North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Founded (heritage operation)	1967
Reopened to public	1973
Length	29 km (18 miles), plus through working to Whitby
Gauge	Standard 4 ft 8½ in
Headquarters	Grosmont, North Yorkshire
Principal stations	Pickering, Levisham, Newton Dale Halt, Goathland, Grosmont (plus through working to Whitby)
Original line	North Eastern Railway
Original line closed	1965
Annual visitors	~325,000
Website	nymr.co.uk

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is Britain's most-visited heritage railway, running 18 miles through the North York Moors National Park between Pickering and Grosmont. The line is the surviving section of George Stephenson's 1836 Whitby & Pickering Railway, among the very oldest railway routes in Britain, originally built with horse haulage and rope-worked inclines.

The Whitby & Pickering Railway was opened in 1836 by George and Robert Stephenson as one of the earliest British railways. Originally horse-worked with a rope-worked incline at Beck Hole near Goathland, the line was rebuilt for steam in 1845 with a deviation around the worst gradients. The line was absorbed by the North Eastern Railway in 1854 and operated as a NER cross-country branch through to the 1923 Grouping. British Railways closed the Pickering–Grosmont section under the Beeching Report in March 1965, retaining only the Whitby–Middlesbrough coastal main line.

The North Yorkshire Moors Historical Railway Trust was formed in 1967 with the specific aim of reopening the recently-closed line. After substantial fund-raising, track repair, and rolling-stock acquisition, the railway reopened to passengers on 1 May 1973 between Grosmont and Goathland, with the full Grosmont–Pickering line operational from 1973 onwards. From 2007 onwards through services have operated to Whitby over Network Rail track, giving access to the historically important coastal terminus.

The NYMR operates an extensive resident locomotive fleet supplemented by visiting main-line registered engines for galas. Notable residents include the SR Schools Class 926 Repton (returned from Canada in 1989), LMS Black Five 45212, NER J27 No. 65894, and BR Standard 4MT 75029 The Green Knight. Goathland station is widely known as "Aidensfield" in the ITV series Heartbeat and as "Hogsmeade" in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001). Around 325,000 visitors a year make the NYMR the most-visited heritage railway in Britain.

History

The North Yorkshire Moors Historical Railway Trust was formed in 1967 with the specific aim of reopening the recently-closed Pickering–Grosmont line. After substantial fund-raising, track repair, and rolling-stock acquisition, the railway reopened to passengers on 1 May 1973 between Grosmont and Goathland; the full Grosmont–Pickering line followed in stages, with full operation from 1973 onwards.

From 2007 onwards the railway operated through services from Pickering to Whitby over Network Rail track, an arrangement that gave the NYMR access to the historically important Whitby coastal terminus and substantially increased visitor numbers. The Whitby through service operates several times daily during the summer timetable. The railway has invested heavily in infrastructure throughout its history, particularly at Pickering (restored to 1937 condition) and Grosmont (locomotive sheds and works).

Original line history

The Whitby & Pickering Railway was authorised in 1833 and opened in 1836 as one of the earliest British railways. The original line was built by George Stephenson and his son Robert with the same engineering team that delivered the Stockton & Darlington Railway of 1825. The W&PR was originally horse-worked, with a rope-worked incline at Beck Hole near Goathland for the steepest section. The route through Newton Dale was an extraordinary engineering achievement for its time, a deep valley with sheer rock walls.

The line was rebuilt for steam locomotion in 1845 by the York & North Midland Railway (which had absorbed the W&PR in 1845), with the Beck Hole rope incline replaced by a deviation around the worst gradients via Goathland. The line was absorbed by the North Eastern Railway in 1854 and operated as a NER cross-country branch through to the 1923 Grouping. British Railways closed the Pickering–Grosmont section under the Beeching Report in March 1965, retaining only the Whitby–Middlesbrough coastal main line.

Stations and infrastructure

Pickering (North Yorkshire), the southern terminus, restored to 1937 LNER condition with a substantial roof reinstated in 2011. Levisham, a remote intermediate station near the village of Levisham, restored to NER-era condition. Newton Dale Halt, a request-stop in the heart of the deep gorge through Newton Dale; walking access only, no road approach. Goathland, restored to 1922 NER condition; widely known to wider audiences as "Aidensfield" in the ITV series Heartbeat and as "Hogsmeade" in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001). Grosmont, the northern terminus and operational headquarters. The locomotive sheds and works are based here.

Route and stations

Special events and operations

Major regular events include the Spring Steam Gala (April), the Diesel Gala (May), the Autumn Steam Gala (September), one of the most prestigious in the heritage calendar with multiple visiting engines, and the Wartime Weekend (October). Christmas Santa Specials run extensively in December. The railway is regularly used as a film location, including the Harry Potter Hogwarts Express scenes filmed at Goathland and on the line itself.

Visitor information

Open daily from late March to early November, plus Santa specials in December. Most through trains to Whitby require advance booking and additional fares. Day-rover tickets give unlimited NYMR travel; the through-Whitby option is at additional cost. Free parking at Pickering and Grosmont. Pickering is reached by car or local bus; Grosmont has a Network Rail station with limited Esk Valley line services.

Engines based here

08436 — Preserved Class 08 shunter.
1264 — A preserved LNER B1 mixed-traffic 4-6-0. Resident at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
24061 — Preserved Class 24.
25278 — Preserved Class 25.
30828 — A preserved Maunsell S15 at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
37109 — Preserved Class 37.
37264 — Preserved Class 37.
44806 — 44806, privately owned. Based at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Restricted to running between Grosmont and Whitby pending completion of AWS and GSM-R fitment for the Whitby branch. Made its main-line running debut in November 2025.
60007 Sir Nigel Gresley — 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, owned by the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust and operated by the A4 Locomotive Society. Based at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Returned to the main line in April 2022 after a long overhaul; recent appearances include the Bluebell Railway (Oct 2024) and the Greatest Gathering at Alstom Derby Litchurch Lane (Aug 2025).
62005 Lord of the Isles — The only preserved LNER K1 2-6-0, a Peppercorn design used on West Highland services. Often main-line registered.
65033 — A preserved NER J27 heavy mineral 0-6-0 at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
65894 — A preserved NER J27 heavy mineral 0-6-0 at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, often in working order.
6619 — An Armstrong Whitworth-built 5600 0-6-2T preserved at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
75029 The Green Knight — A working-order BR Standard Class 4MT 4-6-0, resident at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. The "Green Knight" name was applied in preservation by the engine's restorer; the engine was unnamed in BR service.
77014 — The only preserved BR Standard Class 3MT 2-6-0, the rarest of the Standard tender classes.
80135 — A preserved BR Standard 2-6-4T.
80136 — A preserved BR Standard 2-6-4T at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
92134 — 92134, privately owned. The sole surviving single-chimney 9F. Has been based at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Currently under overhaul.
30926 Repton — 926 Repton, North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Operational; a regular performer on the line. Has featured in the documentary series "The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard".
D200 — D200 (40122), the first-built Class 40, part of the National Collection. Long-term resident of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.