North Yorkshire Moors Railway

North Yorkshire Moors Railway
File:Newtondale with S15.jpg LSWR Class S15 departing up Newtondale
Locale	England
Terminus	Pickering
Commercial operations
Name	London and North Eastern Railway
Built by	George Stephenson
Original gauge	Template:4ft8.5in
Preserved operations
Operated by	North Yorkshire Moors Railway Enterprises Plc.
Stations	5
Length	18 miles
Preserved gauge	Template:4ft8.5in
Commercial history
Opened	1836
Closed	1965
Preservation history
1967	NYMR Preservation Society formed
1973	NYMR reopened

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) is a heritage railway in North Yorkshire, England.

Overview

The 18-mile railway is the second-longest heritage line in the United Kingdom and runs across the North York Moors from Pickering via Levisham, Newton Dale and Goathland to Grosmont. It is the middle section of the former Whitby, Pickering and Malton line which was closed in 1965 as part of the Beeching cuts. The NYMR is owned by the North York Moors Historical Railway Trust Ltd (a Charitable Trust and Registered Museum) and is operated by its wholly owned subsidiary North Yorkshire Moors Railway Enterprises Plc.. It is mostly operated and staffed by volunteers.

Trains run every day from the beginning of April and the end of October, plus selected dates through the winter. Trains are mostly steam-hauled; however in some cases heritage diesel is used. At the height of the running timetable, trains depart hourly from each station. As well as the normal passenger running, there are dining services on some evenings and weekends. The recent extension of steam operated services to the seaside town of Whitby have proved extremely popular. Passenger numbers have exceeded 300,000 in recent years; no other UK heritage railway carries more passengers annually.

History

North Yorkshire Moors Railway
Whitby, Redcar & Middlesbro' Union Rly to Sandsend Whitby Bog Hall Junction Larpool Viaduct Scarborough & Whitby Railway to Scarborough Londesborough Road Ruswarp Ruswarp Level Crossing Sleights Grosmont Esk Valley line to Middlesbrough Grosmont Level Crossing Grosmont Tunnel ( 144 yd 132 m ) Deviation Junction Beckhole (closed 1914) Beckhole Incline (closed 1865) Goathland Bank Top (closed 1865) Goathland Newton Dale Halt Levisham Level Crossing Levisham Farwarth New Bridge Level Crossing High Mill Level Crossing Pickering Bridge Street Level Crossing Mill Lane Level Crossing Gilling and Pickering line to Gilling Forge Valley Line to Seamer Y&NMR Pickering Branch to Rillington

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway was first opened in 1836 as the Whitby and Pickering Railway. The railway was planned in 1831 by George Stephenson as a means of opening up trade routes inland from the coastal town of Whitby. The railway was initially designed and built to be used by horse-drawn carriages. Construction was carried out by navvies and coordinated by top engineers. Their three main achievements were cutting a 110 m tunnel through rock at Grosmont, constructing a rope worked incline system at Beck Hole and traversing the deep Fen Bog using a bed of timber and sheep fleeces. The tunnel is believed to be one of the oldest railway tunnels in the world. In its first year of operation, the railway carried 10,000 tons of stone from Grosmont to Whitby, as well as 6,000 passengers, who paid a fare of 1 shilling to sit on the roof of a coach, or 1 shilling and 3 pence to sit inside. It took two and a half hours to travel from Whitby to Pickering.

In 1845, the railway was acquired by the York and North Midland Railway who re-engineered the line to allow the use of steam locomotives. They also constructed the permanent stations and other structures along the line which still remain today. The Beck Hole Incline was re-equipped with a steam powered stationary engine and iron rope. They also added the line south from Pickering so that the line had a connection to York and London. In 1854 the York and North Midland Railway became part of the North Eastern Railway. Steam locomotives could not operate on the Beck Hole incline; so in the early 1860s the North Eastern Railway started construction of an alternate route which opened in 1865 - this is the route which is still in use today. The original route is now a pleasant walk named the Historic Rail Trail.

In 1923 the North Eastern Railway was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway as a result of the Railways Act 1921. In 1948 nationalisation meant that British Railways took control. During this time, little changed on the line. However, in his controversial report, Dr Beeching declared that the Whitby-Pickering line was uneconomic and listed it for closure, which took place in 1965.

This was not the end for the Whitby to Pickering railway. In 1967, the NYMR Preservation Society was formed, and negotiations began for the purchase of the line. After running various Open Weekends and Steam Galas during the early 1970s (by permission of British Railways} the NYMRPS transformed itself into a Charitable Trust (to ensure the future of the railway) and became The North York Moors Historical Railway Trust Ltd. Purchase of the line was completed and the necessary Light Railway Order obtained, giving powers to operate the railway. The railway was able to reopen for running in 1973 as the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Since then, the preserved line has gone from strength to strength, and is now a major tourist attraction.

Stations

An NYMR steam train leaving Whitby on the Esk Valley section of the NYMR

Goathland station.

North Yorkshire Moors Railway Lines.

• Pickering railway station is the southern terminus of the railway and serves the busy market town of Pickering. The station has recently been restored to its 1937 condition with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Original fixtures and fittings have been installed in the Booking Office and Parcels Office, as well as in the Tea Room. A park-and-ride service is provided to keep traffic out of the town during busy periods. The station is home to the railway's carriage workshops, and there is also a turntable. It is possible that in the future an authentic G.T.Andrews type overall roof will be restored to the station. Originally, the line continued south of Pickering to join the Malton to Scarborough line at Rillington Junction but this track has since been lifted.

• Levisham railway station is a small countryside station set in the scenic Newton Dale valley. The location of the station is notable, as it is nearly two miles from the village which it serves, and whose name it takes. The area is ideal for walking and a wide variety of wildlife and flowers can be found within a short distance of the station. Levisham Station has been renovated and preserved to represent a small NER country station, circa 1912. The station has a traditional camping coach, which is let for holidays. Since 2007 the North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s Artist in Residence Christopher Ware can be seen at work in an open studio at the station which is open every day when trains are running, and often when they are not (see the website).

• Newton Dale Halt is a remote walkers' request stop. There are excellent walks and beautiful scenery within easy reach.

• Goathland railway station is another typical countryside station, almost unchanged since its construction in 1865. The station has been restored to represent an NER country station post World War 1 circa 1922. The station is popular with tourists due to its appearances in Yorkshire TV's Heartbeat and the Harry Potter films (see below). The station has a newly refurbished Tea Room which is inside a Goods Warehouse. The station also has a traditional camping coach, which is let for holidays.

• Grosmont railway station is the old northern terminus, and houses the locomotive sheds. The station itself has been restored to the British Railways style circa 1955. The shed area has facilities to provide water and coal for the engines, as well as stabling. The sheds are also used for the maintenance and overhaul of the engines. At Grosmont, the line connects with the Network Rail operated Esk Valley Line, where passengers may change trains to travel to the coast at Whitby, or inland to Middlesbrough and the rest of the national network. Thus platform one of the station is served by Northern Rail services, whilst platforms two, three and four are used by the NYMR.

• Whitby railway station is the new northern terminus of the NYMR as of 2007. There will now be regular trains to Whitby from Pickering throughout the year.

Locomotives

Steam locomotives

Number & Name	Description	Disposition
80135	BR 2-6-4T Class 4MT	Awaiting overhaul.
30926 Repton	SR 4-4-0 Schools Class	Operational.
29	Lambton Collieries 0-6-2T	Undergoing Overhaul.
75029	BR 4-6-0 Class 4MT	Operational (main line registered).
45212	LMS 4-6-0 Class 5MT	Operational.
6619	GWR 0-6-2T 5600 Class	Operational.
60007 Sir Nigel Gresley	LNER 4-6-2 Class A4	Operational
62005 Lord of the Isles	LNER 2-6-0 Class K1	Operational - currently at Barrow Hill Engine Shed
5224	GWR 2-8-0 GWR 5205 Class	Operational
49395	LNWR 0-8-0 G2a	Operational, on loan from the National Railway Museum
3814	GWR 2-8-0 2884 Class	Restoration started but now on hold.
44767 George Stephenson	LMS 4-6-0 Class 5MT	Undergoing overhaul at Hepscott.(may return in 2008)
45428 Eric Treacy	LMS 4-6-0 Class 5MT	Undergoing overhaul.
63395	NER 0-8-0 Class T2/LNER Class Q6	Operational
69023 Joem	NER J72 Class J72	Undergoing overhaul at Darlington, recently re-wheeled and boiler work started, planned to be completed in 2008.
825	SR 4-6-0 Class S15	Currently at Grosmont after being retyred at East Lancashire Railway.
30830	SR 4-6-0 Class S15	Undergoing restoration.
30841	SR 4-6-0 Class S15	Awaiting overhaul.
34101 Hartland	SR 4-6-2 West Country Class	Undergoing overhaul.
3180 Antwerp	WD 0-6-0ST Class J94	In storage.
3672 Dame Vera Lynn	WD Austerity 2-10-0	At Grosmont located in the sidings next to the Deviation Shed (awaiting overhaul).
5	Lambton Collieries 0-6-2T	Undergoing overhaul, planned to be complete in 2009.
2253	USA 2-8-0 Class S160	In storage, awaiting sale.

Diesel Locomotives And Shunters

Number & Name	Description	Status
DSRM No 1 Ron Rothwell	DSRM 0-4-0	Operational.
DSRM No 2	DSRM 0-4-0	Awaiting repairs.
No 2	BR 0-4-0 88D	Awaiting repairs.
2207	BR 0-6-0 Class 04	New wheels needed.
D4018	BR 0-6-0 Class 08	Under repair.
08556	BR 0-6-0 Class 08	Operational.
12139 Neil Barker	BR 0-6-0 Class 11	Operational.
D5032 Helen Turner	BR Bo-Bo Class 24	Undergoing Overhaul.
D5061	BR Bo-Bo Class 24	Undergoing repairs.
D7541 The Diana	BR Bo-Bo Class 25	In store, pending removal by new owner.
D7628 Sybilla	BR Bo-Bo Class 25	Operational - Main Line certified
50027 Lion	BR Co-Co Class 50	Operational.

Diesel Multiple Units

Number	Description	Formed of	Disposition
101680	BR Class 101	51511 + 53204	Operational.
205205	BR Class 205	60110 + 70547 + 60810	Wheel set found. Requires fitting.

Special Events

The NYMR runs several special events through the year, usually revolving around a particular theme.

War-Time Weekend

• Steam and Diesel Galas are weekend events (sometimes extended to Friday and/or Monday) popular with heritage railway enthusiasts. On these days, a full timetabled service is run alongside extra trains, such as local shuttle services and demonstration freight trains.
• The War-Time Weekend is a demonstration of the operation of railways in the UK during the Second World War. The stations are decorated to appear as they would in war time: sandbags are used around entrances, windows are taped up and station names are covered. Many period re-enactors attend in military or civilian costume to add to the authenticity. Periodic entertainment takes place, and there are events such as mock air-raids. Usually a period dance and a military parade will take place; also a wreath is laid in memory of those railwaymen who have died in service as a result of war.
• On a Day Out With Thomas, the engines are transformed to resemble the fictional characters from Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. The Fat Controller provides entertainment and the naughty Diesel can be seen shunting some troublesome trucks However the event has now been banned as the license holder has decided that all men playing the Fat Controler must take a special course .
• Santa Special trains are run in the Christmas period, complete with Elves, Santa's Grotto, presents and mince pies. The winter scenery of the North Yorkshire Moors adds to the charm of these events.

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

TV and Film Appearances

The railway has been seen both on television and in film. The station at Goathland has been used as both Hogsmeade Station in the Harry Potter films, and Aidensfield in the popular sixties drama Heartbeat. Pickering Station was used in the film Possession. Other appearances include Casualty, Brideshead Revisited, All Creatures Great and Small, Poirot and Sherlock Holmes television series. The railway has also featured in a documentary series for local television.

Awards

• 1990 Ian Allan Railway Heritage Awards, Commendation for the wooden Waiting Room / Booking Office, re-located from Sleights to the extended down platform at Grosmont.
• 1995 Visitor Attraction of the Year (Yorkshire and Humberside Tourist Board)
• 1999 National Railway Heritage Awards, Railway World category, Commendation for the renovation, almost amounting to rebuilding, of Levisham waiting and ladies room, including the provision of a completely new ‘period’ interior with in-style ladies toilets
• 2000 National Railway Heritage Awards, Ian Allan Publishing Award, for the renovation of the Goods Shed and the coal and lime cells at Goathland in 1999, including the conversion of the Goods Shed into a café using restored open wagons to provide seating.
• 2001 National Railway Heritage Awards, Westinghouse Signalling Award, for the new signal box at Grosmont built to an 1870’s design.
• 2006 National Railway Heritage Award, for the provision of staff, public and disabled toilet facilities adjacent to Goathland Goods Shed in a converted goods van; thus providing these essential facilities in a manner that blended in with their surroundings.
• 2007 Best Visitor Attraction of 2007 (in the '50,000 visitors and over’ category), awarded by the Yorkshire Moors & Coast Tourism Partnership – a consortium of tourism expertise from across the districts of Hambleton, Ryedale and Scarborough. 'what really impressed the judges was the consistently high standard of customer service which was in evidence when his Members carried out ‘mystery shopping’ visits during the year'.
• 2007 Large Railway of the Year, awarded by members of the Heritage Railway Association, the umbrella body for over 250 heritage railways and museums from across the United Kingdom. 'The association praised NYMR for the way in which it successfully pioneered the operation of regular steam-hauled services on Network Rail’s Esk Valley route between Grosmont and Whitby, using volunteer crews. The judges also acknowledged the contribution (in excess of £15,000) made by the Railway following the holding of a Gala in support of the Severn Valley Railway following their devastating flood damage, especially as the NYMR also suffered from flooding but not to the same degree'.

External links

• North Yorkshire Moors Railway website
• NYMR Diesels website
• Unofficial NYMR Forum website
• Christopher Ware, North Yorkshire Moors Railway Artist in Residence

Station Sites

• Levisham Station Group's website

References

• NYMR Guide to the Line Booklet
• NYMR Press Release of 21 November 2007, giving details of 2007 awards.
• NYMR home page

(Registered No.290)