Wensleydale Railway is to feature in the BBC documentary series Great British Railway Journeys.
The episode is due to air at 6.30pm on Friday, April 5 on BBC2.
The series, presented by Michael Portillo, is now in its 15th season and filming for this latest series took place at Wensleydale Railway in June 2023.
Michael and his team met with the railway’s volunteer staff at Leeming Bar and then took the train down the line to Leyburn.
Michael showed an interest in the railway’s costumed living history interpreters and the role that 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.
Connor Lagus, community engagement officer at Wensleydale Railway, said: “We were delighted to welcome Michael Portillo and his team to our railway in June last year for a day of filming the Great British Railway Journeys series.
“Myself and volunteers from our living history interpreters team had a lovely time chatting to Michael about our heritage programme and the fantastic work that we do to bring local history to life.
“We hope that Michael and his team had a great time travelling on our trains, and learned lots about the history of our railway and our community.”
Nick Keegan, fundraising and marketing manager at Wensleydale Railway, said: “In a previous newspaper article, Michael had expressed a view that his TV series was very much about exploring the history of railways and not just about the trains themselves.
“Michael’s genuine passion and enthusiasm for heritage was self-evident during his visit to our railway. Our team loved having the opportunity to share and showcase our rich railway history, restored stations and Yorkshire Dales scenery.”
He added: “The filming of BBC’s Great British Railway Journeys follows on from us being chosen as filming location for ITV’s crime drama Vera.
“With award-winning restored Edwardian and Victorian stations at Scruton and Leeming Bar, and stunning Yorkshire Dales scenery, our railway has much to offer tv and film production companies as well as our visitors.”
Be the first to comment