Wensleydale Railway will feature in the TV documentary series Great British Railway Journeys this Friday, April 5, on BBC Two at 6.30pm.
The popular history and transport show, presented by Michael Portillo, is now in its 15th season. Filming took place at Wensleydale Railway in June last year, when Michael and his team met with volunteer staff at Leeming Bar and then took the train down the line to Leyburn.
Michael showed a keen interest in the railway’s costumed living history interpreters and the role they play in bringing the railway’s heritage to life for visitors. The railway first introduced volunteer history interpreters in 2016 at its restored Edwardian station at Scruton. Visitors enjoy free guided tours of station buildings at Scruton and Leeming Bar, and learn more about 1900s railway life. The heritage education and community engagement programmes are managed by the Wensleydale Railway Association (Trust), the charitable arm of the railway’s operating company, Wensleydale Railway PLC.
Connor Lagus, community engagement officer at Wensleydale Railway, said: “We were delighted to welcome Michael Portillo and his team for a day of filming. Myself and volunteers from our Living History Interpreters team had a lovely time chatting to Michael about our heritage programme and the fantastic work we do to bring local history to life. We hope that Michael and his team had a great time travelling on our trains.”
