FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - Every year there is an annual gathering of some 70 or 80 railway clerks from Darlington and Gateshead and they test their merits by a football or cricket match. The place selected this year was Witton-le-Wear. This match last Saturday ended as football matches too often do not end in one of the happiest reunions that even railway employees can indulge in. Time sped too quickly. Ultimately someone discovered that there was just time to catch the last train and off to Darlington the contingent started. Being then a mile from Wear Valley junction, a few of them who were more fleet-footed than the rest "did out-run the others" and caught the train, but some 36 were left behind. Appeals even by railway officials to delay the train are not always successful and the rail company's regulations could not be departed from. But home the majority must, and no other means being available, off they trudged to Darlington - 16 miles - and landed at the "haven where they fain would be" at a very early hour on Sunday morning.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. - Wensleydale folk turned out in their hundreds on Saturday to mourn the passing of an old friend - the daily passenger train which linked them, village to village, and with the outside world and express train services from Garsdale or Northallerton.

There was some merriment among the younger folk in the flag waving and back chatting but for the older ones, the "bereavement" was an occasion for sadness, for with the passing, many of them felt that a blow had been dealt at the economy of the Dales.

From this newspaper 25 years ago. - The Lightwater Valley visitor farm and country park at North Stainley has been refused planning permission for a group of model animals at the entrance to the new complex. Members of Harrogate District Council's planning sub-committee who had been recommended to approve Mr R M Stavley's application decided at their meeting on Monday that the model pig, cow, chicken and tree would look out of place in this rural setting.