ILKLEY’S own ‘railway children’ will mark the 150th anniversary of the railway arriving in the town this August.
The anniversary falls on August 1 – Yorkshire Day – and Ilkley Summer Festival managing director, Anne Hawkesworth, hopes to unite the two celebrations.
“August 1 being a Saturday this year, it looks as though it will be a big day for the town,” said Councillor Hawkesworth.
“After negotiations with the transport authority, Northern Rail have kindly agreed to allow an accompanied party of children to travel free on a designated carriage from Menston through to Ilkley.”
The children, in Victorian dress, will catch a train into Ilkley Station, to be greeted by a brass band.
There are also discussions underway about naming a power car on one of the local Class 333 trains as part of the event, although a suitable name has yet to be decided. Email: anne.hawkesworth@googlemail.com for more information.
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