North York Moors launches £2.5m ‘future proof’ appeal

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A £2.5million appeal to secure the future of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) has been launched – with people being asked to pledge their support online.

Earlier this year, the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded the NYMR £4.6m towards the £9.2m sustainability project, the line’s Yorkshire’s Magnificent Journey Appeal.

Lighting up the next 50 years: North Yorkshire Moors Railway engineer Andrew Jeffery (left) with BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T No. 80136, as Mikey, from Circus Malabaristas ,gives a pyrotechnics display to launch the £2.5million appeal. CHARLOTTE GRAHAM/NYMR

The appeal was launched under the banner of Lighting up the next 50 years, in a nod to the heritage line’s recent half-centenary.

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It covers several key projects, not least of all the renewal and repair of worn-out iron bridges around Goathland, a threat to the NYMR’s continued operation. This project alone has been estimated at £2.67m.

One of the bridges that needs to be replaced is an “invisible” riveted steel underbridge, which carries the track over a beck at the southern end of Goathland station, and which has been in place since 1909.

The NYMR wants to spend £770,000 on better facilities for mobility impaired passengers, by providing a “fuss-free access” carriage in every train, with ramps, toilets and seating.

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By far the biggest expense will be the provision of a covered carriage shed for up to 40 vehicles at Pickering, reducing decay and easing maintenance of the irreplaceable coach fleet. The shed has been costed at £4.16m.

Read more in Issue 235 of HR – on sale now!


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