A HERITAGE railway, dubbed the great survivor for managing to stay on track while others have become distant memories, is marking the 25th anniversary since it was rescued with by hosting a first-ever festival of railway literature.

The weekend event celebrating the Wensleydale railway will feature writers and speakers from all over the country and organisers say it will appeal not only to enthusiasts but to the wider community.

The Revolving Words Festival includes speaker from the National Railway Museum, the National Archive, plus authors, actors and publishers.

It’s being held on trains and at stations along the 22-mile line from Northallerton and Leeming Bar into Wensleydale. Events are also being held at Bedale Hall and the town’s St Gregrory’s church.

Organiser Peter Chapman said they wanted to come up with something that was totally different to mark the anniversary.

“I have done some research and we believe this is the first ever festival of railway literature and books,” he said.

“Some people may think it is totally mad, but it is an attempt to put Wensleydale railway on the national map, to get enthusiasts to take notice, and encourage local people to support the line.

“We have found it really easy to attract speakers from across the country, people are coming from London and Scotland, the fact that it is Wensleydale is a great attraction. There was no problem getting a programme together and now we have the venues.

“It’s not just books on railways but railways in English fiction. They have played such a huge part in so many books, and we are exploring that.

“We are also putting a lot into the children’s section, there is a special programme for them, we really want to inspire them with the impressive feats of engineering that are such an integral part of the railways. Hopefully they will be the volunteers and railways workers of the future,” he added.

The event kicks off with readings from railway literature on a train at Bedale station on Friday October 23, and follows with debates, panel discussions and presentations including Tanya Gould, author of British Rail, the Nations Railway; Prof Charles Oppenheim of Loughborough University; Chris Vine, author of the Peter’s Railway books, Karen Baker of the National Railway Museum and Chris Lloyd, deputy editor of The Northern Echo.

A special murder mystery train will also travel to Castle Bolton on Saturday evening.

For more information and tickets for the festival go to revolvingwords.com