For railway re-enacters, the war is over

A RAILWAY which puts on a Second World War re-enactment weekend has withdrawn its invitation to people who dress as German soldiers following negative publicity.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway, a charity, said it was a “very difficult decision” but the board was unanimous.

For 12 years, its quaint station at Levisham has been transformed into “Le Visham”, a German-occupied town in northern France as part of a larger reenactment weekend also involving Allied forces.

But negative coverage of last year’s event led the railway to withdraw its invitation.

In a statement, it said: “We understand why re-enactors are upset and are sorry that after so many years of working together we’ve been forced to make this very difficult decision.

“As a registered charity, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway exists to deliver benefits to the public at large through the preservation and operation of its heritage railway.”

It said it needed to protect its family image.

Re-enactor Neil Robertson has designed scenarios each year with the aim of educating the public. He strongly denied reenactors sympathised with any Nazi cause. In a statement, he stressed: “Both the re-enactment community and the station volunteers are saddened by the board’s decision, but respect it.”

Mr Robertson added: “At Levisham, we have had 12 wonderful years together working as a team with the station staff to provide some of the most unique interactive displays ever seen at any show.”