NYMR news and updates.

[DarloRich]

A good trip out on the NYMR on Saturday gone. First runs of the season. All seemed to be working well. We did Grosmont > Whitby > Goathland and then because we could Goathland > Whitby > Grosmont. We didn't travel on the autocar thingy but that seem well patronised.

Trains were quiet but that was not a surprise as the weather was poor and it was freezing cold!

We were in Pickering on the Sunday morning and the owner/operator of the café we went in for breakfast noted how quiet it was without the railway running.

I paid in the booking office and it was only £5

We parked, as always, in the adjacent National Park carpark. I didn't know there was any other parking! It is linked to the NYMR by a footbridge over the Esk Valley line.

 

[D Mylchreest]

I was at Pickering last year. I parked up in the NYMR park OK but the machine was down with a note that customers could pay at the booking office. OK I suppose but I didn't fancy the trek back to the car to put the ticket on the dash. I parked in the adjacent NCP offering.

 

[paul1609]

We parked, as always, in the adjacent National Park carpark. I didn't know there was any other parking! It is linked to the NYMR by a footbridge over the Esk Valley line.

That footbridge was originally the station footbridge at Robertsbridge on the London to Hastings Line. It was donated to the Kent & East Sussex railway by BR when the platforms were extended for electrification. The idea was for it to be used at Northiam Station but because of the curvature it was found that the span wasnt long enough and wasnt easily extendable either. It was susbsequently passed to the NYMR where it only crossed a single (br) track.

 

[DarloRich]

That footbridge was originally the station footbridge at Robertsbridge on the London to Hastings Line. It was donated to the Kent & East Sussex railway by BR when the platforms were extended for electrification. The idea was for it to be used at Northiam Station but because of the curvature it was found that the span wasnt long enough and wasnt easily extendable either. It was susbsequently passed to the NYMR where it only crossed a single (br) track.

I did not know that - thank you!

 

[htafc]

Is my annual ticket bought in September last year still valid until September this year?

 

[kje7812]

Is my annual ticket bought in September last year still valid until September this year?

It should be. I've just used mine today.

 

[htafc]

It should be. I've just used mine today.

Brilliant, that's a relief

 

[Skipness]

Is my annual ticket bought in September last year still valid until September this year?

Yes,but wont cover special events such as the SNG week

 

[industrial060]

Is there anyone from the NYMR on here who can confirm that the auto car is running tomorrow? It’s showing as running on the website but someone told me it had been in a collision today

 

[grah2702]

According to Realtime Trains there is a empty stock movement today April 1st from

5Z45 1045 Keighley & Wvlr to Grosmont operated by vintage Trains.​

Due 1551.

 

[kje7812]

According to Realtime Trains there is a empty stock movement today April 1st from

5Z45 1045 Keighley & Wvlr to Grosmont operated by vintage Trains.​

Due 1551.

Probably 45596 Bahamas as that's visiting for the next two weeks.

 

[Iskra]

Probably 45596 Bahamas as that's visiting for the next two weeks.

No report thus far on RTT, does anyone know whether it’s still running today?

No report thus far on RTT, does anyone know whether it’s still running today?

Showing as cancelled now.

 

[kje7812]

No report thus far on RTT, does anyone know whether it’s still running today?


Showing as cancelled now.

Path now for 14.37

Realtime Trains | 5Z96 1437 Keighley & Wvlr to Grosmont | 01/04/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Z96 1437 departure from Keighley & Wvlr to Grosmont on 01/04/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Iskra]

Path now for 14.37

Realtime Trains | 5Z96 1437 Keighley & Wvlr to Grosmont | 01/04/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Z96 1437 departure from Keighley & Wvlr to Grosmont on 01/04/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Thank you! Now showing 29 early in that path

I followed Bahamas' progress today from the KWVR to the NYMR:

 

[JGurney]

NYMR are currently using diesel traction only due to the raised fire risk: https://www.nymr.co.uk/news/fire-risk-restrictions

Updated 09/04/25 13:20
We can confirm that there have been a series of lineside fires at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) which have broken-out week commencing 7 April at various locations along the lineside due to the unprecedented dry spell of weather.

The fires were identified by members of staff, who escalated the response to the emergency services, North York Moors National Park and local gamekeepers. The fire brigade have been in attendance, and train services will continue to operate between Pickering, Goathland, Grosmont and Whitby.

Train services will be operated by our hard working heritage diesel fleet, No. 47077 North Star, No. 31466, No. 31128 Charybdis, and No. 37264 until Monday 14 April.

For fans of steam, No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley will be in steam at Grosmont Station on Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 April and No. 8 steam tram Lucie will be in steam on Saturday 12 April at Pickering Station operated by NYMR’s Paul 'Piglet' Middleton

 

[SteveM70]

“Unprecedented dry spell of weather”

Really?!?

 

[railfan99]

NYMR are currently using diesel traction only due to the raised fire risk: https://www.nymr.co.uk/news/fire-risk-restrictions

" Updated 09/04/25 13:20
We can confirm that there have been a series of lineside fires at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) which have broken-out week commencing 7 April at various locations along the lineside due to the unprecedented dry spell of weather. The fires were identified by members of staff, who escalated the response to the emergency services, North York Moors National Park and local gamekeepers. The fire brigade have been in attendance, and train services will continue to operate between Pickering, Goathland, Grosmont and Whitby. Train services will be operated by our hard working heritage diesel fleet, No. 47077 North Star, No. 31466, No. 31128 Charybdis, and No. 37264 until Monday 14 April.
For fans of steam, No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley will be in steam at Grosmont Station on Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 April and No. 8 steam tram Lucie will be in steam on Saturday 12 April at Pickering Station operated by NYMR’s Paul 'Piglet' Middleton."

Is this an overreaction? Were the fires minor?

You do not have true hot weather as encountered in parts of the USA, much of Asia, Australia, Africa and sometimes parts of Europe.

 

[Gwr12345]

Is this an overreaction? Were the fires minor?

You do not have true hot weather as encountered in parts of the USA, much of Asia, Australia, Africa and sometimes parts of Europe.

The moors can get very dry, and thus set fire easily. Steam bans on the NYMR, especially around this time of year, are not uncommon

 

[DarloRich]

“Unprecedented dry spell of weather”

Really?!?

At this time of year? At this time of day? In that part of the country? I would say absolutely.

Is this an overreaction? Were the fires minor?

You do not have true hot weather as encountered in parts of the USA, much of Asia, Australia, Africa and sometimes parts of Europe.

It is not a good look to set fire to vast areas of environmentally sensitive moorland! The NYMR often ban steam haulage ( but usually later in the year) to avoid fires because the gorse fires spread like, erm, wildfire.

I suspect if they are held responsible for the fire they are held responsible for the costs.

 

[Iskra]

Is this an overreaction? Were the fires minor?

You do not have true hot weather as encountered in parts of the USA, much of Asia, Australia, Africa and sometimes parts of Europe.

Yes, but the UK isn’t a dry, vegetation-less dessert (or extremely humid rainforest) so we have a lot more combustible material lineside when it does dry out. It hasn’t rained substantially for weeks. It’s not an over reaction as demonstrated by the chaos caused by Tangmere on the Cumbrian Coast last weekend. Luckily, there is some rain forecast next week

 

[SteveM70]

At this time of year? At this time of day? In that part of the country? I would say absolutely.

A fortnight or so without rain isn’t “unprecedented”. Unusual at this time of year, but not something that’s never happened before.

Anyway, more importantly, how do they get the goyles back up the hill?

 

[DarloRich]

Anyway, more importantly, how do they get the goyles back up the hill?

send the 08?

A fortnight or so without rain isn’t “unprecedented”. Unusual at this time of year, but not something that’s never happened before.

I think with the wind and the time of year it is at least "strange" - we are talking about Yorkshire after all! If it isn't actually raining it soon will be!

 

[Jan Mayen]

A fortnight or so without rain isn’t “unprecedented”. Unusual at this time of year, but not something that’s never happened before.

Anyway, more importantly, how do they get the goyles back up the hill?

Goyles? Sorry, I don't know ow what that means.

 

[SteveM70]

I think with the wind and the time of year it is at least "strange" - we are talking about Yorkshire after all! If it isn't actually raining it soon will be!

Yeah that’s fair enough. Probably just lazy English on the part of whoever wrote their message.

And I’m sure the NYMR are a lot more risk averse than they used to be

 

[Iskra]

A fortnight or so without rain isn’t “unprecedented”. Unusual at this time of year, but not something that’s never happened before.

Anyway, more importantly, how do they get the goyles back up the hill?

It’s probably been about 3/4 weeks without any decent rain. There was one drizzly Friday night/Saturday morning 2/3 weeks ago but other than that there’s been nothing. There’s also been extreme levels of sunshine. Very enjoyable weather, just not for steam enthusiasts.

 

[DarloRich]

And I’m sure the NYMR are a lot more risk averse than they used to be

I guess the key question in understanding that is: are they held liable for the costs of fighting any fires they start?

 

[D Williams]

Yeah that’s fair enough. Probably just lazy English on the part of whoever wrote their message.

And I’m sure the NYMR are a lot more risk averse than they used to be

Everyone running a heritage railway who has any sense of self preservation is more risk averse than in times past. The world has changed.

 

[Sheldonian]

Happens every year without fail and likely to happen more and more often.
Much as i dont normally approve NYMR is a railway that could really benefit from a few oil fired steam engines.
Did i read that Vera Lynn might be oil fired or did i dream that?
Is there any spark arresting technology that could be used on the larger steam stuff?

 

[grah2702]

Makes you wonder how we managed in the long hot summers pre diesel days and yes I can still remember those diesel free days.

 

[D Williams]

Happens every year without fail and likely to happen more and more often.
Much as i dont normally approve NYMR is a railway that could really benefit from a few oil fired steam engines.
Did i read that Vera Lynn might be oil fired or did i dream that?
Is there any spark arresting technology that could be used on the larger steam stuff?

Oil firing equipment is being designed and installed at the present time but probably won't be ready for this season. Steam locos all have spark arrestors in the smokebox but hot ash also falls from the ashpan. Guards can be fitted for this but, stopping any emission of ash from a coal burning loco is difficult. Also linesides are heavily fouled with dried leaves, flailing waste and are much more prone to burning than in the olden days. And, the countryside is very dry, hence the rash of fires on several railways recently, not to mention the conflagrations on moorland from other sources. The problem won't go away. Global warming, climate changes , doom and gloom etc. In this area the NYMR is leading the charge.