Whitby to Pickering with the NYMR

                                      

In the north of England is a train that comes in from the coast. It's the NYMR and it runs from Whitby to Pickering. And, its first whistle blew a long time ago!

In 1836, the NYMR's first horse drawn train left Whitby for Pickering. A journey of beauty. There were the rises and falls of the dales, the pastel shades of the moors, rivers on their ways to the sea. villages sitting in hollows, and farms that dotted the horizon. And, all at horse drawn speed. But, 10 years later came change. Steam.

The NYMR was modernized and its one single track became two. And, the NYMR thrived for the next 100 years. It provided the villages and towns along its route with all that was needed for life.

But, then came the 1950s. The roads took-over. Lorries and cars were convenient and cheaper. The LYMR slid into decline. And, in 1965, its last whistle blew. The line fell asleep.

But, it didn't stay sleeping for ever! In 1973, the line reopened as a fully working museum. Once again, one could travel through beauty. And all thanks to the army of hard working enthusiasts who gave up their time to achieve this. But, the NYMR isn't only a museum. It has, once again, become an essential part of every day northern English life.

And, just like then, the NYMR is still being driven by the magic of steam.

The line that comes in from the coast is still there - and under full steam - and waiting for you! The North Yorkshire Moor's Railway. The NYMR.

For more details, www.nymr.co.uk

Selected Vocabulary

age – Zeitalter

blew – (blow/blew/blown) – blasen

dale – Tal

dotted – punktet

fall - Hang

hollows – die Tiefen

lorries (lorry) – LKW

moor – Heide

motion – Bewegung

rises – Erhebungen

savagely – mit Gewalt

slid – (slide/slid/slid) rutschen

steam - Dampf

thrived – (thrive/thrived/thrived) – blühen

whistle - Pfeife

The War of the Worlds - A nation in fear

 The War of the Worlds - A Nation in Fear

On October the 30th, 1938, Radio broadcasts on the east coast of America were interrupted with an urgent news flash. The Martians had invaded the world. There had been no warning at all. And, as the news bulletins increased, it became clear that the Martians were advancing with speed on New York. And, no one could stop them. The police and military were helpless. The Martians had weapons and machinery - the likes of which had never been seen. The Martians kept coming and coming. Life in New York would soon be a thing of the past.

Then came the panic. Thousands of people tried to escape. Soon all major high-ways were blocked and all the trains full. New York was emptying fast. All over town was a feeling of fear; and time was running out quickly.

And then, all of a sudden, came the all-clear. The Martians had amazingly been defeated. Not by the army, but by millions of microbes. The panic was over and the people went back to their homes. There was relief. The danger had passed. New York breathed a sigh of relief.

But, in reality, there was never any danger at all. All that had happened was a radio play. The War of the Worlds. And Orson Welles was not only playing the lead, he was directing as well. And, Orson Welles was good at his job. His radio theatre company, The Mercury Radio Company on the Air, was very, very popular. And, so good was Orson Welles's adaption of H G Wells's novel, War of the Worlds, that many believed it. Radio, at the time, was a very powerful media and Orson Welles knew how to use it. All in all, Orson Welles directed and produced more than 29 radio plays. All adapted from novels.

Later, Orson Welles moved into film. His most famous parts being Citizen Kane and Harry Lime. But, Orson Welles was a radio man. He had a wonderful voice. The same as Oscar Werner and Richard Burton. But, it was The War of the Worlds that brought Orson Welles fame.

Panic and fear and a nation in fear.

                                             A Martian Flying Saucer - by Aranka Acs