IN the shadowy evening light, as dusk fell on Whitby Station, the man in the pinstripe suit cautiously approached us and gesticulated for us to move closer.

Looking around suspiciously, and opening his coat, he displayed his wares.

“Can I interest you ladies in some time-keeping devices, or perhaps some of these lovely nylons, they’re rare to get hold of in wartime, you know?” he whispered.

We stared... and then laughed: this really was someone getting into character for the 20th Railway in Wartime weekend, organised by the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Earlier in the day, we had arrived at Pickering Showground to take advantage of the park and ride into Pickering and have a look around some of the stalls and watch some of the battle re-enactments happening during the afternoon. Many other people were doing the same, taking in the wartime ambience, which was even more in evidence as we arrived in Pickering town centre.

Making our way to the Market Place was like stepping back in time to 1943, as thousands of RAF, Army and Navy personnel promenaded with their wives and girlfriends who were splendidly decked out in period millinery, furs, coats and outfits, with beautifully coifed ‘victory rolls’ and carefully made-up faces.

Milling around alongside these well-turned out couples were land army girls, both veterans and re-enactors, bedecked in baggy trousers, bright pullovers and their own uniforms, housewives with mops, rollers and tabards, the odd policeman or two and young mothers pushing their perambulators, while on the street corners, performers armed with banjos and ukuleles entertained the crowds.

Making our way through the masses on to the packed station, we managed to find a seat on the busy train, waiting at steam on the platform to whisk its passengers to one of the stations along the line. Some startled Norwegian tourists, thoroughly enjoying themselves, asked if this was something that people in England did often, as they had never seen anything like it.

Meanwhile, at occupied French village Le Visham, friendly banter ensued between Churchill’s boys on the train and the ‘German’ soldiers lining the platform.

At Goathland, many people alighted to see the Home Guard in action and at Grosmont, Company B theatre company entertained troops and civilians alike with a amusing Dad’s Army-style send-up, while on a nearby bench, an elderly French Gendarme took in the wonderful atmosphere while enjoying the late afternoon sunshine.