ONE of the region's attractions has called in the professionals to help prepare the way for one of the country's biggest-ever railway festivals.

A Territorial Army (TA) team from the North-East has been recruited by the National Railway Museum (NRM), in York, to help with the task of laying £30,000 of track.

Next year, the museum will be hosting Railfest 2004 to celebrate 200 years of the train - but first the site needs to be fully prepared.

Soldiers from 104 Pioneer Squadron of the TA's Royal Logistic Corps will be spending two weeks laying 240 metres of 15in gauge railway track and shifting more than 200 tonnes of aggregate to make public pathways.

The new track will be used to take visitors to the nine-day family celebration on a journey back to a time when the traditional British seaside holiday included a ride on a miniature steam railway.

The Sutton Collection of 15in gauge steam locomotives and carriages will be making a rare appearance at Railfest, operated by the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway.

"Railfest is probably the most ambitious and most important event staged by the NRM, and it simply could not happen without the help of our partners in the rail industry and in the community," said museum head Andrew Scott.

"The site work being carried out over the coming months will enable us to display an unrivalled collection of locomotives and engines covering 200 years of rail progress.

"It will also allow us to provide rides, theatre, music and other entertainment to create a real festival atmosphere for the thousands of visitors we hope will come to help us to celebrate this landmark anniversary."

The military team comprises soldiers who train at TA Centres in Coulby Newham, near Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Washington.

Railfest 2004 will run from May 29 to June 6.