North Yorkshire Moors Railway facts for kids

Quick facts for kids North Yorkshire Moors Railway
Three LNER Class A4 locomotives at Grosmont loco shed.
Locale	North Yorkshire
Terminus	Whitby and Pickering
Connections	Network Rail (at Grosmont)
Commercial operations
Name	North Eastern Railway
Built by	George Stephenson
Original gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Preserved operations
Operated by	North Yorkshire Moors Railway Enterprises Plc
Stations	6
Length	18 miles (29 km)
Preserved gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Commercial history
Opened	1836
Closed	1965
Preservation history
1967	NYMR Preservation Society formed
1 May 1973	NYMR reopened
1975	Pickering re-opened officially
1981	Newton Dale halt opened to the Public
2007	Services extended (via National Network metals) to Whitby
2012	Pickering railway station re-roofed (station roof re-instated) for the first time in 60 years.
Headquarters	Pickering, North Yorkshire
Website
www.nymr.co.uk

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) is a special railway in North Yorkshire, England. It's known as a heritage railway because it keeps old trains and railway lines working. This railway runs right through the beautiful North York Moors National Park.

It first opened way back in 1836 as the Whitby and Pickering Railway. A famous engineer named George Stephenson planned it in 1831. His idea was to create trade routes from the important seaport of Whitby to places further inland.

The railway line between Grosmont and Rillington closed in 1965. But a part of it, between Grosmont and Pickering, was reopened in 1973. This was thanks to the North York Moors Historical Railway Trust Ltd. Today, this preserved line is a very popular place for tourists. It has even won several awards!

Since 2007, the railway has run regular services to Whitby. This uses a 6 miles (9.7 km) section of the Esk Valley line north of Grosmont. In 2014, a second platform opened at Whitby. This helped the NYMR run more trains. That year, nearly 350,000 people rode the railway!

As of 2020, the railway is 24 miles (39 km) long. A charity owns and runs it. About 100 people work there full-time, with 50 seasonal staff. Over 550 volunteers also help out. This includes 30 engineers who keep the trains running. A news report in 2020 called the NYMR "the UK’s most popular heritage railway."

What is the North Yorkshire Moors Railway?

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) is a famous heritage railway. It carries more passengers than any other heritage railway in the UK. It might even be the busiest steam heritage line in the world! In 2010, it carried 355,000 passengers.

This 18-mile (29 km) railway is the third-longest standard gauge heritage line in the UK. It runs across the North York Moors from Pickering. It stops at Levisham, Newton Dale, Goathland, and ends at Grosmont.

North Yorkshire Moors Railway north of Goathland

Some trains also travel on tracks owned by Network Rail to Whitby. The NYMR uses the middle part of the old Whitby, Pickering and Malton Line. This line closed in 1965 because of something called the Beeching cuts.

The North York Moors Historical Railway Trust Ltd owns the NYMR. This is a charity and an accredited museum. Its company, North Yorkshire Moors Railway Enterprises plc, operates the railway. Most of the work is done by amazing volunteers.

Trains usually run daily from April to October. They also run on weekends and some holidays in winter. There are no services from December 24th to 27th. Most trains are pulled by steam engines. But sometimes, older diesel engines are used. During busy times, trains leave hourly from each station. You can also enjoy special dining services on some evenings and weekends. The steam train trips to the seaside town of Whitby are very popular.

History of the NYMR

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway first opened in 1836. It was originally called the Whitby and Pickering Railway. George Stephenson planned it in 1831. He wanted to create new trade routes from the important port of Whitby. At first, the railway was designed for horse-drawn carriages.

Workers called navvies built the line. They were guided by top engineers. They achieved three main things:

• They dug a 120 yards (110 m) tunnel through rock at Grosmont.
• They built a system of ropes and inclines at Beck Hole.
• They crossed the wet and deep Fen Bog using a base of timber and sheep fleeces.

The tunnel is thought to be one of England's oldest railway tunnels.

In its first year, the railway moved 10,000 tonnes (11,000 tons) of stone from Grosmont to Whitby. It also carried 6,000 passengers. They paid 1 shilling to sit on the roof of a coach. Or, they paid 1 shilling and 3 pence to sit inside. The journey from Whitby to Pickering took two and a half hours.

In 1845, the York and North Midland Railway bought the line. They rebuilt it so steam locomotives could be used. They also built the permanent stations and other buildings you see today. The Beck Hole Incline got a new steam-powered engine and iron rope. They also added a line south from Pickering. This connected the railway to York and other places.

In 1854, the York and North Midland Railway became part of the North Eastern Railway. Steam locomotives couldn't use the Beck Hole incline. So, in the early 1860s, the North Eastern Railway built a new route. This new route opened in 1865 and is still used today. The original route is now a 3.5-mile (5.6 km) walking path called the Rail Trail.

In 1923, the North Eastern Railway joined the London and North Eastern Railway. This happened because of the Railways Act 1921. Then, in 1948, British Railways took control. Not much changed on the line during this time. However, Dr Beeching later said the Whitby-Pickering line was not making enough money. He listed it for closure. The last passenger train ran on March 6, 1965. Freight trains continued until July 1966. In June 1965, the line was even used to house the Royal Train for the Duke of Edinburgh's visit.

In 1967, the NYMR Preservation Society was formed. They started talking about buying the line. In the early 1970s, they held Open Weekends and Steam Galas. With permission from British Railways, they showed off the railway. To protect its future, the NYMRPS became a Charitable Trust in 1972. It was renamed The North York Moors Historical Railway Trust Ltd. They bought the line and got the special permission needed to run the railway. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway reopened in 1973. Many of the trains were provided by the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group.

Running services to Whitby was also considered. One of the first was in 1987. The famous 92220 "Evening Star" ran a service between Pickering and Whitby. For a while, trains ran only sometimes with other companies. This was because the NYMR wasn't allowed to operate on Network Rail tracks. But from 2007, regular trains started running on the Esk Valley Line from Grosmont to Whitby. This meant trains could travel the whole length of the original Whitby and Pickering Railway.

Services got even better in 2014. A second platform opened at Whitby. This allowed the railway to increase services from three round trips a day to five. After one year, the NYMR said 120,000 people had traveled on the new section to Whitby. Overall, the railway attracted almost 350,000 visitors in 2014.

Today, the preserved line is a big tourist attraction. It has won many awards for tourism and heritage.

In 2017, the NYMR received half of a £9.2 million grant. This money came from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The rest was paid in May 2019. This money was used to fix iron bridges near Goathland station. It also helped build a new carriage shed at Pickering. In February 2021, the railway also got a £1.9m grant from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 forced the railway to close for months. A "Crisis Appeal" helped raise over £400,000 in donations by September. This grew to £440,000 by January 2021. The 2020 season was delayed by four months, and events were canceled. The railway also received £295,000 in support from the Culture Recovery Fund.

Stations Along the Line

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway has several unique stations. Each one has its own special history and features.

Pickering Station

Pickering railway station is where the railway starts or ends. It serves the market town of Pickering. The station has been restored to look like it did in 1937. This was done with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Original items have been put back in the Booking Office and Parcels Office. The Tea Room also looks like it did back then. A park-and-ride service helps keep traffic out of the town. The station has workshops for carriages and a turntable for turning engines around.

Pickering station once had a large roof designed by George Townsend Andrews. British Railways removed this roof in 1952 because it was rusty. A new roof was put on the station between January and April 2011. This was part of the NYMR's "Train of Thought" project. Other work included a Learning Centre and a Visitor Centre. Originally, the line went south of Pickering to Rillington Junction. This connected to the Malton to Scarborough Line. But this track has since been removed. The last trip to Malton was on July 1, 1966.

Levisham Station

Levisham railway station is a small station in the countryside. It's located in the Newton Dale valley. The station is almost two miles (3.2 km) from the village it's named after. This area is great for walking. You can find lots of wildlife and flowers nearby. Levisham Station has been fixed up to look like a small NER country station from around 1912. The station also has a traditional camping coach you can rent for holidays. Since 2007, an artist named Christopher Ware has used a studio at the station.

Newton Dale Halt

Newton Dale Halt is a quiet stop for walkers. It's located in Cropton Forest. You can find forest walks of different lengths here.

Goathland Station

Goathland railway station looks almost the same as when it was built in 1865. The station has been restored to look like an NER country station from around 1922. It's very popular with tourists. This is because it appeared in the TV show Heartbeat and the first Harry Potter films. The station has a newly fixed-up tea room inside an old goods warehouse. It also has a traditional camping coach for holidays.

BR 76079 arrives in Goathland station

Grosmont Station

Grosmont railway station was the railway's main northern end until 2007. That's when trains started running regularly to Whitby. The locomotive sheds are here, just south of the tunnel. The station itself has been restored to look like British Railways style from around 1952. It has a shop, a café with hot meals, and toilets. There's also a ticket office and a waiting room.

The shed area has places to get water and coal for the engines. Engines can also be stored here. The 'running shed' is usually open to the public. You can see engines that are working but not in service, or those being repaired. The 'deviation shed' is also open. It holds engines and stock owned by NELPG. It also has a small display about their history. Other sheds are used for maintaining and fixing engines and are not open to the public.

At Grosmont, the NYMR connects with the Network Rail Esk Valley line. Passengers can change trains here to go to Whitby or inland to Middlesbrough. This connects them to the national rail network. Platform one at Grosmont is used by Northern Rail services. Platforms two, three, and four are for the NYMR trains.

Whitby Station

Whitby railway station is often the northern end of the railway. Most timetables show steam trains running all the way from Pickering. This includes daily trips in July and August, except Sundays. When NYMR trains stop at Grosmont, connecting trains are usually available. This lets passengers start their journey at Whitby and then board a steam train at Grosmont. Whitby station has a Ticket office and a shop. You can also buy National Rail tickets and Railcards here. In August 2014, a second platform opened at the station. This helped the railway run more trains.

Locomotives and Rolling Stock

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway has many different types of locomotives (train engines) and carriages. These include steam engines and diesel engines. They are all carefully looked after and kept in working order.

Future Plans for the Railway

People often talk about reopening the "missing 8-mile (13 km)" section. This section is between Malton (via Rillington Junction) and Pickering. Reopening it would allow steam trains to run from York to Whitby again. However, this would need a lot of engineering work. Houses and a supermarket have been built on the old track.

The North Yorkshire County Council has supported reopening this link. The NYMHRT board also agreed to support it in principle. But they have concerns about the cost and how it might affect their business. In October 2014, the Managing Director of the NYMR said they did not support trains running on their tracks.

Bridge and Wheels Appeal

In March 2009, the railway announced that bridge 30 needed fixing. This bridge is over the Eller Beck near Goathland. If it wasn't fixed, the railway would have to close. So, the railway started an appeal to raise £1 million. This money would cover the bridge work. Any extra money would go towards fixing locomotive 80135. They raised £610,000 in time. The bridge was replaced in late 2009 and early 2010. The first trains crossed the new bridge in March 2010. Pete Waterman officially opened the bridge on March 27, 2010.

Yorkshire's Magnificent Journey Appeal

In 2017, the NYMR announced a new appeal. They applied to the Heritage Lottery Fund to help keep the railway running for the next 50 years. They received £4.4 million from the HLF. They also got donations from other sources, like the Rural Payments Agency, which gave £1.97 million.

This appeal aims to complete several projects:

• Fixing and replacing three bridges around Goathland.
• Making it easier for everyone to access carriages on every train.
• Building a carriage shed at Pickering that can hold up to 40 carriages.
• Creating a special education carriage at Goathland.
• Building a new hostel for volunteers at Grosmont.
• Starting a Volunteering Development Programme to attract new volunteers.
• Offering Railway Apprenticeship Schemes for training in engineering.
• Launching a Lineside Conservation Initiative to raise awareness about nature.

In early 2021, the project received £296,000 from the Culture Recovery Fund. Bridge 27 at Goathland was removed on January 11, 2020. Work to replace it began in March 2020. Bridges 24 and 25 are planned for replacement in early 2022.

Special Events at NYMR

The NYMR holds several special events throughout the year. These events usually have a fun theme.

Steam and Diesel Galas

These are weekend events, sometimes longer. They are very popular with railway fans. During these galas, the railway runs its normal timetable. Plus, there are extra trains, like local shuttle services and demonstration freight trains. The LNER Gala in April 2008 was a big hit. It featured three working Gresley A4 pacifics and attracted thousands of visitors.

War-Time Weekend

This event shows what railways were like in the UK during the Second World War. The stations are decorated to look like wartime. Sandbags are put around entrances, windows are taped up, and station names are covered. Many people dress up in old military or civilian clothes. This makes the event feel very real. There is old-fashioned entertainment and even mock air-raids. Usually, a period dance and a military parade take place. A wreath is also laid to remember railway workers who died in the war. Levisham railway station is even renamed Le Visham, pretending it's a town in occupied France.

War-Time Weekend event, October 2005

Santa Special Trains

These trains run during the Christmas season. They come with Elves, Santa's Grotto, presents, and mince pies. The snowy scenery of the North York Moors National Park makes these events even more magical.

Other special events include a Vintage Vehicle Weekend, Music on the Moors, and a Wizard Weekend.

NYMR in TV and Film

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway has appeared in many TV shows and films.

• Michael Palin filmed part of Great Railway Journeys of the World here in 1980.
• Goathland station has been used as Hogsmeade in the Harry Potter films. It also appeared in the 2016 Dad's Army film. It was also Aidensfield in the drama Heartbeat.
• Pickering station was used in the films Possession, Keeping Mum, and Downton Abbey.
• Other appearances include Casualty, Brideshead Revisited, All Creatures Great and Small, The Royal, Poirot, and the Sherlock Holmes TV series.
• Films like Testament of Youth, Phantom Thread, and The Runaways also featured the railway.

The railway was also shown in the documentary Yorkshire Steam. It ran for two series on local TV. It appeared in the second series of Great British Railway Journeys. The Channel 5 documentary The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard also featured it. Goathland station is in the 1985 music video for Simply Red's Holding Back the Years. The railway also appeared in "Thomas and Friends" learning videos.

The film Downton Abbey (film) used Pickering station in its opening scene. The train is shown traveling through several communities.

Awards and Recognition

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway has won many awards for its work.

• 1990 Ian Allan Railway Heritage Awards: Commendation for the wooden Waiting Room / Booking Office at Grosmont.
• 1995 Visitor Attraction of the Year (Yorkshire and Humberside Tourist Board).
• 1999 National Railway Heritage Awards, Railway World category: Commendation for fixing up Levisham waiting and ladies room.
• 2000 National Railway Heritage Awards, Ian Allan Publishing Award: For fixing the Goods Shed and coal/lime cells at Goathland in 1999. The Goods Shed became a café.
• 2001 National Railway Heritage Awards, Westinghouse Signalling Award: For the new signal box at Grosmont, built to an 1870s design.
• 2006 National Railway Heritage Award: For adding staff, public, and disabled toilets near Goathland Goods Shed. They used a converted goods van.
• 2007 Best Visitor Attraction of 2007 (in the '50,000 visitors and over’ category): Awarded by the Yorkshire Moors & Coast Tourism Partnership. Judges were impressed by the high standard of customer service.
• 2007 Large Railway of the Year: Awarded by the Heritage Railway Association. They praised NYMR for running regular steam services on Network Rail’s Esk Valley route to Whitby. They also noted the railway's help for the Severn Valley Railway after flood damage.
• 2009 Best Visitor Attraction of 2009 (in the '50,000 visitors and over’ category): Awarded by the Yorkshire Moors & Coast Tourism Partnership. This award was shared with Eden Camp.
• 2010 Marketing Campaign of the Year awarded by Visit York.
• 2014 National Railway Heritage Awards, Best Small Project Award: For fixing the lamp room at Levisham station, which burned down in the 1960s.
• 2015 National Railway Heritage Awards, Siemens Signalling Award: For signalling work at Grosmont north end.
• 2015 National Railway Heritage Awards, Modern Traction Award: Awarded for keeping its diesel trains active when there was a shortage of steam locomotives.

Gallery

Images for kids

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  Tornado heading South towards Pickering, 2018