WHILST we might be very proud 2018 will be 50 years since the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society reopened the line in 1968, we mustn’t forget the railway itself is 150 years old this year.

What a great way to celebrate by welcoming the world’s most famous locomotive, Flying Scotsman, to the line the week before we turn 150.

You can enjoy seeing Flying Scotsman up close on April 1 and 2, when you can join the ‘Flying Scotsman Experience’. Tickets for and details of the Experience can be found on our website.

For many, the visit of the iconic locomotive will be the highlight of the year, but we run a whole series of events across the year.

We’ve just enjoyed a number of visitors at our Winter Steam Spectacular, and there’s plenty more planned throughout the year to show the railway at its very best.

We have cream tea specials, visits from Chase and Marshall from Paw Patrol at the end of May, special diesel running days and plenty more, with full details of running days on the website.

It goes without saying that to provide this range of services takes a huge effort from our small team of paid staff and volunteers.

Whilst we have more than 500 volunteers on the books, we are always looking to welcome more. We need people to help staff the stations, run the shops and buffets, deal with the crossing gates and signals and, of course, operate the trains.

We provide full training and support to help you get the necessary qualifications, some of which will take many years to achieve – but it’s worth the effort! In addition, we increasingly need help with the back-office functions, which are just as important as the roles you see when you visit.

We need engineers, for both the infrastructure and the rolling stock, as well as those with the skill to help us run what’s becoming an increasingly sizeable business, with all the paperwork and legislative requirements that come with being a charity and railway operator.

We have roles that will suit someone looking to fill a day or two a month, or less frequently, as well as those that will help someone ‘ease’ into retirement.

Again, please visit the website for further information, or get in touch with me directly to discuss options.

If you would just like to take the opportunity of having such a great part of history just down the road, please don’t forget you can make use of the Local Residents’ Card we offer for people living in the postcodes BD20/21/22.

The card gives you a discount for travel, meaning you make the most of the real-ale bar, or travel to the shops at Keighley by train rather than taking the car.

We hope to see you on board soon!