LUCKY children were the first to ride a new train at a North Yorkshire station at the weekend.
The four-metre long brick train, at Wensleydale Railway's Leeming Bar Station, was built by inmates from Welstun Prison, near Wetherby. It was opened in a ceremony yesterday, attended by the instructor of the open prison, Phil Hodgkinson, and author Christopher Awdry.
Mr Awdry, the son of the Reverend Wilbert Awdry, creator of Thomas the Tank Engine, was also signing copies of his book The Chips Express, a children's story about the Wensleydale Railway.
Ruth Annison, secretary of the Wensleydale Railway Association, was involved in the launch.
She said: "The children played in the new brick train and took trips on The Pilgrim, our miniature steam engine. We are immensely grateful to Phil and the prisoners who have been doing work for the community."
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