Keighley's world-famous steam heritage railway has been rocked by shock allegations from a stalwart member.

Chris Ogilvie announced he was quitting following "spiteful, hurtful and offensive" comments about him in a staff magazine.

Mr Ogilvie launched his attack in an e-mail to over 1,000 people listed with the organisation across the world.

He claimed the author's comments had also led to the resignation of other long-standing volunteers on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.

Stunned bosses of the legendary five-mile line, who said they had no prior knowledge of any problem, responded soon afterwards with an e-mail explaining that the matter was under urgent investigation.

Mr Ogilvie has been a K&WVR member for two decades, and for the past five years has overseen the railway's highly acclaimed web site. The site was closed at the weekend, but has since been restored.

He is also secretary elect of the marketing committee.

This week K&WVR spokesman Matt Stroh said offence had been caused by a seemingly innocuous paragraph in a magazine distributed among working members on the railway.

He said: "The magazine is a Private Eye-type satirical publication with contributions collected from working volunteers. It is not an official K&WVR journal -- its circulation is limited, and we do not censor its content.

"There was a paragraph which Chris took personally, and it upset him.

The writer could not possibly have realised it would cause offence.

"We had no warning of Chris's concerns before his unfortunate announcement. I think now he accepts he perhaps over-reacted publicly.

"Chris is still a member of the railway and he has our support. The last thing anyone wants to do is cause upset. Although we do have some paid members, most are volunteers and we are there to have fun.

"We do not wish to get into censorship, but the whole issue must now be open for debate. We are looking into the matter and it will be discussed at our next council meeting."

Mr Ogilvie -- who by profession is an IT worker with Arriva trains -- said this week that he had held long discussions with K&WVR bosses since the weekend, and colleagues were very supportive.

He said: "There was something in the magazine which was very personal and touched a raw nerve.

"I am expected to work with the author of the remarks on a regular basis, and I felt I was trapped into an impossible situation. I wish now I hadn't made my response so public.

"Myself and the K&WVR want to cool things down.

"There are matters which need to be sorted out, but I hope we can resume a working relationship."

The writer of the comments -- administrative assistant Jim Shipley, a paid employee of the railway -- said he had been advised not to talk about the matter.

The K&WVR has a membership of around 6,000, of which between 4-500 are working members.