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Steam Train Diaries Season 1 Episode 4
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I'm Paul but most people call me Piglet. Steam trains are my world and I help run
00:10one of Britain's most popular heritage lines, the North Yorkshire Moes Railway.
00:19Stretching 24 glorious miles from the traditional market town of Pickering,
00:26heading over the North York Moes and on to the coastal town of Whitby.
00:34North Yorkshire, what's not to like? It's breathtaking. I'm proud to be part of a
00:41thousand strong team working hard to keep this 200 year old tradition alive.
00:46That's what's brought me back all these years, it's just one big family.
00:51Together we're facing the challenges of taking steam into its third century.
00:56It takes passion. Everything that we do I'm really proud of. Skill. When you're
01:02ready Tom, do you move? And as a charity, some serious funds to keep the wheels
01:09turning on this heritage line. Five pounds, six pounds. But when you look out over this.
01:18It's beautiful. It's absolutely stunning. And get to make people this happy. There's not
01:24a better sight than that pulling out the station. There's nothing else I'd rather do. That's my
01:31kind of day in the office. Today I attempt to bring a 60 ton steam engine 300 miles across land and sea
01:39from the Isle of Wight. It's going to be ultimate stage to perform. The North York Moors reveals hidden
01:46secrets of railway history. These conjure up wonderful things these places. And everything is on the line
01:54as the gala approaches. It's just spinning plates, not enough sticks.
02:09So far this series I've travelled 18 miles along our heritage railway. Through some of the most picturesque
02:15and dramatic parts of the North York Moors National Park.
02:21I live in a dream. Between Pickering, Levisham, Goatland and Gromont.
02:33Today I'm starting at the most northern point of the railway in the historic Yorkshire coastal town of Whitby.
02:41And I'll be firing Repton, a 1930s engine that's a reliable member of our fleet, along with volunteer driver Stuart.
02:49Right, I'm just going to put a couple of lumps on. We're right away. Right, right away driver.
03:01And we're off.
03:05The port here at Whitby is one of the very reasons our railway exists.
03:10It was the need to transport goods like coal and timber to inland towns and to bring produce to the ships in the port
03:17that led to the opening of a single track railway in 1835, designed and built by railway pioneer George Stevenson.
03:28It makes Whitby a pretty significant place for us at the railway, but it's important for me too.
03:35Right, we're leaving Whitby. It's a real special place for me, Whitby. I was born here. This is my hometown.
03:40So it's really nice to fire a steam engine out of the station, all the way up to Gromont.
03:49Almost 200 years after that first line opened, quite a few things have changed.
03:54But we do our best to keep the history and heritage alive, to keep our loyal customers coming back time and time again.
04:01We are a bit old-fashioned, you know, in terms of enjoying this sort of thing, but it's...
04:07We just...
04:08It makes us happy, doesn't it?
04:09It makes us happy, we enjoy it.
04:11There's steam passing the window. It's got beautiful scenery.
04:14The distant sound of the steam local working hard if you're going up a hill or...
04:19The whole balance of the carriage, it's fantastic.
04:22Today, we're travelling on what is now a mainline section of track from Whitby, six miles inland to Gromont.
04:34Starting here, right alongside Whitby Harbour, with all of its boats and plenty of tourists,
04:40we'll head away from the famous ruined abbey.
04:43With the harbour behind us, we'll pass under the majestic Larpul Viaduct, travelling alongside the river-esque for most of our route.
04:53Heading through the village of Sleights, we'll pass over nine bridges and navigate plenty of tight curves
04:59as we cross and re-cross the river on our approach to Gromont.
05:07It's lovely to be on Repton today, one of my favourite engines.
05:11It's not a too bad bit of line from a fireman's point of view.
05:15It's not too difficult, it's relatively flat, but there's a lot of things we've got to look out for.
05:21Different signals, lots of crossings.
05:24But yeah, it's a beautiful day for it as well.
05:30It's a privilege to be helping driver Stuart power the engine along the line today.
05:34But if I'm honest, I'm thinking about one thing, our steam gala.
05:38It's the final hurrah of our summer season and the biggest event in our calendar.
05:44And we rely heavily on it to raise valuable funds.
05:48We've got a lot of stuff going on.
05:50We've got a lot of engines coming.
05:51I'm really looking forward to seeing the Isle of Wight engine come.
05:54But in between that, we've got to get this train to Gromont.
05:58For us, the annual steam gala is like our World Cup final.
06:03It takes months of planning and it's vital we put on the best show we can
06:07to attract as many visitors as possible.
06:09And one way we do that is to bring guest engines from all over the country to run on our line.
06:15So this year, I set the team the task of bringing a 60 tonne steam engine up to North Yorkshire
06:26from the Isle of Wight steam railway.
06:28Travelling by road and sea, the logistics are tricky to say the least.
06:32Hey mate, you're all put in the back there mate.
06:42And we've made it.
06:43That's a good start.
06:44We've made it here.
06:46Most steam engines aren't allowed to travel on the national rail network anymore.
06:50So the only way I can get one from the Isle of Wight over on the ferry and up here to North York Moors
06:56is on the back of a low loader.
06:58With specialist driver Chris and Stuart in a support vehicle.
07:05But at 25 metres long and with nine pairs of wheels, driving the low loader is no easy task.
07:11The first stage to get the engine onto the trailer is to build a special section of track on a carefully angled slope.
07:18You're negating as much risk as possible of anything going wrong basically.
07:21Five minutes now setting it up can save you two hours of messing around because you've tried to rush.
07:25Just makes life easier.
07:27Once the track is all squared up and steady, the 60 tonne engine is winched slowly up the track and into position on the low loader.
07:36Now with a combined weight of 110 tonnes, it's just the start of many logistical challenges ahead.
07:44The first is the small matter of the seven miles of water between the Isle of Wight and the mainland.
07:53As Steam Buff and Heritage Railway boss Mark knows all too well.
07:57The biggest logistical challenge is just getting an engine on and off the Isle of Wight.
08:01It's got to go on a particular ferry route, it's got to go on a particular vessel, it's got to go at a particular time of the tide.
08:07To comply with the ferry regulations, the combined height of the lorry and the engine can't be over 16 feet.
08:16And these experts know all the tricks of the trade to make sure they're following the rules to the letter.
08:25Just kick the bottom in a little bit, it's leaning out.
08:28OK.
08:29A little bit more.
08:30Is that 16?
08:31Yeah.
08:32Come down to the chimney?
08:34So about here?
08:35I get it.
08:36There we go.
08:37Happy days, we're good at that?
08:38Yeah.
08:39There we go.
08:40Planning and executing this type of mammoth transportation costs serious cash.
08:45But I'm banking on this little engine bringing in the fans.
08:50Part of its appeal is the story it tells.
08:53When steam was replaced by diesel and electric in the 60s, most steam engines were sold for scrap and left to rust.
09:01Many, like 41313, ended up at a steam graveyard in Barrie Island in South Wales.
09:08It was only thanks to steam enthusiasts that some of the engines, including this one, were rescued and restored.
09:17And now, for Mark, seeing her set off on a big journey to Yorkshire is a proud moment.
09:26It's the equivalent of your child going somewhere like, I don't know, the Royal Albert Hall or the Tower Ballrooms in Blackpool or Wembley
09:36to perform to a huge audience.
09:38And do you know what? The North Yorkshire Moors, it's probably the most beautiful scenery of a steam railway in Britain.
09:45So she's going to the ultimate stage to perform.
09:48Now she's safe and secure, it's down to Chris to start his challenging route to Yorkshire and make it to the ferry on time.
09:57If he can navigate the Isle of Wight's country roads, that is.
10:01When you're looking at the trees that are in front of us, they're down at 13 and a half, 14 foot, some of these trees.
10:09Some of them are even lower.
10:10It's just one of those things.
10:11It's someone who's got a...
10:13You're always battling with, unfortunately.
10:15Luckily, driver Chris's experience, ably backed by Stuart's support in the truck behind,
10:21means the first part of the journey is going well.
10:24Keep that line, mate, you're all good.
10:29Looking good at the minute, mate.
10:31We should be in plenty of time for a ferry now.
10:33So, yeah, it's all gone quite well.
10:39With the narrow roads navigated safely, getting onto the ferry is the next hurdle.
10:44And whilst the team has got the height of weight correct...
10:49Right, you want to stop there, mate, you're going to ground down.
10:52Tide's a bit too high.
10:55Unfortunately, Mother Nature doesn't always play ball.
10:58If the tide is too high, getting on and off can be impossible.
11:02So the team has to adjust the trailer to avoid damaging the ferry infrastructure.
11:06Keep going.
11:08Oh, yeah, it's a minute, mate.
11:12We should be all right now, mate.
11:15With the engine safely loaded onto the ferry, Chris can take a moment to enjoy the ride.
11:21Oh, definitely a steam fan, yeah.
11:23I mean, I'm a fan of anything mechanical, whether it's steam, diesel.
11:27Yeah, anything that can move and you can get interested in and look at,
11:31I enjoy all that sort of stuff.
11:33They're certainly steam engines, it's a living, breathing thing.
11:35Before it's time to get back on the road.
11:39And we will creep our way off.
11:44You're all OK at the back at the minute, mate.
11:47You clear the last post on the concrete post on the right-hand side.
11:51Safely back on land...
11:52And we're rolling.
11:54..now begins a 300-mile journey up to North Yorkshire.
11:59And for Chris, it's a chance to return to where he grew up.
12:03I remember going to the railway with my dad when I was a kid.
12:06I don't get back here as often as I should because I'm always working.
12:09So, yeah, it is quite nice to come back to the area.
12:12And trucks and trains is an ideal job for me, really.
12:17Even though 41313 is in Chris's capable hands, I won't relax until it's here.
12:23So, I'm actually not going to be here when the Ivet arrives, unfortunately.
12:29But, you know, I'm sort of keeping my fingers crossed it turns up.
12:32It's got a long journey, you know, pretty much the full length of the country.
12:35It literally lands just in time for the gala.
12:38So, there's not a lot of, you know, fudge factor in it, so to speak, if it goes wrong.
12:43So, I've got everything crossed.
12:45We'll be reed.
12:46We'll be right back, behind the scenes.
12:59In the heart of the North York mills, the summer season is coming to an end.
13:04But for us at the railway, the most exciting weekend of our year is approaching.
13:10And right now, a very special guest is about to arrive.
13:14After a 300-mile journey on the back of a low loader from the Isle of Wight,
13:20engine 41313 is almost here.
13:25An engine fitter Bungle and track engineer Martin are waiting excitedly to greet her.
13:30It's always good to see one arrive and always better when it's back on the rails.
13:34I'm glad I'm not reversing all 110 tonnes of engine and lorry.
13:40OK, I hope we have a minute, mate. Keep it coming, mate.
13:44Keep coming, mate.
13:45But it looks like Chris and Stuart have it all well under control.
13:51OK, mate, that'll do you there.
13:55How are we doing, Martin? Long time no see?
13:58Yeah, it's not too bad. Good to see you back again.
14:00Right, we'll get this lined up and get it off.
14:04I'm happy with the progress. It's a successfully completed job. It's what we like, no issues.
14:16It's a nice sense of achievement getting here and these guys will enjoy it.
14:19I'll be back in a few weeks to pick it up and take it back.
14:22I can't wait to see our visitors' reactions to the guest engines we've got lined up for them at the gala this weekend.
14:33And while preparations are happening at every station already, normal service continues.
14:41So today I'm firing a 91-year-old steam engine from the Yorkshire coastal town of Whitby to the heart of our railway in Grormont.
14:49This part of the world does hold a very special, if bittersweet, place in my heart.
14:57I met my great-grandmother, Sarah Jane Walker, at Whitby Hospital.
15:01She held me just after I was born and then sadly passed away shortly afterwards.
15:07I only recently found out she worked at the booking office at York railway station.
15:11And her father, Samuel Walker, was a railway police officer.
15:18So I think it's safe to say I was destined for a life on the railway.
15:24Well, mornings like this, it's a privilege to be involved in the railway because this is what it's all about.
15:28Teamwork on the footplate, beautiful scenery, nice engine, although it's rattling a little bit.
15:34I mean, sort of all timing out, but other than that, it's the perfect way to spend a day.
15:39The thing about the landscape here is how open it is and the beauty of it, you can see for miles.
15:49The landscape is... keep on changing.
15:53It's brilliant. It's breathtaking.
15:58Keep an eye out. We're off now.
16:01This section of the line, it's a really tight curve round here.
16:05As we leave Whitby behind us, the first highlight of the route is the majestic Larpul Viaduct.
16:12With its 12 soaring piers and 13 arches, this 36-metre-high piece of railway history
16:19was built using an incredible 5 million bricks.
16:23And the middle piers were designed on a twist so as not to affect the natural flow of the river Esk.
16:31We're just going under Larpul Viad at the moment, heading out towards the Ruzzam.
16:38It must have been amazing to watch the steam engines go across that back in the day.
16:42There's a footpath over it, the Cinder Trail, so you can walk that beautiful part of the railway.
16:51The Cinder Track that passes over the viaduct is one of the many trails that follow the routes
16:59of disused railway lines across North Yorkshire.
17:04They all make a lovely day out, but the one closest to my heart is a bit further along the line from here,
17:10and it's known as the Rail Trail.
17:13How are they?
17:14How are they?
17:14Hi Chris, you alright?
17:15Yeah, good to see you.
17:17The Rail Trail is a three-mile ramble between Goatland and Gromont that's littered with railway history.
17:24It runs across the hills and valleys close to our line, following the route of the original
17:29horse-drawn line, which eventually closed because of the demands of steam travel.
17:35It's a really lovely walk, and it's popular with train buffs who want to get
17:39unique shots of passing trains.
17:43Today Chris, a volunteer in our station group and archive team who's passionate about local history,
17:49is walking the trail with Dave, a volunteer signaller and professional photographer,
17:55who's keen to add to the railway's historic records.
17:58I can photograph things that have been left behind from the railway years ago.
18:03Chris will know the dates, he will also know where these spots are.
18:08He's got more in-depth knowledge of the history than me.
18:11The trail begins just above Goatland Station.
18:15Well, this is the start of the rail trail, three miles to Gromont from here.
18:21Right.
18:22So you're going to see a lot of history on this line.
18:25Plenty of places for me to take pictures.
18:27A few minutes into the walk, there are some clues to the railway's past and the original
18:33horse-drawn line which ran here.
18:39Here, you'll see two bricks with holes in.
18:42These holes in the wall are evidence of a real feat of early engineering, an ingenious rope and
18:56pulley system that hauled carriages up the steep moll and incline.
19:00And this would have been the point where the incline started.
19:04We can feel it going down.
19:06You can, you can feel it going down, yeah.
19:09Back then, the carriages were pulled by horses.
19:12So while the horses rested in the stables,
19:14the carriages were coupled to a mile-long rope that ran up the steep hill,
19:18anchored by heavy stones at the top, with huge water-filled tanks acting as counterweights.
19:24Carrying on, the path passes the old incline cottage,
19:28once home to the men who performed this task.
19:30This is where the guy that was responsible for dealing with the service down here would live.
19:37When it was horses, you'd have had stables here.
19:44From the bottom of the steep incline, the trail drops into Beckall.
19:48Now a quiet hamlet, but once a popular station on the original route.
19:52It's also now a favourite stopping-off point for hikers.
20:01Right, so here we all are at the virtual inn.
20:05And I believe it's a pub with a sweet shop in the middle.
20:10Well, that's right. It does have a sweet shop.
20:12Yeah, that's quite unusual.
20:14Plus a mannequin on the phone in the, in the phone box.
20:17I'll get some shots and we can pop in, can't we?
20:19Be great, let's do that.
20:22Known as the smallest pub in Yorkshire, the inn was built from two cottages in 1860.
20:37Hello there. Can I have an orange juice, please?
20:39It owes its existence to the railway.
20:46When miners and families moved to the area, they needed a shop and a pub.
20:51And they got both in the same place.
20:53It's lovely to see all the old sweets from years ago.
20:58Ah, my favourites.
20:59Licorice torpedoes.
21:00Licorice torpedoes.
21:01You know, I tried to get some the other day and I couldn't get them.
21:03Oh, this is great. I'll just grab a shot, actually, of the second beer.
21:07You see how I would, yeah.
21:14Landlady Glenys runs the inn and the shop with her husband, Neil.
21:19It's lovely to see your old sweet shop with all this.
21:21This reminds me of my childhood.
21:23How many years have you been in here, then?
21:26Forty-four.
21:27Oh.
21:27I'm counting.
21:28Oh, right.
21:29Right, yeah.
21:30Oh, it's lovely.
21:31Is it all right if I take a picture of you while you're stood there?
21:33I think so.
21:34I was right.
21:36Yep.
21:37Thanks a lot.
21:42Bye-bye.
21:46Leaving the inn behind, the path follows the old track bed towards what was once Bec Hull Station.
21:52It's now little more than a clearing in the trees.
21:55The station closed in 1865.
21:57It was kept open for freight.
21:59But then, in about 1908, there was an idea to run Sunday tourist specials from Whitby.
22:07So they ran these just for a short period.
22:10First of all, put an end to it.
22:11They were never restarted.
22:12And the line basically fell into disuse.
22:16Walking this trail today, it's hard to imagine a busy railway line running through this tranquil
22:21part of the moors.
22:23But the evidence is still there, if you know where to look.
22:27I like following where railways used to be years ago, and then taking pictures of all the little
22:32plaques and parts that were left behind when it was all dismantled.
22:35One of the things that I always find exciting is who travelled along this railway.
22:40Charles Dickens has been right past here.
22:44These conjure up wonderful things, these places.
22:48But not all the memories held here are good ones.
22:51Just beyond the station, on a freezing February in 1864,
22:56when early steam engines were still using the old rope and pulley system,
23:00tragedy struck here.
23:01The train came from York, came down the incline, and unfortunately the rope broke
23:09due to lack of maintenance.
23:11There was five coaches, and the first class was the first coach.
23:15It survived to here, then it hit this bend and came off, and was littered in that field just there.
23:25Yeah.
23:25And unfortunately there were two commercial travellers from Whitby that were killed.
23:29Right.
23:30Along with the brakesman.
23:31Shortly after that fatal accident, the railway line was rerouted to the line we still use today.
23:37It's safe to say that without history buffs like Chris, these stories might get lost in the mists of time.
23:43This is a unique line, the rail trail itself is unique, and we have to preserve everything that's along its way.
23:54Just ahead stand the Esk Valley Cottages, built in the 1850s for the workers at the nearby Ironstone mine.
24:01And their pretty exteriors are a real treat for photographers.
24:07I love all the different colours. I've seen this picture so many times in railway magazines.
24:12Yeah.
24:13And to get a shot with one of the steam engines coming past would be great.
24:17They are iconic as far as this railway is concerned.
24:20And right on cue, the telltale sound of an engine approaching.
24:25You've got one coming.
24:26Get the camera out quick.
24:32And then I can get them from just here.
24:34Best chance you'll get.
24:40What a fantastic sound.
24:45Looks great. The steam carries across the countryside. That does look good.
24:50Ah, what a fantastic sight.
24:56I haven't actually been here to take that shot before, so it's great to see it.
25:00There are a few photos of the old line, so every one Dave takes adds to its story.
25:09Been brilliant today.
25:11I love my photography, especially with the railways and the buildings,
25:15but it's made it ten times better with Chris coming along.
25:18Thank you very much for that. I've really enjoyed it.
25:21That's my pleasure. Thank you.
25:26The trail continues down into Gromont, where, of course, you can hop on a train and get back to where you started.
25:33For us, the rail trail is more than just a ramble through the moors.
25:37It's a way of keeping Yorkshire's railway past alive.
25:40I'm steaming across Yorkshire on the footplate of one of the workhorses of our heritage railway.
25:56I've left Whitby behind me, and I'm now passing some of the most beautiful scenery,
26:01navigating tight curves and travelling over the bridges as we cross and re-cross the river Esk.
26:10Absolutely stunning, gnarly. Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
26:15The engines just live and breathe, and if you cut them, they bleed steam, and they're such a lovely machine.
26:28If you've not been on a steam train before, I could really recommend it.
26:32This section of the line is littered with crossings, farm crossings, so you've got to keep an eye out all the time.
26:42It's all just about controlling, making sure that I've got enough steam at the right time for when the driver needs it.
26:49Don't want too much, because that's a waste of energy, but at the same time, we need enough to be able to haul the train.
26:54I probably won't need to put any more coal on now until we get into Gromont, but we'll see. We'll make that judgement when we get a little bit nearer.
27:04It might be hard work up here at the front, but for our passengers, it's all about enjoying the ride
27:10and revelling in the unique combination of the living machine and the Yorkshire landscape.
27:15It gets to. Yeah. It's the engine, the heartbeat, the chop, chop, chop.
27:21It's like music, isn't it? When you're going along this track, there'll be so many different engine sounds and so many different speeds that we go at.
27:37Now, as we approach Gromont now, the hub of the railway and the engineering, we're looking forward.
27:44That's going to be a hive activity at the gala. There's going to be engines everywhere. It's going to be super busy.
27:51Get some water in the boiler again. Although we've been preparing for the gala for months,
27:56now less than 24 hours before kick-off, everything starts coming together. Well, that's the plan.
28:05So today, every workshop, every platform and every volunteer is busy with last-minute jobs before the big event begins.
28:13Volunteer Peter is giving engine Eric Tracy a final gloss.
28:19There is always a lot to do at gala weekend. More often than not, it's last-minute. In this case, this locomotive will have a fire in this afternoon.
28:31It's to be helped. This varnish will dry off quickly, you know.
28:37Breakfast. Come on.
28:38But before the crowds arrive and the engines take centre stage, Bungle has a very important job to do for a few unexpected stars who are stealing the show.
28:47So it's gala weekend. While most people are coming to see the trains, I dare say that a select few will be coming to see the kitties.
28:57We've been a petting.
28:58They're doing really well. They're about 18 weeks old now.
29:01They're the priority. I think they're in charge of us, to be honest.
29:03They ask who the boss is, and I think it's definitely these.
29:05You're doing really well, aren't you?
29:08Our furry friends, Ash, Klinker and Titch, are part of a long-standing tradition.
29:14If you look back at old railway photos, right back in British Railway's days, they always have cats on shed.
29:19And it's just, it's another bit of keeping heritage alive.
29:25She's now going round everyone else's bowl, making sure nothing goes to waste here.
29:30While the kittens get ready for their big moment, Nick, our head of mechanical engineering, is mastermining the shunting of the engines.
29:38So they're in the right order to go out on the tracks for the gala.
29:42And this involves a shunting locomotive doing a lot of pushing and pulling.
29:47So if we don't have things in the right order for tomorrow, the duty fitter will have to do loads of shunting.
29:52And then everything will be late. We're never short of jobs.
29:55The gala is the railway's biggest event of the year.
29:58We go all out to make a splash.
30:01And every engine, every platform, every carriage has to be prepped and ready before the first whistle blows.
30:08It's our main event. It's our FA Cup final is the gala.
30:11It's just spinning plates for not enough sticks.
30:15It's a massive undertaking.
30:17Even the shunt on the sheds are big.
30:19It's going to take all day today shunting.
30:22This year, we've got an incredible lineup of guest engines from all over the country,
30:26joining our home fleet, with more than a dozen in steam for the weekend.
30:31Including 41313, safely arrived from the Isle of Wight.
30:38257 Squadron, another Rockstar engine built in 1948.
30:42And my pride and joy, my very own little steam tram, Lucy, which will be driving up and down the tracks near Levesham.
30:53The team is also prepping the steam crane.
30:55This is one steam-powered piece of railway history that's not an engine.
31:02This impressive piece of kit is strong enough to lift 45 tonnes.
31:08I have no doubt that visitors will be in awe when they see it in action.
31:12Charlie, you got a minute?
31:16Charlie is our steam crane driver.
31:18This crane's got a fire in it then.
31:20Yeah.
31:20So tomorrow we'll put the legs out and then we'll set up.
31:23Are we picking that boiler up?
31:24Yeah.
31:26Are we getting on, boys, all right?
31:28Yes.
31:29So, this one was in bitch yesterday, as you know.
31:32Yeah.
31:32So all this cleaning, we'll get it back out for the gala, hopefully.
31:36But there's no wasted effort.
31:37That's much appreciated.
31:39There's a lot to do and we couldn't do any of it without our thousand-strong army of volunteers.
31:45Another unseen job, getting all the wood ready.
31:47Yeah, yeah, we'll burn some this weekend.
31:51Yeah.
31:52Hello, Charlie. Good morning.
31:54So these chaps have been breaking the wood up for an hour, bless them.
31:57We can't run the shed without volunteers and they can't volunteer without paid staff.
32:01It's a bit of a synergy.
32:03And then they get paid in lots of tea.
32:08It's not just the engines in the sheds where preparations are taking place.
32:14Every station along the line is being readied.
32:17Polishing name boards, cleaning up and setting up the bar.
32:21Everyone's adding those finishing touches that make the gala weekend special.
32:27Back in the sheds, it's less about polish and more about graft.
32:31To make sure the engines are in top condition, we give them an MOT or washout, as we call it.
32:37And it means they'll perform at their best for the gala.
32:41It gets rid of all the impurities out of the water and out of the boiler itself.
32:44But over its 28-day cycle, it creates sludge and limescale, much like your kettle at home.
32:50Just on a larger scale.
32:51The team needs to access the boiler's internal spaces with a hose.
32:55And doing the especially mucky work on this engine is Sam.
32:59When I was growing up, we always went to Gauflin to watch the trains go past.
33:05It wasn't until 2021 when I finally started volunteering straight out of college.
33:12It's a tough and dirty job, but it's vital to ensure the engines are fit to run.
33:17The smoke box, in a sense, is an incredibly mucky area.
33:19Because that's where all the smoke and the soot comes through from the firebox.
33:22And the soot and water, when it sticks together, it becomes a horrendous paste.
33:26And it just gets everywhere, it's awful.
33:29I do feel for Sam a little bit.
33:31Once the hosing is done, Chris needs to see if Sam's cleaning skills are up to scratch.
33:35Which means peering right into the beating heart of the engine itself.
33:39The kit we use for the inspection is very old school.
33:42It is a cotton rag with wire around it, and it's soaked in paraffin.
33:47And we use the mirror to get into all the various places and see around the corners.
33:56So if I have a look in this one, I'll be able to see right down to the corner.
34:02Which I can, and it is clear, there's nothing there in there.
34:06Yeah, Sam's done alright, he's not too bad.
34:09I might keep him for another day, maybe.
34:12With the boiler now clean and ready for its next steam up,
34:15it's almost showtime in the sheds.
34:18And it's the vantage point on the sheds viewing platform that will give the visitors a front row seat.
34:24On Garda, this will be rammed.
34:26And it will probably be open from about half past five in the morning.
34:29With people getting atmospheric shots of engines being lit up.
34:33The prep that goes on.
34:35But you really get a sense of an engine being lit from here and
34:38how it's coming to life almost when the steam is raised.
34:42It's your chimney level.
34:45It's what we look forward to all year.
34:47But we just have to keep everything crossed.
34:50We've done enough to bring in the crowns and make this gala a success.
34:54I'm steaming across the North York moors on the footplate of a 1930s engine.
35:11I'm almost at the end of my journey from the coastal town of Whitby to Gromont,
35:16the beating heart of our railway.
35:18And it's been a glorious ride.
35:21I do like the ride on Repton.
35:23From a fireman's point of view, it's really, really nice.
35:26It's a good traffic engine.
35:28Everything's in the right place.
35:29Everything just works.
35:31It's easy to operate.
35:33And now we shut the regulator, the pressure will come back up.
35:37Which means I can grab the opportunity.
35:39Put some water in the boiler.
35:43Try not to lose me hat when I stick it out.
35:48It's so much more interesting, so much more fun than going on a modern train.
35:54Even though it's slow, it's scenic and it's lovely.
35:58And I think you can stand on the platform and look at these beasts coming in gently.
36:05It's lovely.
36:06The steam belching out.
36:07It's good fun.
36:09Just this last section of track to navigate and we'll be at the platform.
36:13It's on the curve, slight hill going in.
36:17But the driver will have to really focus on trying to get it into the station without too much slipping.
36:24There we are, falling into Grosmont platform.
36:26So I've just got off Repton, here at Grosmont.
36:37And this is like the calm before the storm.
36:39As you can see, there's not many people around.
36:41But at the weekend, when we get this gala up and running,
36:43it's going to be an absolute hive of activity.
36:46Excited people, engines everywhere.
36:49You know, it's going to be a real, real showcase event for us.
36:51So I'm just making sure that, you know, we've got everything in place before this big event.
36:55And fingers crossed, everything goes all right.
37:02It's gala day.
37:05Months of preparation, all culminating into one big celebration of steam heritage.
37:12And our chance to put on a show.
37:14Yeah, then, Richard, that's very press conference, so I'm all clear between two and three.
37:19You are now clear of platform's turn three.
37:21I'll take back lockout device nine-two, then signal on over.
37:24And it all starts here in Grosmont.
37:27It's always busy working in Grosmont's signal box, but on a gala day,
37:31we have almost twice as many trains as normal, so it's going to be a very busy day.
37:36And guest locomotive 78019 gets the honour of launching the celebrations.
37:45This is the first train of the day.
37:47This is what kicks the gala off, all the way to Pickering.
37:50And so, yeah, it's going to be a great day.
37:53It takes every bit of teamwork, every volunteer, every lump of coal.
37:58The gates are open, so we're ready to go, aren't we?
38:01We are.
38:05But when that first whistle blows, and the trains roll out through the moors,
38:10it's pure magic.
38:20And with that first engine on its way, the gala can really get going in style.
38:25We've only just opened, but already the platforms are buzzing with steam enthusiasts.
38:44And I'm chuffed to see the Isle of Wight engine is delighting the crowds.
38:48You come to a railway when there's about 10 locomotives running at one time,
38:55it's just mind-boggling.
38:57It's like being in a chocolate factory.
38:59There's so much choice, but the good thing is you don't get indigestion.
39:05This place is quite special, because there's different landscapes as you go through,
39:09and it's got a good ride to the locomotives.
39:11Having arrived behind the invited lakers that are here today, yeah, it's just a great day.
39:19With the engines steaming their way through the Yorkshire countryside,
39:23packed with happy visitors, back at the Gromont engine sheds,
39:27crowds are gathering to watch the steam crane in action.
39:32We're just putting the jib up so we can do our demonstration.
39:35When you're ready, Tom, jib up.
39:38So we're going to demonstrate to the public what the crane can do.
39:42So we're nowhere near its capacity, because it can lift 45 tonnes,
39:45but people will get a good idea on what you can do and why we use it.
39:49The steam crane was designed as a breakdown crane for lifting derailed locomotives,
39:54and it's now essential for railway maintenance and operation.
39:58There's not many working cranes left, steam cranes. Thank you.
40:03The crane is looked after mostly by Charlie,
40:06and he's rightly proud of this unique piece of railway heritage.
40:09It was built in 1926, which makes it 99 years of age.
40:14We bought it in 1979, and since then we've maintained it in the state it's in.
40:20It's in full working order.
40:21We think this is more exciting than steam cranes.
40:24Crane days are good days. We like crane days.
40:26It's even attracted people from the other side of the world.
40:29We're from the Gold Coast in Australia.
40:31We've extended our trip just to come and see the gala.
40:33What we're watching at the moment is a steam crane operating, which is something fairly rare.
40:39I've never seen another one. It's brilliant to see.
40:40It's good to see it in motion, doing what it was designed to do. Fantastic.
40:46With the gala in full swing, every platform and every station is full of steam engines,
40:54with people from all over the world here to take in the best in steam heritage.
40:59And it looks like our three kittens, Titch, Klinker and Ash, are delighting the crowds too.
41:05Hi little cat.
41:07Oh, it's tiny.
41:10The third one here.
41:11Oh yeah.
41:13Sunny spot.
41:16And with the sun shining and happy faces all round,
41:20it's always a good chance to get a bit of customer feedback.
41:24Good day?
41:24Yeah, so far.
41:26Where else have you came from then?
41:28Where do we live?
41:29Er, Dordishy.
41:31Yeah, Dordishy.
41:32What's your favourite engine that we've got here then?
41:34Mmm.
41:35You got a name or is it a number?
41:37The partial to a Black 5?
41:39Yeah.
41:39I've got to say, I certainly agree on the Black 5.
41:42Brilliant engine.
41:44While Bungle charms the visitors at Gromont, I'm up at Levisham with Lucy.
41:51Lucy is my own little engine.
41:52She's an 1890s steam tram that I've spent years restoring.
41:56I love bringing her out for the gala to give visitors a mile-long ride at Levisham.
42:01And I couple her with a traditional brake van, which was designed to supplement a train's braking force.
42:07Right, if you all want to get on the brake van, we're going to do a lap round the station.
42:10Climb on, mind the gap as you get on.
42:13It's not the fastest train in the world and you'll end up back where you started,
42:16but apart from that, it's a good ride.
42:18Right, we have a green driver, we can go.
42:21Right, hold on everyone.
42:22Usually I'd be up at the front on the footplate, but today I'm the brake van guard,
42:28keeping a close eye on everything and crucially, operating the manual handbrake.
42:41Make it go a bit easier.
42:42Lucy might be too small to haul the big passenger trains,
42:45but she's perfect for giving the visitors a rare chance to ride in a brake van and get up close to the footplate.
42:51Beautiful day for it.
42:55Something I've wanted to do all my life.
42:56Yeah, yeah, yeah.
42:57There's only the brake of the engine at the moment,
43:00so it does bounce around a bit more than a normal passenger train.
43:04It's all part of the experience.
43:06Flashing white light, green.
43:09Crossing clear.
43:14Hold on tight.
43:17I think we're back.
43:19Levisham.
43:22There we are.
43:24Thank you very much.
43:24It's all right.
43:25Yeah, no worries.
43:26Glad you enjoyed it.
43:28For most visitors, it's their first time in a brake van and it's lovely to see how much they enjoy it.
43:34I've always wanted to experience a brake van ride and today I've done it and it's been well worth the visit.
43:39Absolutely.
43:41It was really, really good.
43:42I got right at the front. I could see the man shoveling the coal and everything. It was great.
43:48Pretty much on time. Everything's working. I don't like saying too much. Touch a bit of wood.
43:52But yeah, it's going all right. I'm quite pleased.
43:55There's plenty of people about, so I'm happy. Happy little piglet.
44:00Down the line at Goatland Station, it's not just the visitors enjoying themselves. There are plenty of our
44:05hard-working volunteers soaking up the atmosphere too.
44:08It's handy today because we changed over at two o'clock. I can do some photography in the afternoon.
44:14I'm part of the Lineside Conservation Team. Normally I do dry stone walling.
44:19Today I'm out taking photographs and videos of the trains on the steam gala.
44:24If all these smiling faces are anything to go by, the gala is a success.
44:30There's been so many, hasn't there? It's just wonderful to see so many engines.
44:34It's very nice to see it so well patronized. It works with people that make it, really,
44:40because, I mean, you just didn't have the people coming in. You didn't have the money coming in.
44:45It makes me proud to hear such positive feedback. It makes all the hard work worthwhile.
44:54But all good things must come to an end. And with the gala over for another year,
44:58I think we can all feel pretty chuffed.
45:04For me, I know gala weekend has been a success when I get to sit down with a drink.
45:14And we're better than one of our village locals.
45:19It's run by some of our staff and volunteers, including Bungle.
45:23And it's a tribute to railway heritage and local folk traditions.
45:27Cheers. Cheers.
45:42It's been quite a season, hasn't it?
45:44Yeah. Challenging at times.
45:46Yeah, yeah.
45:49Challenging, yes, but definitely worth it.
45:52And after the past few days, I'm certainly ready for more.
45:56Next year's season 30 for me.
45:58Is it?
45:59Yeah.
45:59Oh, yeah.
46:00Yeah, it's quite a while.
46:01Yeah, because I turned 30.
46:02Do you?
46:03Yeah, you started the year I was born.
46:06I know I feel old.
46:08But I've enjoyed it.
46:09Keeps you on your toes this place, aren't I?
46:12Well, cheers.
46:13Well, we've got there.
46:13We made it, yeah.
46:14Thank you very much.
46:15Until the end, yeah.
46:16To next season now.
46:17Ooh.
46:19Yeah, no, I'm looking forward to it.
46:22Ooh.
46:41Ooh.
46:46Ooh.
46:50Ooh.
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