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The Wensleydale Railway, Combined Operations (Sheffield) and the Community of Leyburn welcome you to their second annual Wartime Weekend, Operation Dalesman.
 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 the period, and last year many of our visitors joined in the fun by donning costumes from the same period.
For your convenience, there is a free Park & Ride service based on the A1 Leeming Bar Service Area (which serves Leeming Bar and Bedale Stations), and another based on the Leyburn Auction Mart, which serves the Market Square and the Station and the Tennant’s Car Park (Sun only) – Please note that there is no car parking at the 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. 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 the Dakota of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight on Sunday at approximately 1545 (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
The RAF Regiment Mobile Recruiting Display
A Spitfire Engine will be operating at 0945, 1335 & 1515
Buffet refreshment carriage serving snacks and hot/cold drinks
Souvenir Shop housed in a Railway Carriage
Display of Historic Military Vehicles and Uniforms
0935 Entertainment by the Seaforth Highlanders (Nottingham Division) Pipe Band
0950 (Sat only) Steam Service and Operation Dalesman launch by the Mayor of Leyburn, Councillor Margaret Knight
Roving Musicians
‘The Banjo Boys’
Black Watch Piper, John Best during the day
1722 Entertainment by the Seaforth Highlanders Pipe Band
Leyburn Town and Station
A town celebrating its recent liberation and a station that is still servicing troop trains heading for the battlefront.
The WRVS buffet will be serving snacks and hot/cold drinks. A Field Kitchen will be serving meals with a wartime flavour (and beer which is not warm!) and The Combined Operations forward HQ is located at the station and can be inspected. Additionally, there will be a constantly changing display of vehicles, equipment and personnel.
In the town many of the shops and businesses will be decorated, with their staffs wearing period dress. There is a Soup Kitchen and a Military Canteen and participating bars and restaurants will have wartime meals on their Menus. In the Market Square will be a constantly changing display of military vehicles as well as many participants and members of the public dressed in period uniforms and clothes.
In the Auction Mart car park will be a Militaria Fair where you can purchase a wide range of 1940’s items
The Seaforth Highlanders Pipe Band will entertain at both the station and Market Square at various times between 1100 and 1230, and the roving entertainers 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 Leyburn 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
Bedale Station
A 1940’s Railway Station offering refreshments and souvenirs which you can visit either by train, or by using the Park & Ride bus from Leeming Services
A 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
Roving Musicians
‘The Banjo Boys’
Lone Black Watch Piper, John Best throughout the day
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. An Auster Spotter Aircraft will be on display.
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
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