North Yorkshire Moors Railway / Mike Humble

In 2017 the North Yorkshire Moors Railway celebrates 50 years since the formation of the charitable Trust in 1967. To set the wheels in motion for this important anniversary year, popular locomotive, Royal Scot, will steam in to the attraction and set off the new season in style.

The line was originally opened in 1835 as the Whitby and Pickering Railway, constructed by the well regarded engineer George Stephenson. When opened, the line was operated by horse drawn coaches and carriages and just ten years later the route was merged into the York & North Midland Railway. A huge re-engineering scheme took place to enable the route and track to be used by steam engines.

The 1850s saw the line taken over by the North Eastern Railway which then became the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER). Following the nationalisation of the “Big Four” groups – GWR / SR / LMS & LNER to form British Rail in 1948, traffic on the line steadily declined with the advent of the passenger car becoming more affordable and more freight being carried by road. The famous Beeching report of 1963 earmarked the route for closure. Passenger traffic ceased in Spring 1965 with freight trains continuing until the summer of the following year.

In 1967, the NYMR preservation society was formed and negotiations then forged ahead to purchase the line from the British Rail Property Board.  Once the purchase had been made, the society became a charitable trust and the line was finally ready for operations in 1973 known as the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

46100 Royal Scot was built in 1927 for the fastest trains on the London Midland & Scottish Railway and was the first in a new breed of steam locomotives, built by the LMS for their express passenger services from London to Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow.

After a major overhaul, Royal Scot returned to steam in September 2015. She made her successful main line debut on December 22nd and 23rd 2015 with test runs from Crewe to Carnforth and return. She hauled her first main line passenger train for over fifty years on February 6th 2016 from Crewe to Holyhead. She will be arriving at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway on Saturday 25th March 2017.

Royal Scot will be at the railway for all ages to enjoy on 25th 26, 28, 29, 30th of March and the 1st & 2nd of April. Fares will include a return journey from Grosmont to Pickering. Departure times will be 09.30, 12.30 and 15.30 lasting approximately 2 hours 45 minutes on a fixed round trip.

Tickets are bound to sell fast… so don’t miss out

Adult £30 – Child £15 – Family (2+2) £64

See more of this spectacular and scenic preserved railway, details of the above and other upcoming events by CLICKING HERE