TRAIN buffs were transported to the 1940s as the sights and sounds of the Second World War came to a railway attraction.

Soldiers and Home Guard troops brought a splash of colour to the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway's Back to the Forties event at the weekend.

The event, at the volunteer-run station in St John's Road, Wallingford, saw re-enactors showing visitors about life in the army, with displays also depicting Special Operations and life on the Home Front – complete with rationing – along with 1940s singers and vintage vehicles.

Herald Series: Back to the Forties event. Picture by Linda HullBack to the Forties event. Picture by Linda Hull (Image: Back to the Forties event. Picture by Linda Hull)

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Wallingford School pupil Charlotte Hull appeared as the then Princess Elizabeth along with the Queen Mother, then Queen Elizabeth, who gave a speech to the children and evacuees of Wallingford with a guard of honour from the Oxfordshire Home Guard.

The event was a huge success with more than 100 re-enactors and plenty of vintage vehicles and interactive experiences.

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Herald Series: Back to the Forties event. Picture by Linda HullBack to the Forties event. Picture by Linda Hull (Image: Back to the Forties event. Picture by Linda Hull)

Herald Series: Back to the Forties event. Picture by Linda HullBack to the Forties event. Picture by Linda Hull (Image: Back to the Forties event. Picture by Linda Hull)

Herald Series: Charlotte Hull as Princess Elizabeth. Picture by Linda HullCharlotte Hull as Princess Elizabeth. Picture by Linda Hull (Image: Back to the Forties event. Picture by Linda Hull)

Herald Series: Back to the Forties event. Picture by Linda HullBack to the Forties event. Picture by Linda Hull (Image: Back to the Forties event. Picture by Linda Hull)

Herald Series: Back to the Forties event. Picture by Linda HullBack to the Forties event. Picture by Linda Hull (Image: Back to the Forties event. Picture by Linda Hull)

Herald Series: Back to the Forties event. Picture by Linda HullBack to the Forties event. Picture by Linda Hull (Image: Back to the Forties event. Picture by Linda Hull)

Herald Series: Back to the Forties event. Picture by Linda HullBack to the Forties event. Picture by Linda Hull (Image: Back to the Forties event. Picture by Linda Hull)

Herald Series: Back to the Forties event. Picture by Linda HullBack to the Forties event. Picture by Linda Hull (Image: Back to the Forties event. Picture by Linda Hull)

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This story was written by Gee Harland. She joined the team in 2022 as a senior multimedia reporter.

Gee covers Wallingford, Wantage and Didcot.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Gee.harland@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @Geeharland

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