All aboard for Keith and Dufftown Railway Association's Teddy Bears Weekend
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LOCAL youngsters were excited to board special trains for a day out with their favourite teddy companions earlier this month.
The volunteers who run the Keith and Dufftown Railway were delighted to get the popular Teddy Bears Weekend back on track between August 6-8, after the association's activities were forced to a halt by the pandemic.
Three return Teddy Trains ran each day over the three days, attracting around 300 children in total along with accompanying adults.
Children enjoyed a great bear hunt to find around 50 teddies hidden among luggage and railings in the carriages along the 11-mile line. Winners drawn for each day received a specially commissioned "railway bear".
Nigel Bodiam, chair of the association's events committee, said: "The children just seem to love it.
"We had picnic tables set up in the guard's compartment and around 40 teddies in there. When they weren't doing the bear hunt, the children could have tea parties with the teddies.
"Both Keith and Dufftown stations are decorated with loads of teddies for the event.
"We get a really good number of small kids coming with their parents. For the railway, it attracts people who live on our doorstep who might not get the train on a normal weekend."
Volunteer Tina Wells added: "I had an absolute blast as the 'Bear Trainer' – it was wonderful to meet so many happy kids.
"The picnic play area of the Bear's Den was a real hit with the youngest visitors, with some spending the entire journey playing tea with the teddies.
"We had plenty of entries in the Great Bear Hunt competition – 92 over the whole weekend.
"Railway Bears will be arriving at the winner's doors in the next few days. Two are making their way to Keith and the third to Mosstodloch.
"Keith and Dufftown Railway would like to thank everyone who came along to support our first weekend event since we reopened after lockdown."
The Teddy Bears Weekend is one of a number of regular events organised by the heritage railway association's 40-plus active volunteers.
The association has now lined up a Fish & Chip Special on the evening of Saturday, September 4, departing from Dufftown Station at 6pm.
Tickets cost £20 per person and bookings close on September 1.
