Yobs (a rude, noisy, and aggressive young person) tried to derail a train as it approached a station on the Swindon & Cricklade Railway.
 
Staff on the train spotted two youths who stood on the line at Taw Valley Halt, near Mouldon Hill, on Wednesday afternoon attempting to jam pieces of wood into the tracks.
 
Fortunately, the train driver managed to stop in time and one youth fled while the other was taken back to the station.
 
Railway spokesman Adrian Thompson was shocked by the the encounter.
 
He told the Advertiser, "When they saw the train coming towards them they ran towards the train would you believe. The points allow the train to go down a choice of lines. If they get them half way between, the train would drop down and derail."
 
He explained, "The kids try and take the bits that secure them and force them apart. It's a targeted attack. One of them bolted through a hedge and the other just stood there like a statue and we apprehended him and took him back to the station for his own safety."
 
The train was carrying passengers and now the railway is taking extra precautions to ensure no damage has been done to the lines before trains approach.
 
"We're sending people down to make sure everything is safe and secure before the first train arrives," added Adrian.
 
"Then during the day the crews will take special attention to the points at Taw Valley Halt to make sure they haven't been forced or damaged."
 
It is not the first time the popular attraction has been targeted by vandals.
 
Last year historic rolling stock was covered in graffiti and in 2016 arsonists destroyed a prized vintage diesel train and a truck load of electrical gear.
 
In the latest incident fencing was also broken down by the youths, something which the railway said is a regular occurrence, especially once the schools break up.
 
"We've have problems with vandals for a while now, really since the station was built in 2014. We have problems with them breaking fences, damaging signs, and trying to damage the track. We seem to have spates of it when the kids on holiday," added Adrian.
 
The fencing which was damaged will be repaired by volunteers today.
 
The railway is assuring visitors that the safety of passengers and volunteers is of paramount importance and are taking all acts of vandalism seriously and reporting them to the police.
 
They are also looking at arranging on-site meeting with the police commissioner to discuss the on-going problems soon.
 
A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said, "We were called at 15:30 to reports of two children trespassing on the railway track.
 
"An officer visited the site and found a small amount of wood debris on the track. Our enquiries are continuing."
 
Anyone who has more information about the incident is being asked to call 101.
 
The railway will continue to run its steam hauled passenger trains this weekend from 10:30 with the last train at 15:30.
 
Author unknown.