Three tiny black kittens named Titch, Clinker, and Ash have officially joined the workforce at North Yorkshire Moors Railway as “night patrol officers,” continuing a tradition that stretches back four decades. The 17-week-old siblings were rescued from nearby Farndale where they were found wandering feral and alone, but now they live in luxury accommodations that supervisor Simon Wall jokes is “like a five-star cat hotel” complete with cat flap, blankets, and heating. Their job description includes rodent control around the heritage railway’s steam engines, though at their age they’re still practicing on fallen acorns and unsuspecting siblings rather than actual mice.
The kittens have become instant celebrities among railway visitors, sometimes drawing such crowds that Wall struggles to get them inside for dinner and rest. Each kitten wears an orange collar with bells as part of their official uniform, and their sleeping quarters feature a touching memorial wall honoring the names and pictures of all the shed cats who served before them. While Wall admits he wasn’t originally a cat person, watching children’s faces light up when they meet the kittens has converted him completely. These three employees prove that the best jobs come with whiskers, and sometimes the most important work is simply spreading joy to everyone you meet.
