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Saturday 17 July and Sunday 18 July 2010

The Wensleydale Railway, Combined Operations (Sheffield) and the Communities of Leyburn and Bedale welcome you to their third annual Wartime Weekend, “Operation Dalesman”.

Our Blue (peak) train service will be in operation on both days. The 10.25 and 13.16 departures from Leeming Bar, and the 11.53 and 15.01 departures from Redmire, will be steam-hauled.  Special fares are available for the 09.25 departure from Leeming Bar and the 10.07 departure from Leyburn.

Most stations on the Railway have been prepared for the weekend, with each offering you a different view of life in the 1940s, and particularly the 1939-45 period. You will find some 300 participants wearing uniforms and civvy clothes of that era, and last year many of our visitors joined in the fun by donning costumes from the same period.

There is free car parking at Leeming Bar Station.  In Leyburn, for your convenience, there is a free Park & Ride service based on the Leyburn Auction Mart which serves the Market Square, Leyburn Station and the Tennant’s Car Park (Sat only). On both days there will be morning and evening journeys to the campsite at the Wensleydale Rugby Club on Wensley Road.

Please note that there is no public car parking or overnight camping at Leyburn Station throughout the weekend.

There will be a large number of vintage military vehicles in the Dale throughout the event, and these will be moving from one location to another along the railway all weekend.

Railway passengers will be issued with Identity Cards at the Ticket Offices, and these will be checked by Military Personnel during the journey.

The following is a guide to the attractions at each location so that you can decide which trains or buses you wish to travel on. The attractions listed will be available on both Saturday and Sunday unless indicated otherwise and there will be refreshment facilities on all trains.

There will be an overflight of the whole railway by a Spitfire of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight on Saturday (time to be confirmed) (weather and aircraft availability permitting)

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this Guide but we cannot guarantee that any specific event will take place, given the age of the equipment involved

Leeming Bar Station

Militaria Collectors Fair
Buffet refreshment carriage serving snacks and hot/cold drinks
Re-enactor Manned Bar
Souvenir Shop housed in a Railway Carriage
Display of Historic Military Vehicles and Uniforms
Entertainment by the Seaforth Highlanders (Nottingham Division) Pipe Band
Roving Musicians:
‘‘The Banjo Boys’
Black Watch Piper, John Best during the day
Parties of School Children will be evacuated from the station to the country during the day

Bedale Station

A 1940s Railway Station, with very limited car parking, offering refreshments and souvenirs, which you can visit by train using the greatly enhanced timetable. Also located in the building is the Combined Operations Sub Headquarters with a display of equipment, vehicles and personnel demonstrating a wide range of military activities

1010-1040 (Sat only) Visit by Prime Minister Winston Churchill

The Seaforth Highlanders, the Roving Musicians and the Lone Piper will visit from time to time throughout the day

Leyburn

A town celebrating its recent liberation and a station that is still servicing troop trains heading for the battlefront.

Leyburn Station

WVS Canteen, staffed by Wensleydale Railway – Friends of Leyburn Station (FOLS) serving rations and hot/cold drinks.
Military bookstall and vintage bits & bobs (FOLS).
Souvenir Shop.
Traditional Waiting Room

There will be a performance of “Allo Allo” by the Leyburn Amateur Dramatic Society (LADS) at 1430 each day.

Combined Operations Forward HQ can be inspected and there will be a constantly changing display of vehicles, equipment and personnel by the 9th Field Company R.E.(Airborne).

Leyburn Town

In the town many of the shops and businesses will be decorated, with their staff wearing period dress. There is a Soup Kitchen and a Military Canteen and Rene’s Café will be serving customers throughout the weekend.  LADS will perform the “Allo Allo” sketch at 14.00 and 15.00 on both days at the Dales Haven Guest House.   Participating bars and restaurants will have wartime meals on their menus.  In the Market Square will be a constantly changing display of military vehicles and many re-enactors and members of the public dressed in period uniforms and clothes.

The pupils of St Peter’s and St Paul’s Primary School will be presenting a 1940s display in the school gardens on both days.
The Seaforth Highlanders Pipe Band will entertain at both the Station and Market Square at various times between 11.00 and 12.30, and the Roving Musicians will visit from time to time.
Prime Minister ‘Winston Churchill‘ will visit Market Square and the station several times between 1100 and 1600.
There will be a dance at The Wensleydale School commencing at 1900 (Sat only). Tickets at the door, bring your own food and drink
On Sunday a Service of Remembrance will take place at the Methodist Church, starting at 1030.  A wreath laying ceremony at the War Memorial will follow this. Prime Minister ‘Winston Churchill’ will attend both.

Redmire Station

A recently recaptured area, with a Forward Allied HQ in the Station building. The area troops are NE Re-enactors, who mount British and American displays and vehicles.  Prime Minister Winston Churchill will visit from 1445- 1530 (Sat only) and there will be performances by the Seaforth Highlanders on both days, as well as visits by the Roving Entertainers