If you have any photographs, or stories from The Railway In Wartime Weekend please send them to realwhitby@gmail.com and we will do our best to publish them.
The spirit of the 1940s will be evoked in Whitby next month, when the town joins in the North Yorkshire Moor’s Railway’s annual Railway in Wartime weekend.
Entertainment in Dock End and Endeavour Wharf over 13-14 October will be provided by a swing ensemble led by leading jazz trombonist Andrew Kerensky, 1940s tribute singer Cherie Lawrence, outrageous 1940s tea ladies, Jean and Morag, plus more to be confirmed.
The weekend will also feature a Ryedale Folk Museum exhibition and “made do and mend” demonstrations, an exhibition of Whitby wartime memories, 1940s trader stalls, free cookery demonstrations and food hall, plus nostalgic rides on Whitby’s old lifeboat, the Mary Ann Hepworth and the charabanc, Charlotte.
The package of entertainment in Whitby has been brought together by Welcome to Yorkshire and Scarborough Borough Council in partnership with the NYMR and Esk Valley Railway Development Company.
Scarborough Borough Council Events Officer, Rowena Marsden, said: “The Railway in Wartime weekend continues to be a great success story, attracting tens of thousands of people to Pickering and Whitby and the stations inbetween.
“I’m delighted that we were able to play our part last year, when Whitby participated fully for the first time. It was great to see visitors getting into the spirit of the 1940s and the town thronging with people dressed in period costume, all looking to soak up an authentic experience – and we received many positive comments.”
Welcome to Yorkshire Area Director, Janet Deacon, who heads up the the local area tourism office which includes events said: “One of the main focuses of the Borough Tourism Strategy is to support the delivery and promotion of events and festivals but in particular to encourage the development of festivals outside of the main summer season to ensure the destinations have year a year round tourism offer.
“Last year’s Railway in Wartime weekend was a great success in Whitby, with around 10,000 people through the event site, it was a great atmosphere with many of the businesses in Whitby really getting behind the event”.
What’s on and Where?
Pickering
Thursday 11th October
Evening Talk: Railways In Wartime
An illustrated talk by Philip Benham, General Manager of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
19:30-21:00 (doors open from 19:00)
Cost: £3.00 on the door for the talk and refreshments
Venue: The Learning Centre, Platform 2, Pickering Station
For more information: North Yorkshire Moors Railway Learning Centre, 01751 473 799 ext 248, learning@nymr.co.uk, www.nymr.co.uk/information/talks-tours-activities
Friday 12th – Sunday 14th October
Please note Pickering Station is only accessible with a copy of our annual paper The North Ridings Chronicle which doubles as a platform pass or train ticket.
NAAFI on Platform 2 – only accessible to those in wartime dress.
Wartime vehicle display in the Pickering Station car park – only accessible with a platform pass through the station entrance only
Saturday 13th – Sunday 14th
Music, entertainers and air raid scenario
Saturday 13th
Civilian Vehicle & Foot Parade
Sunday 14th
Military Vehicle Parade
Pickering Showground
Entry to the Showground is free, parking is £5.00 per car all day. Coaches & minibuses are £1.00 per person, minimum charge of £15.00.
Friday 12th – Sunday 14th October
Vintage Trader Stalls, Living History Displays, catering outlets, Spitfire silmulator ride, Spitfire children’s fairground rides
Friday 12th – TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE and Saturday 13th October – SOLD OUT
Railway in Wartime Dances
7pm – 11.30pm
Saturday 13 – Sunday 14th October
Battle re-enactments throughout the day
LeVisham
Friday 12th – Sunday 14th October
German Occupied France with various scenarios throughout the weekend including living history, vehicle display and period music will be played throughout the station.
Goathland
Friday 12th – Sunday 14th October
RAF Regiment Historical Flight Government Stores Train to inlcude various scenarios with the Home Guard and Civilians throughout the weekend. More detailed information to follow.
Grosmont
Company B are back with a brand new show, wartime music will be played throughout the station and you are invited to boogie or watch the lindy hoppers Jive Mood in action.
Whitby In Wartime 2013
Saturday 12th October 2013 – Wartime weekend 40s dance Whitby
Singer Cherie Lawrence & esk valley concert band.
To be held at the Met Ballroom Whitby
7.30pm till Late.
All proceeds to Help for Heroes charity
£5 per person
To purchase tickets please ring Linda 01947 605407,or email heathfieldlinda@aol.com
www.bedandbreakfast-whitby.co.uk
1940′s civilian/allied dress optional but encouraged.
Hello there myself and girlfriend lynne have been to the 1940′s weekend for the last 2years, we took part in the dressing up in civilen and uniform clothing and loved every minute of it. We have booked up for this years 2012 event, hopeing it will be just as much fun. Thank’s for the chance to have our say.
I attended this war weekend at Grosmont train Station with a friend and it was fantastic…. Company B were amazing … We Enjoyed the full show… Britains got talent … You should go on that… Very professional performances from you all…. Will be going next year too…
The Whitby Railway In Wartime 2012 event will take place over the weekend of 12-14th October 2012. All our onsite articles about this event can be viewed by clicking here.
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john scripps
March 12, 2012 at 8:30 pm
Hello there myself and girlfriend lynne have been to the 1940′s weekend for the last 2years, we took part in the dressing up in civilen and uniform clothing and loved every minute of it. We have booked up for this years 2012 event, hopeing it will be just as much fun. Thank’s for the chance to have our say.
Terri Groves
March 15, 2012 at 3:13 pm
i do look forward to these and it sounds like its going to be a grate event this year
The Man In The White Suit
September 18, 2012 at 5:29 am
I shall be getting dressed In my waffen ss uniform as normal , can’t wait , it will be a great weekend…
Dee Sharpe
October 13, 2012 at 9:10 pm
I attended this war weekend at Grosmont train Station with a friend and it was fantastic…. Company B were amazing … We Enjoyed the full show… Britains got talent … You should go on that… Very professional performances from you all…. Will be going next year too…
john scripps
October 16, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Hello everyone we have just got home from a great war weekend on nymr, what a fantastic show of event’s, We both dressed up in uniforms and took part.
The Man In the White Suit
November 12, 2012 at 6:51 am
A fantastic weekend once again,,,,,,,, and it’s great to see you post a picture of me admin , cheers….
Simon howard
February 1, 2013 at 6:43 pm
Absolutely brilliant, credit to organisers, definetly recommend a visit!!