The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway is bracing itself for a full-scale military invasion. The Territorial Army is converging on Ingrow Railway Centre this weekend in one of the largest exercises of its kind ever seen in Keighley.
Troops will be training in humanitarian-aid distribution and will be using railway wagons provided by the K&WVR. Nearly 100 soldiers and more than 20 lorries will be involved in the operation, which will have its military command base in a yard adjacent to Ingrow Station.
Dr Matt Stroh, for the K&WVR, says: "Because of changes in the world situation, the British Army needs to be ready to help refugees and to offer humanitarian support as much as to train for combat roles.
"Other heritage railways and tourist attractions have staged re-enactment wartime events but this will be different - this will be just like the real thing. It should be quite a spectacle in Ingrow yard." The exercise begins this evening and continues to Sunday morning.
Passenger services on the K&WVR will operate as normal.
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