KEIGHLEY’S world-famous heritage railway has just celebrated a milestone.

The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (K&WVR) was 50 years old earlier this month.

And the commemorations sparked memories of a classic movie shot on the five-mile line.

When the 1970 version of The Railway Children was released it provided a massive boost to the K&WVR, which was still very much in its formative period. The railway was catapulted to the international stage.

The Lionel Jeffries-directed film saw a host of stars descend on the line, including a young Jenny Agutter and Bernard Cribbins, who famously played Mr Perks.

But many local people also featured in scenes as extras.

Among them was Oakworth man Graham Mitchell, who was a guard in the film.

He appeared in eight scenes.

Mr Mitchell, who was a volunteer guard on the K&WVR at the time, said everyone involved in the film had very happy memories of it.

In November, 2013, he was invited to a glittering lunch in London to celebrate the 70-year show-business career of Mr Cribbins.

“Bernard was a big star but he was tremendously easy to work with,” said Mr Mitchell.

“I met him again when he returned to the railway to do a half-hour programme for the BBC.”

Others who appeared in the movie included Keighley’s former Labour MP and railway enthusiast, the late Bob Cryer. He also did much to assist with the production.

The K&WVR has hosted countless more film crews over the years for a string of big and small-screen productions.

The list of movie credits includes Yanks, which was filmed on the line and at other Keighley district locations in 1978.

But the K&WVR will always be affectionately associated with The Railway Children.

It has spawned books and TV programmes.

And even now, when the 1970 version of Edith Nesbit’s tale is shown on TV, it creates renewed interest and an upsurge in visitors to the railway.