The title says it all!
Basically you re-live the forties....i shall explain!
On the 20th/21st of October every year, the railway running from Pickering to Grosmont passing through, Goathland AKA Heatbeat village, Newton-Dale, and Levisham. Is "transformed" back to the 1940s, with sounds of air-raids, singing from the big band hits like Glenn Miller and songs from Vera Lynn. There are "jitterbug" dancers whom dance on the platforms, and NFS - National Fire Service - displays from those brave lads and lasses! Re-enactors participate in original forties clothing this could range from, children acting as evacuees or the men in R.A.F - Royal Air Force - uniforms. I myself have done these weekends for about 4/5 years now, and always look forward to this event, its a chance for the people of the town in Pickering to come togerther and the public almost feel as if they are in fact stepping back in time! I wear the NFS and do many Fire Displays. However GERMANS have been banned!
There are around 1000 re-enactors. On the Saturday night these people gather together and have a forties dance, where they can listen to again a forties DJ, playing Glenn Miller and Vera Lynn "Lyndihop" dancers are present and one should really see them in action, then you would see why i am going on about those!
On the Saturday morning there is a prade of veichles, re-enactors like: RAF, NFS, Womens Land Army, WRENS etc. The parade is always very fun. Last year it was filmed for the news show 'Calander'.
Over the weekend there is plenty to do, and it doesn't even get boring for the little ones, they could find the "fake" Churchill, and i'm sure they would love the parachute drop, which takes place at Levisham.
It is a great experience for ALL the family and if anyone would like anymore infomation please do not hesitate to contact me on the following e-mail address: fiona_uk15@hotmail.com
I'd be more than happy to give you some!
If anyone is thinking of going, i would suggest that you book accomodation as it gets full in the B+B's very quickly!
Tickets are available for use on the train at the box office in the station at either Pickering, Goathland or Grosmont.
Re-enactors do actually get to travel free and the trains are packed with people who i'm sure would love to talk to you about, their costumes and the services they are representing. Hey...who knows maybe you'll come in costumes?!
They are a number of other forties weekends taking place along different steam railways along the year...i'll get back to on those.
"watch this space".