Index
- North Yorks Moor Home
- Whitby
- Ruswarp
- Sleights
- Grosmont
- Goathland
- Newton Dale Halt
- Levisham
- Farwath
- Pickering
- Beckhole
- Goathland Bank Top
North Yorks Moor Railway
(1836 - 1965 1973)
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) is now a heritage railway in North Yorkshire, that runs through the North York Moors National Park. First opened in 1836 as the Whitby and Pickering Railway,
it was a horse-drawn, single-track railway. The railway was planned in 1831 by George Stephenson as a means of opening up trade routes inland from the then important seaport of Whitby
In its first year of operation, the railway carried 10,000 tonnes (11,000 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 on the new double-track. They also constructed the permanent stations and other structures along the line which still remain today
In his controversial report, Dr Beeching declared that the Whitby-Pickering line was uneconomic and listed it for closure; the last passenger service ran on March 6 1965 with freight continuing until July 1966
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 the NYMRPS transformed itself into a Charitable Trust and became The North York Moors Historical Railway Trust Ltd in 1972. Purchase of the line was completed and the necessary Light Railway Order obtained, giving powers to operate the railway which was able to reopen for running in 1973
The heritage line was later extended through to Whitby. Trains run every day from the beginning of April to the end of October and on weekends and selected holidays during the winter. Trains are mostly steam-hauled; however in some cases 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 NYMR carries more passengers than any other heritage railway in the UK and may be the busiest steam heritage line in the world, carrying 355,000 passengers in 2010
In its first year of operation, the railway carried 10,000 tonnes (11,000 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 on the new double-track. They also constructed the permanent stations and other structures along the line which still remain today
In his controversial report, Dr Beeching declared that the Whitby-Pickering line was uneconomic and listed it for closure; the last passenger service ran on March 6 1965 with freight continuing until July 1966
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 the NYMRPS transformed itself into a Charitable Trust and became The North York Moors Historical Railway Trust Ltd in 1972. Purchase of the line was completed and the necessary Light Railway Order obtained, giving powers to operate the railway which was able to reopen for running in 1973
The heritage line was later extended through to Whitby. Trains run every day from the beginning of April to the end of October and on weekends and selected holidays during the winter. Trains are mostly steam-hauled; however in some cases 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 NYMR carries more passengers than any other heritage railway in the UK and may be the busiest steam heritage line in the world, carrying 355,000 passengers in 2010
| Station name | Opened | Closed to passengers |
Goods closed |
Heritage |
| Whitby | Jun 1835 | Apl 1973 | ||
| Ruswarp | May 1845 | Aug 1965 | ||
| Sleights | May 1835 | |||
| Grosmont | Jun 1835 | Mar 1965 | Apl 1973 | |
| Goathland | 1865 | Mar 1965 | 1966 | Apl 1973 |
| Newton Dale Halt | 1981 | |||
| Levisham | May 1836 | Mar 1965 | Apl 1973 | |
| Farwath | May 1836 | 1917 | 1917 | |
| Pickering | May 1836 | Mar 1965 | Apl 1973 | |
| Beckhole | May 1836 | 1914 | 1951 | |
| Goathland Bnk Top | May 1836 | Jul 1865 |
