- hace 6 minutos
Categoría
😹
DiversiónTranscripción
00:00I'm Paul, but most people call me Piglet.
00:07Steam trains are my world, and I help run one of the Britain's most popular heritage lines,
00:15the North Yorkshire Moes Railway.
00:19Stretching 24 glorious miles from the traditional market town of Pickering,
00:25heading over the North York Moes, and on to the coastal town of Whitby.
00:34North Yorkshire, what's not to like?
00:37It's breathtaking.
00:40I'm proud to be part of a thousand-strong team working hard to keep this 200-year-old tradition alive.
00:47That's what's brought me back all these years, it's just one big family.
00:50Together, we're facing the challenges of taking steam into its third century.
00:57It takes passion.
00:59Everything that we do, I'm really proud of.
01:01Skill.
01:02When you're ready, Tom, do your book.
01:05And as a charity, some serious funds to keep the wheels turning on this heritage line.
01:13Five pounds, six pounds.
01:16But when you look out over this...
01:18It's beautiful. It's absolutely stunning.
01:21..and get to make people this happy...
01:24There's not a better sight than that pulling out the station.
01:29..there's nothing else I'd rather do.
01:31That's my kind of day in the office.
01:33Today, I attempt to bring a 60-ton steam engine
01:37300 miles across land and sea from the Isle of Wight.
01:41It's going to be the ultimate stage to perform.
01:44The North York Moors reveals hidden secrets of railway history.
01:48These conjure up wonderful things, these places.
01:52And everything is on the line as the gala approaches.
01:56It's just spinning plates and not enough sticks.
01:58LAUGHTER
01:59So far this series, I've travelled 18 miles along our heritage railway.
02:13Through some of the most picturesque and dramatic parts
02:16of the North York Moors National Park.
02:21They've been enjoying it.
02:22Between Pickering, Levisham,
02:26Goatland
02:27and Gromont.
02:28Today, I'm starting at the most northern point of the railway
02:36in the historic Yorkshire coastal town of Whitby.
02:40And I'll be firing Repton,
02:42a 1930s engine that's a reliable member of our fleet,
02:46along with volunteer driver Stuart.
02:48Right, I'm just going to put a couple of lumps on.
02:58We're right away.
02:59Right, right away driver.
03:02And we're off.
03:02The port here at Whitby is one of the very reasons our railway exists.
03:11It was the need to transport goods like coal and timber to inland towns
03:15and to bring produce to the ships in the port
03:17that led to the opening of a single-track railway in 1835,
03:22designed and built by railway pioneer George Stevenson.
03:26It makes Whitby a pretty significant place for us at the railway,
03:32but it's important for me too.
03:35Right, we're leaving Whitby.
03:37It's a real special place for me, Whitby.
03:38I was born here.
03:39This is my hometown.
03:40So it's really nice to fire a steam engine out of the station
03:44all the way up to Gromont.
03:49Almost 200 years after that first line opened,
03:52quite a few things have changed.
03:54But we do our best to keep the history and heritage alive
03:57to keep our loyal customers coming back time and time again.
04:01We are a bit old-fashioned in terms of enjoying this sort of thing,
04:06but it's...
04:07We just...
04:08It makes us happy, doesn't it?
04:09It makes us happy we enjoy it.
04:12There's steam passing the window.
04:13It's got beautiful scenery.
04:15The distant sound of the steam locomo working hard if you're going up a hill
04:19or the whole balance of the carriage, it's fantastic.
04:24Today, we're travelling on what is now a mainline section of track from Whitby,
04:30six miles inland to Gromont.
04:34Starting here, right alongside Whitby Harbour,
04:37with 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,
04:49travelling alongside the river Esk for most of our route.
04:54Heading through the village of Sleights,
04:56we'll pass over nine bridges and navigate plenty of tight curves
05:00as we cross and recross the river on our approach to Gromont.
05:03It's lovely to be on Repton today, one of my favourite engines.
05:12It's not a too bad bit of line from a fireman's point of view.
05:15It's not too difficult.
05:16It's relatively flat.
05:18But 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.
05:27It's a privilege to be helping driver Stuart power the engine along the line today.
05:35But if I'm honest, I'm thinking about one thing, our steam gala.
05:39It's the final hurrah of our summer season
05:41and 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's.
06:00For us, the annual steam gala is like our World Cup final.
06:05It takes months of planning and it's vital we put on the best show we can
06:08to attract as many visitors as possible.
06:12And one way we do that is to bring guest engines
06:14from all over the country to run on our line.
06:17So this year, I set the team the task of bringing a 60-tonne steam engine
06:25up to North Yorkshire from the Isle of Wight steam railway.
06:29Travelling by road and sea, the logistics are tricky to say the least.
06:33OK, 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.
06:47Most steam engines aren't allowed to travel
06:49on the National Rail Network any more.
06:51So the only way I can get one from the Isle of Wight,
06:54over on the ferry and up here to North York moors,
06:57is 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,
07:09driving the low loader is no easy task.
07:12The first stage to get the engine onto the trailer
07:14is to build a special section of track on a carefully angled slope.
07:19You're negating as much risk as possible of anything going wrong, basically.
07:22Five minutes now setting it up can save you two hours of messing around
07:24because you've tried to rush.
07:26Just makes life easier.
07:28Once the track is all squared up and steady,
07:32the 60 tonne engine is winched slowly up the track
07:35and into position on the low loader.
07:38Now with a combined weight of 110 tonnes,
07:42it's just the start of many logistical challenges ahead.
07:47The first is the small matter of the seven miles of water
07:51between the Isle of Wight and the mainland.
07:53As Steam Buff and Heritage Railway boss Mark knows all too well.
07:58The biggest logistical challenge is just getting an engine on and off the Isle of Wight.
08:02It's got to go on a particular ferry route, it's got to go on a particular vessel,
08:06it's got to go at a particular time of the tide.
08:09To 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?
08:33So about here.
08:34I get it.
08:35There we go.
08:36Happy days.
08:37We're good at that?
08:38Yeah.
08:39Planning and executing this type of mammoth transportation costs serious cash.
08:44But I'm banking on this little engine bringing in the fans.
08:48Part of its appeal is the story it tells.
08:52When 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.
09:09It 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 to perform to a huge audience.
09:38And do you know what?
09:39The 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.
09:50It'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.
10:08Some of them are even lower.
10:10It's just one of those things, it's someone who's got a, you're always battling with, unfortunately.
10:15Luckily, driver Chris's experience, ably backed by Stuart's support in the truck behind, means the first part of the journey is going well.
10:23Keep 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.
11:10Oh yeah, at the minute mate.
11:12You'll be alright 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.
11:33But 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.
11:42You're all okay at the back at the minute mate.
11:47You cleared the last post on the concrete post on the right hand side.
11:51Safely back on land.
11:52And we're rolling.
11:54Now begins a 300 mile journey up to North Yorkshire.
11:57And 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 and trucks and trains is an ideal job for me, really.
12:18Even though 41313 is in Chris's capable hands, I won't relax until it's here.
12:24So, 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.
12:33It's got a long journey, you know, pretty much the full length of the country.
12:36It 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 right.
12:59In the heart of the North York Moles, the summer season is coming to an end.
13:03But for us at the railway, the most exciting weekend of our year is approaching.
13:09And 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,
13:19engine 41313 is almost here.
13:24An 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.
13:44Keep coming, mate.
13:45But it looks like Chris and Stuart have it all well under control.
13:50OK, mate, that'll do you there.
13:52How are we doing, Martin? Long time no see?
13:56Yeah, it's not so bad. Good to see you back again.
13:59Right, we'll get this lined up and get it off.
14:01Happy with the progress. It's a successfully completed job. It's what we like. No issues.
14:13It'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.
14:32And while preparations are happening at every station already, normal service continues.
14:39So 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.
14:48This part of the world does hold a very special, if bittersweet, place in my heart.
14:55I 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.
15:06I 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.
15:16So I think it's safe to say I was destined for a life on the railway.
15:21Well, 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.
15:32Although it's rattling a little bit, I mean, it's sort of all timing out.
15:35But 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.
15:45And you can see for miles.
15:48The landscape, it's great.
15:51Keep on changing.
15:52It's brilliant.
15:53It's breathtaking.
15:55Keep an eye out.
15:58We're off now.
16:00This section on the line, it's a really tight kerb round here.
16:05As we leave Whitby behind us, the first highlight of the route is the majestic Larpul Viaduct.
16:11With its 12 soaring piers and 13 arches, this 36 metre high piece of railway history was built using an incredible 5 million bricks.
16:24And the middle piers were designed on a twist so as not to affect the natural flow of the river Esk.
16:30We're just going under Larpul Viaduct at the moment, heading out towards Ruzum.
16:35It must have been amazing to watch the steam engines go across that back in the day.
16:41There's a footpath over it, the Cinder Trail, so you can walk that beautiful part of the railway.
16:49The Cinder Track that passes over the viaduct is one of the many trails that follow the routes of 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, and it's known as the Rail Trail.
17:13Hello there.
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 horse-drawn line,
17:30which eventually closed because of the demands of steam travel.
17:34It's a really lovely walk, and it's popular with train buffs who want to get unique shots of passing trains.
17:42Today, 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 who's keen to add to the railway's historic records.
17:57I can photograph things that have been left behind from the railway years ago, Chris will know the dates.
18:04He will also know where these spots are. He's got more in-depth knowledge of the history than me.
18:10The trail begins just above Goatland Station.
18:14Well, this is the start of the Rail Trail.
18:18OK.
18:19Three miles to Gromont from here.
18:20Right.
18:21So you're going to see a lot of mystery 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 horse-drawn line which ran here.
18:38Here, you'll see two bricks with holes in.
18:42They were what the rope went through the days of horses before steam locos came.
18:48They just pulled the coaches up.
18:50These holes in the wall are evidence of a real feat of early engineering.
18:55An ingenious rope and pulley system that hauled carriages up the steep Moland incline.
19:01And this would have been the point where the incline started.
19:04We can feel it going down, can't we?
19:06You can, we 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, the 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.
19:23Carrying on, the path passes the old incline cottage, once 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.
19:36When it was horses, you'd have had stables here.
19:43From the bottom of the steep incline, the trail drops into Beckall.
19:47Now a quiet hamlet, but once a popular station on the original route.
19:52It's also now a favourite stopping-off point for hikers.
20:00Right, so here we all are at the Virtual Inn.
20:04And 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 phone box.
20:17I'll get some shots and we can pop in, can't we?
20:19Be great, let's do that.
20:21Known as the smallest pub in Yorkshire, the inn was built from two cottages in 1860.
20:34Hello there. Can I have an orange juice, please?
20:39Fresh orange juice.
20:41There's still a half a backwater, please.
20:44It 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.
20:54It's lovely to see all the old sweets from years ago.
20:57Ah, my favourites, licorice torpedoes.
21:00You know, I tried to get some the other day and I couldn't get them.
21:03Ah, this is great, I'll just grab a shot, actually, of the...
21:06Yeah, I would, yeah.
21:14Landlady Glenys runs the inn and the shop with her husband, Neil.
21:18It'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?
21:25Four and four.
21:27I'm counting.
21:28Oh, right. Right, 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.
21:35I was right.
21:36Yep.
21:41Thanks a lot.
21:42Bye-bye.
21:46Leaving the inn behind, the path follows the old track bed
21:49towards what was once Beckhull 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, but then, in about 1908,
22:01there was an idea to run Sunday tourist specials from Whitby.
22:06So they ran these just for a short period.
22:09First of all, put an end to it.
22:10They were never restarted, and the line basically fell into disuse.
22:16Walking this trail today, it's hard to imagine a busy railway line
22:19running through this tranquil part of the moors.
22:22But the evidence is still there if you know where to look.
22:26I like following where railways used to be years ago
22:29and then taking pictures of all the little plaques and parts
22:32that 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.
22:47But not all the memories held here are good ones.
22:50Just beyond the station, on a freezing February in 1864,
22:55when 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,
23:06and unfortunately the rope broke due to lack of maintenance.
23:10There was five coaches, and the first class was the first coach.
23:16It survived to here, then it hit this bend and came off
23:21and was littered in that field, just there.
23:25And unfortunately there were two commercial travellers from Whitby
23:28and they were killed, along with the brakesmen.
23:31Shortly after that fatal accident,
23:33the railway line was rerouted to the line we still use today.
23:37It's safe to say that without history buffs like Chris,
23:40these stories might get lost in the mists of time.
23:43This is a unique line.
23:46The rail trail itself is unique
23:49and we have to preserve everything that's along its way.
23:53Just ahead stand the Esk Valley Cottages.
23:56Built in the 1850s for the workers at the nearby Ironstone mine.
24:01And their pretty exteriors are a real treat for photographers.
24:05I love all the different colours.
24:08I've seen this picture so many times in railway magazines.
24:11Yeah.
24:12And to get a shot with one of the steam engines coming past would be great.
24:16They are iconic as far as this railway is concerned.
24:19And right on cue, the tell-tale sound of an engine approaching.
24:24You've got one coming.
24:26Get the camera out quick.
24:31And then I can get them from just here.
24:33Best chance you'll get.
24:35What a fantastic sound.
24:45Looks great.
24:46The steam carries across the countryside.
24:48That does look good.
24:54Ah, what a fantastic sight.
24:55I haven't actually been here to take that shot before.
24:58So it's great to see it.
25:00There are a few photos of the old line.
25:02So every one Dave takes adds to its story.
25:09It's been brilliant today.
25:10I love my photography, especially the railways and the buildings.
25:14But it's made it ten times better with Chris coming along.
25:17Thank you very much for that.
25:19I've really enjoyed it.
25:20That's my pleasure.
25:21Thank you.
25:26The trail continues down into Gromont,
25:28where of course you can hop on a train and get back to where you started.
25:32For us, the rail trail is more than just a ramble through the moors.
25:36It's a way of keeping Yorkshire's railway past alive.
25:47I'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,
26:00navigating tight curves and travelling over the bridges as we cross and recross the river Esk.
26:10Absolutely stunning, gnarly.
26:12Beautiful.
26:13Absolutely beautiful.
26:17The engines just live and breathe.
26:22And if you cut them, they bleed steam.
26:24And they're such a lovely machine.
26:28If you've not been on a steam train before, I could really recommend it.
26:34This section of the line is littered with crossings,
26:37farm crossings, so you've got to keep an eye out all the time.
26:40It'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.
26:52But at the same time, we need enough to be able to haul the train.
26:54Probably won't need to put any more coal on now until we get into Gromont, but we'll see.
26:59We'll make that judgement when we get a little bit nearer.
27:02It might be hard work up here at the front, but for our passengers, it's all about enjoying the ride and revelling in the unique combination of the living machine and the Yorkshire landscape.
27:15It gets you.
27:16It gets you.
27:17Yeah.
27:18It's the engine, the heartbeat, the chuff, chuff, chuff.
27:22It's like music, isn't it?
27:24When 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.
27:51Some water in the boiler again.
27:53Although we've been preparing for the gala for months, now less than 24 hours before kickoff, everything starts coming together.
28:01Well, 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.
28:14Volunteer 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, we'll have a fire in this afternoon.
28:31Hello.
28:32It's to behold, this varnish will dry off quickly, you know.
28:36Breakfast. Come on.
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.
28:48So 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. We've been a petting.
28:58They're doing really well. They're about 18 weeks old now. They're the priority. I think they're in charge of us, to be honest.
29:02They ask who the boss is, and I think it's definitely these. You're doing really well, aren't you?
29:07Our 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.
29:21She's now going around everyone else's bull, making sure nothing goes to waste here.
29:29While the kittens get ready for their big moment, Nick, our head of mechanical engineering, is masterminding 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.
29:46So if we don't have things in the right order for tomorrow, the duty fitter will have to do loads of shunting.
29:51And then everything will be late. We're never short of jobs.
29:55The gala is the railway's biggest event of the year.
29:59We go all out to make a splash, and 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, it's the gala.
30:11It's just spinning plates for not enough sticks.
30:13It's a massive undertaking. Even the shunt on the sheds are big. It's going to take all day to day shunting.
30:20This year we've got an incredible line-up of guest engines from all over the country joining our home fleet, with more than a dozen in steam for the weekend.
30:29Including 41313, safely arrived from the Isle of Wight.
30:36257 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.
30:50The team is also prepping the steam crane. This is one steam powered piece of railway history that's not an engine.
31:01This impressive piece of kit is strong enough to lift 45 tonnes.
31:05I 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?
31:19Yeah.
31:20So tomorrow we'll put the legs out and then we'll set up.
31:22Are we picking that boiler up?
31:24Yeah.
31:25How are we getting on, boys? All right?
31:28Yes.
31:29Good.
31:30This one was in bits yesterday, as you know.
31:32All this cleaning, we'll get it back out for the gala, hopefully.
31:35But there's no wasted effort.
31:37That's much appreciated.
31:38There's a lot to do.
31:40And 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, 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 this shed without volunteers,
31:59and they can't volunteer without paid staff.
32:01It's a bit of a synergy.
32:02And then they get paid in lots of tea.
32:09It's not just the engines in the sheds where preparations are taking place.
32:13Every station along the line is being readied.
32:17Polishing name boards, cleaning up and setting up the bar,
32:20everyone's adding those finishing touches
32:22that make the gala weekend special.
32:26Back in the sheds, it's less about polish and more about graft.
32:31To make sure the engines are in top condition,
32:33we give them an MOT, or washout, as we call it.
32:37And it means they'll perform at their best for the gala.
32:40It gets rid of all the impurities out of the water and out of the boiler itself.
32:43But over its 28-day cycle, it creates sludge and limescale,
32:47much like your kettle at home, just 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 Gulfland 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.
34:05Yeah, Sam's done alright, he's not too bad. I 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.
34:23On gala this will be rammed and it will probably open from about half past five in the morning,
34:29with people getting atmospheric shots of engines being lit up,
34:32the prep that goes on.
34:34But you really get a sense of an engine being lit from here
34:38and how it's coming to life almost when the steam is raised,
34:42because you're chimney level.
34:43It'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.
34:53I'm steaming across the North York Moes on the footplate of a 1930s engine.
35:10I'm almost at the end of my journey from the coastal town of Whitby to Gromont,
35:16the beating heart of our railway, and it's been a glorious ride.
35:19I do like the ride on Repton. From a fireman's point of view, it's really, really nice.
35:25It's a good traffic engine. Everything's in the right place. Everything just works.
35:30It's easy to operate.
35:32And now we've shut the regulator, the pressure will come back up,
35:36which means I can grab the opportunity and put some water in the boiler.
35:40Try not to lose my hat when I stick it out.
35:44So 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. The steam belching out. It's good fun.
36:09Just this last section of track to navigate and we'll be at the platform.
36:14It's on the curve, slight hill going in.
36:17The driver will have to really focus on trying to get it into the station without too much slipping.
36:24There we are, falling into Gromont platform.
36:26So I've just got off Repton, here at Gromont.
36:36And this is like the calm before the storm. As you can see, there's not many people around.
36:41But at the weekend, when we get this gala up and running, it's going to be an absolute hive of activity.
36:46Excited people, engines everywhere. You 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. Months of preparation, all culminating into one big celebration of steam heritage.
37:11And our chance to put on a show.
37:13You are now clear of platforms two and three. I'll take back, block out device nine, two then. Signal over.
37:24And it all starts here in Gromont.
37:27It's always busy working in Gromont signal box.
37:30But on a gala day, we have almost twice as many trains as normal.
37:33So it's going to be a very busy day.
37:34And guest locomotive 78019 gets the honour of launching the celebrations.
37:44This is the first train of the day. This is what kicks the gala off, all the way to Pickering.
37:50And so, yeah, it's going to be a great day.
37:52It takes every bit of teamwork, every volunteer, every lump of coal.
37:57The 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, it's pure magic.
38:20And with that first engine on its way, the gala can really get going in style.
38:27We've only just opened, but already the platforms are buzzing with steam enthusiasts.
38:43And I'm chuffed to see, the Isle of Wight engine is delighting the crowds.
38:48To come to a railway when there's about ten locomotives running at one time, it'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.
39:04This place is quite special, because there's different landscapes as you go through, and it's got a good variety of licorators.
39:11Having a ride behind the invited licorators that are here today, yeah, it's just a great day.
39:16With the engines steaming their way through the Yorkshire countryside, packed with happy visitors, back at the Gromont engine sheds, crowds are gathering to watch the steam crane in action.
39:29We're just putting the jib up so we can do our demonstration.
39:35When you're ready Tom, jib up!
39:37So we're going to demonstrate to the public what the crane can do.
39:41We're nowhere near its capacity, because it can lift 45 tonnes, but people will get a good idea on what you can do and why we use it.
39:48The steam crane was designed as a breakdown crane for lifting derailed locomotives, and it's now essential for railway maintenance and operation.
39:58There's not many working cranes left, steam cranes. Thank you!
40:02The crane is looked after mostly by Charlie, and he's rightly proud of this unique piece of railway heritage.
40:10It was built in 1926, which makes it 99 years of age.
40:13We bought it in 1979, and since then we've maintained it in the state it's in. It's in full working order.
40:21We think this is more exciting than steam cranes. Crane 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. We've extended our trip just to come and see the gala.
40:34What 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 brilliant to bring it to sea.
40:41It'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, with people from all over the world here to take in the best in steam heritage.
40:58And it looks like our three kittens, Titch, Klinker and Ash, are delighting the crowds too.
41:05Hi little cat.
41:06Hi.
41:07Oh, it's tiny.
41:09The bird one here.
41:11Oh yeah.
41:13Sunny spot.
41:14And with the sun shining and happy faces all round, it's always a good chance to get a bit of customer feedback.
41:24Good day?
41:25Yeah, so far.
41:26Where much have you came from then?
41:28Where do we live?
41:30Odyssey.
41:31What's your favourite engine that we've got here then?
41:34Mmm.
41:35You got a name or is it a number?
41:36The five shucks are a black five.
41:38Yeah.
41:39I've got to say, I certainly agree on the black five.
41:42Brilliant engine.
41:44While Bungle charms the visitors at Gromont, I'm up at Levesham with Lucy.
41:50Lucy 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 Levesham.
42:01And I couple her with a traditional brake van, which was designed to supplement a train's braking force.
42:06Right, 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.
42:12It'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.
42:19We have a green driver.
42:20We can go.
42:21Right.
42:22Hold on, everyone.
42:24Usually I'd be up at the front on the foot plate, but today I'm the brake vanguard.
42:28Keeping a close eye on everything and crucially, operating the manual handbrake.
42:33It'll make it go a bit easier.
42:42Lucy might be too small to haul the big passenger trains, but she's perfect for giving the visitors a rare chance to ride in a brake van and get up close to the foot plate.
42:51Beautiful day for it.
42:52It's something I've wanted to do all my life.
42:56Yeah, yeah.
42:57There's only the brake of the engine at the moment, so it does bounce around a bit more than a normal passenger train.
43:03It's all part of the experience.
43:05Yeah.
43:06Flashing white light, green.
43:09Crossing clear.
43:13Hold on tight.
43:17I think we're back.
43:19Leversham.
43:22There we are.
43:23Thank 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.
43:43I could see the man shoveling the coal and everything.
43:46It was great.
43:48Pretty much on time.
43:49Everything's working.
43:50I don't like saying too much.
43:51Touch a bit of wood.
43:52But yeah, it's going all right.
43:53I'm quite pleased.
43:54There's plenty of people about, so I'm happy.
43:56Happy little piglet.
43:59Down the line at Goatland Station, it's not just the visitors enjoying themselves.
44:03There are plenty of our hard working volunteers soaking up the atmosphere too.
44:08It's handy today because we changed over at two o'clock.
44:11I can do some photography in the afternoon.
44:13I'm part of the Lineside Conservation Team.
44:16Normally I do dry stone walling.
44:18Today I'm out taking photographs and videos of the trains on the steam gala.
44:23If all these smiling faces are anything to go by, the gala is a success.
44:28There's been so many, hasn't there?
44:30It's just wonderful to see so many engines.
44:33It's very nice to see it so well patronised.
44:38Well, it's the people that make it really because, I mean, you just didn't have the people coming in.
44:42You have the money coming in.
44:43It makes me proud to hear such positive feedback.
44:48It makes all the hard work worthwhile.
44:50But all good things must come to an end.
44:55And with the gala over for another year, I think we can all feel pretty chuffed.
45:00For me, I know gala weekend has been a success when I get to sit down with a drink.
45:13And we're better than one of our village locals.
45:16It's run by some of our staff and volunteers, including Bungle.
45:22And it's a tribute to railway heritage and local folk traditions.
45:27It's been quite a season, hasn't it?
45:43Challenging at times.
45:45Challenging, yes, but definitely worth it.
45:51And after the past few days, I'm certainly ready for more.
45:55Next year's season 30 for me.
45:58Is it?
45:59Oh, yeah.
46:00It's quite a while.
46:01I turn 30.
46:02Do you?
46:03Yeah, you started the year I was born.
46:05I know I feel old.
46:07But I've enjoyed it.
46:09Keep you on your toes this place, I'm lying.
46:11Well, cheers.
46:12Well, we've got there.
46:13We made it, yeah.
46:14Thank you very much.
46:15To the end, yeah.
46:16To next season now.
46:17Ooh.
46:18Yeah, no, I'm looking forward to it.
46:20Ooh.
46:21To next season now.
46:22Ooh.
46:23Ooh.
46:24Ooh.
46:25Ooh.
46:26Ooh, ooh, ooh.
46:29Ooh.
46:30Ooh.
46:31Ooh.
46:32Ooh.
46:34Ooh.
46:35Ooh.
46:36Ooh.
46:39Ooh.
46:40Gracias por ver el video.
Sé la primera persona en añadir un comentario