VISITORS stepping off the train at Levisham Station during the Railway in Wartime weekend will be transported back to a German-occupied French village, Le Visham, where the theme this year is ‘Pionier Voran’, or ‘Pioneers to the fore’.

The Pioniertruppen were very important to the German war machine and considered very dangerous to their enemies.

During the Second World War, the German Army collectively referred to its various engineer units as Pioniere (pioneers). This year, Pioniereschule, a pioneer training camp, will be established at Le Visham.

Along with command tents, dining shelter, cooking area and Zeltbahn tents, the living history area will include learning sessions and displays of equipment to train the re-enactors and public in the various skills of the Surmpionieren (assault engineer) and will feature the different techniques used by the troops, including mine laying and lifting, bunker assault, grenade throwing, flame throwers and anti-tank techniques. Here visitors can also experience food preparation and cooking, lectures on anti-tank guns, a firing range and a small field cinema showing original training films Meanwhile, continental-style meals and drinks will be served by the locals at the Café Alles du Bois, as music plays in the background.

Take care to have your papers in order, as there will be a checkpoint on the platforms and military policemen will randomly check passes and inspect luggage, while a radio room will be manned throughout the weekend.

There will be no parking at Levisham Station and the Forestry Commission through road will be closed, so visitors are advised to visit by train or park in Levisham village and walk to the station.

• There will be re-enactors in German uniforms at this station so organisers suggest that visitors do not alight here if they find this offensive.