Royal Visit Crowns 40th Celebrations

The first Royal Train to operate on the KWVR ran on Thursday 10th July 2008 when H.R.H. The Duke of Kent visited the line as part of the Railway's year-long 40th anniversary celebrations.

The Preservation Society’s Chairman, Paul Brown, said: “We are greatly honoured by the Duke’s visit which provided Royal recognition of the achievement of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway of 40 years’ operation by qualified volunteers”.

The visit provided individual recognition for many of the volunteers who (in some cases since 1962) have selflessly worked to transform an abandoned branch line into one of the world’s leading heritage railways, which since its reopening has carried more than five million passengers and seen more than a hundred different steam locomotives grace its tracks.

Vintage Carriage Trust Chairman and KWVR Vice Chairman Trevor England commented that "the Duke had an extremly enjoyable visit, in which he took the opportunity to see exhibits close hand."

The Duke travelled from Keighley to Oxenhope in the 'Old Gent's Saloon' as seen in The Railway Children film, with station stops at Ingrow and Oakworth.

At Ingrow the Duke was invited onto one of the wonderfully restored buses from the Keighley Bus Mesuem, in which he enjoyed a brief trip down the Station yard to the Vintage Carriage Trust museum, where he was guided through the exhibits and workshops by Chairman Trevor England, meeting staff and volunteers along the way. The Duke then toured the Bahamas Locolotive Society workshops guided by Doctor Simon Bryant.

At Ingrow a buffet lunch was provided by the Railways Catering Department. The Duke then continued to Oakworth where he was invited for a journey on the locomotive, Ivatt Class 2MT 2-6-2 41241 adorned with full Royal Headlamp codes to his destination at Oxenhope.

At both Ingrow and Oakworth, the Duke was greeted by children from local Primary Schools, all waving Union Flags as his train entered the station. The Duke was also introduced to The Station Master and Assistant Station Masters at Keighley, Ingrow, Oakworth and Oxenhope.

The Duke then continued by car to the Bronte Parsonage museum.