TENS of thousands are expected to travel more than 70 years back in time later this month.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s annual wartime weekend from October 10 to 12 and stops up all along the line will be taking part.

Visitors will be greeted by 1940s characters at every station, while the car park at Pickering station will become a hub of entertainment and activity, from vintage stalls to live bands.

“We have made a few changes this year so that we can cope with the tens of thousands of visitors that this event attracts every year,” said marketing manager, Danielle Ramsey.

“Due to the sheer number of passengers and re-enactors involved, access to the platforms at Pickering will be restricted to those who have valid tickets to travel and re-enactors.

“We’re also hosting a marquee for the Sidings Theatre Club and, for just £1, visitors can watch live music, singers, dancing displays and even a wartime cinema showing newsreel films to really get people in the 1940s mood.”

Further up the line, Levisham station will be transformed into the German-occupied French village of Le Visham, with its own Café Alles du Bois providing sustenance.

Goathland Station will provide a home for Pontefract Home Guard, with junior volunteers taking part in drills, while others make the best of the wartime rationing with make-do-and-mend displays throughout the weekend.

Grosmont will become the base of operations for the RAF, with a replica Spitfire in the car park and an authentic RAF Dispersal Hut, which would have been used by fighter pilots as they awaited the call to take to the air.

Ground-based displays will be supplemented by a Tiger Moth fly-by at 1pm on Saturday and Sunday.

For more details visit nymr.co.uk