Ep 10. Playing with Trains

"Playing with Trains" is the tenth episode of the seventh season of Heartbeat. Set in the countryside of North Yorkshire during the 1960s, the show follows the lives of the villagers in the fictional town of Aidensfield.

In this episode, the villagers are excitedly planning for the Aidensfield Model Railway Exhibition, which is set to take place at the local school. PC Mason (played by Rupert Ward-Lewis) is particularly enthusiastic about the exhibition, as he has been working on a model train set all year and has entered it into the competition. His fellow police officers begin to tease him about his hobby, but Mason is determined to prove them wrong and win first prize.

Meanwhile, Dr. Trent (played by Gray O'Brien) is called to the home of a young boy who has suffered a mysterious illness. As he investigates the case, Trent begins to suspect foul play and enlists the help of Sergeant Miller (played by Derek Fowlds) to solve the mystery.

Elsewhere in Aidensfield, Vernon Scripps (played by Geoffrey Hughes) is desperate for cash and convinces his friend Bernie (played by Peter Benson) to help him steal copper wire from the railway tracks. However, their plan goes awry and they end up getting caught by the police.

As the day of the model railway exhibition arrives, the villagers gather to admire the impressive displays. PC Mason's model train set proves to be a hit, with many people stopping to admire it. However, disaster strikes when a young boy accidentally knocks over Mason's train, causing it to crash and shatter. Mason is devastated by the loss and is left to pick up the pieces of his shattered dream.

Overall, "Playing with Trains" is a heartwarming episode that showcases the tight-knit community of Aidensfield and the various challenges its members face. From PC Mason's determination to win first prize at the model railway exhibition to Dr. Trent's quest to solve a medical mystery, the episode is filled with engaging storylines and memorable characters. Fans of Heartbeat and of British television in general will definitely enjoy this episode.