
41:28that we've got here then?
41:29You've got a name
41:30or is it a number?
41:32The Porsche to a Black 5
41:33Yeah
41:34I've got to say
41:35I certainly agree on the Black 5
41:37Brilliant engine
41:38While Bungle charms
41:40the visitors at Gromont
41:41I'm up at Levesham with Lucy
41:43Lucy is my own little engine
41:47She's an 1890s steam tram
41:49that I've spent years restoring
41:51I love bringing her out
41:52for the gala
41:53to give visitors
41:54a mile long ride at Levesham
41:56and I couple her
41:57with a traditional brake van
41:58which was designed
41:59to supplement
42:00a train's braking force
42:02Right if you all want to get on the brake van
42:03we're going to do a lap round the station
42:05climb on
42:06mind the gap as you get on
42:07it's not the fastest train in the world
42:09and you'll end up back where you started
42:11but apart from that
42:12it's a good ride
42:13Right
42:14we have a green driver
42:15we can go
42:16Right
42:16hold on everyone
42:17Usually I'd be up at the front
42:20on the footplate
42:21but today I'm the brake van guard
42:23keeping a close eye on everything
42:25and crucially
42:26operating the manual handbrake
42:32make it go a bit easier
42:37Lucy might be too small
42:39to haul the big passenger trains
42:40but she's perfect
42:41for giving the visitors
42:42a rare chance
42:43to ride in a brake van
42:44and get up close
42:46to the footplate
42:47Beautiful day for it
42:48Something I've wanted to do
42:51all my life
42:51Yeah, yeah
42:52There's only the brake
42:53of the engine at the moment
42:54so it does bounce around
42:56a bit more than a normal
42:57passenger train
42:58It's all part of the experience
43:00Flashing white light
43:02Green
43:03Crossing clear
43:05Hold on tight
43:09I think we're back
43:13Leversham
43:15There we are
43:18Thank you very much
43:19It's alright
43:20Yep, no worries
43:21I hope you enjoyed it
43:22For most visitors
43:24it's their first time
43:25in a brake van
43:26and it's lovely
43:27to see how much
43:28they enjoy it
43:28I've always wanted
43:30to experience
43:30the brake van ride
43:31and today I've done it
43:32and it's been
43:33well worth the visit
43:34Absolutely
43:35It was really, really good
43:37I got right at the front
43:38I could see the man
43:40shoveling the coal
43:41and everything
43:41It was great
43:42Pretty much on time
43:44everything's working
43:45I don't like saying too much
43:46touch a bit of wood
43:47but yeah
43:48it's going alright
43:49I'm quite pleased
43:50There's plenty of people about
43:51so I'm happy
43:52Happy little piglet
43:53Down the line
43:55at Goatland Station
43:56it's not just the visitors
43:58enjoying themselves
43:59There are plenty
44:00of our hard-working volunteers
44:02soaking up the atmosphere too
44:03It's handy today
44:04because we changed over
44:06at two o'clock
44:06I can do some photography
44:08in the afternoon
44:08I'm part of the
44:10Landside Conservation Team
44:11Normally I do
44:13dry stone walling
44:14Today I'm out
44:15taking photographs
44:15and videos
44:16of the trains
44:17on the Steam Gala
44:19If all these smiling faces
44:20are anything to go by
44:22the gala is a success
44:23There's been so many
44:26haven't there
44:26it's just wonderful
44:27to see so many engines
44:29It's very nice to see it
44:32so well patronised
44:34Well it's the people
44:34that make it really
44:35because I mean
44:36it just doesn't have
44:36the people coming in
44:37it doesn't have the money
44:38coming in
44:38It makes me proud
44:42to hear such positive feedback
44:43It makes all the hard work
44:45worthwhile
44:46But all good things
44:50must come to an end
44:51and with the gala over
44:52for another year
44:53I think we can all
44:54feel pretty chuffed
44:55For me
45:04I know Gala Weekend
45:05has been a success
45:06when I get to sit down
45:08with a drink
45:08and we're better
45:10than one of our
45:11village locals
45:11It's run by some of our
45:15staff and volunteers
45:16including Bungle
45:18and it's a tribute
45:19to railway heritage
45:20and local folk traditions
45:22Cheers
45:35Cheers
45:36It's been quite a season
45:38hasn't it?
45:38Challenging at times
45:41Challenging yes
45:45but definitely worth it
45:47and after the past few days
45:48I'm certainly ready for more
45:50Next year's season 30 for me
45:53Is it?
45:54Oh yeah
45:55It's quite a while
45:56I turn 30
45:57Do you?
45:58Yeah you started the year
45:59I was born
46:00I know I feel old
46:02but I've enjoyed it
46:04Keeps you on your toes
46:05this place
46:06I've been
46:06Oh cheers
46:08Well we've got there
46:08We made it
46:09Yep
46:10To the end
46:10Yep
46:11To next season now
46:12Yeah no
46:14I'm looking forward to it
46:15I miss you
46:22Thank you
46:26Thank you
46:27Thank you
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