North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion

Looks like a great photography platform for departure shots

 

All details of the propping would have to be approved by the Environment Agency because of interference and disturbance of the watercourse.
The design would have to be checked/approved/accepted to ensure that it will not collapse under the loads being carried, even if the river is in a flood condition during the time it is in place, I would guess 12 months!
A qualified structural engineers job.

 

I'm not sure the EA would have anything to do with it - the watercourse there is not an EA "main river" as far as I can see so the LLFA would be the local council. Unless there's some other reason I've probably missed?

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How odd. That seems to be a scaffolding tower up next to the top of the bridge - but the propping diagrams show all the temporary structure for that as being underneath the bridge. I wonder what this scaffolding tower is for?

Noel

 

Surely, to put propping underneath the bridge then you need scaffolding platforms either side of the bridge in order to build the propping.

 

Could be for safe access, looks like the start of a scaffold stairway with uppermost landing in place with ladder access.

 

Indeed it is, there is a Facebook page, North Yorkshire weather updates, they've just posted a picture taken this afternoon.

 

I've just received a n e-mail from the NYMR Member ship secretary clearly no-one has told him that the secret is out!

We are equally delighted to announce that Moors Line has been shortlisted for the Internal Communications and Engagement Awards 2026 in the category 'Best Internal Communications from the Transport and Logistics Sector"! These awards celebrate the most incisive thinking, creative flair and innovate approaches that are redefining how organisations connect with people - and we're incredibly proud to be recognised among such inspiring work.

Someone should perhaps tell him that the only bit of creative thinking being recognised is the ability to write a cheque and thereby have a boozy evening out in London at the railway's expense. It's rather shabby that he has so little lack of self respect that he deigned to publicise it.

 

I always thought internal communications was to.paid employees, seems stretching it a bit.

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Is said membership secretary part of the railway's salaried staff likely to be in the loop regarding the bought and paid for awards scam, or are they a volunteer being hoodwinked by the Park Street Polit Bureau? If the latter then I don't think they should be blamed.

 

Bridge appeal has been updated, up by £10,000 in 10 days to £230,000. Still a very long way to go.

 

The target figure to pay for the propping and associated scaffolding was said to be £250,000 so not quite there but probably achievable.

There will then be the need to pay weekly rental on both scaffold and temporary bridge supports. I haven't seen a figure for this but it won't be cheap.

The potentially terminal problem is that the funding which has materialised doesn't look beyond the £250,000 level. Estimates for the actual repairs to the structure are quoted at a minimum of another £500,000 and we all know how building estimates have a habit of exponential growth.

The current, and hopefully soon to depart, CEO and her entourage seem to have no conception of how to raise the money beyond limited edition prints and pin badges. The railway's debts are now huge, partly due to Covid of course, but more recently the reckless spending on jobs for more mandarins posturing from the ivory towers of Park Street. I don't think any financial institution is going to lend any more money, especially when the show is run by a troup of financially illiterate clowns.

If the railway spends money it can't afford to borrow on corporate jollies and pathetic PR who in their right mind is going to lend them more? Even Santander aren't that stupid.

This management are likely to achieve just one thing. The sacrifice of a railway in favour of corporate ego.

 

We (or at least, I) don't know what is included in the quoted £250K. It may well include the hire of the scaffolding and propping until it is no longer required and not just the installation. If I was costing up the works, I'd have certainly included it.
I'm happy for the gang of four to stay as long as they change direction and provide better leadership and foresight. Whether that will happen is doubtful but I did see a glimmer of hope at the recent HRA conference where there was an excellent presentation on catering by Noel Hartley & Nick Sharp of the KWVR which extolled the virtues of having and running the Old Parcels Office as a cafe and gastro pub. It has become a popular and successful eating and meeting place for people, including those not travelling on the railway. This is providing a substantial revenue source for the railway and I can vouch for the quality of the food that Nick provides. After the presentation a well-known NYMR Trust Board member came up to me and said something along the lines of "Perhaps we could do something similar with the Station Hotel" as if it's not something that hasn't previously been suggested by umpteen people. I've lost track of how long it has been empty and deteriorating since becoming owned by the NYMR. Whether this and other things happen is a different matter, though.

 

Getting slightly off-topic but since the KWVR's excellent food and drink offering has been mentioned, it's worth noting also that in addition to the Old Parcels Office at Keighley, they also own a pub just opposite the station in Haworth. As I understand it, the railway has recently given the go-ahead for a volunteer group to re-open The Royal Oak (which was closed by the previous owners a couple of years ago), providing a social space for railway volunteers, as well as serving the local community. I believe the upper floors could be earmarked for accommodation of some kind. So that's potentially two different operating models which the NYMR could consider for the Station Hotel.

 

I had no idea the the Oak had closed again?

 

It has been suggested by many that the Station Hotel at Pickering could also become volunteer accommodation, as well, as I believe there were/are nine bedrooms that could be used for this purpose.

 

I think this has been mooted many moons ago and, as you pointed out in your earlier post, the KWVR is a fine example of how otherwise unused assets can be put to use earning money rather than wasting it.

Grosmont itself has a splendid success story in the Crossing Club which is a very happy mix of railwaymen and women combined with the the support of many locals. Pickering Station Inn would do well as a similar enterprise and with many more locals that Grosmont. It could be marketed along the lines of "Brief Encounter" or similar branding and I'm sure volunterrs and visitors would choose to drink and eat there in preference to other establishments. How about a Coffee Shop style during the day and a "Dot's Diner" approach evenings (for those of you who knew Stalybridge buffet bar 40+ years ago).

Whatever the decision I think it needs to be made quickly. High season is only weeks away and at the moment The Station Hotel isn't just a wasting asset, it's a complete liability.

Our CEO might even be better at pulling pints than pulling PR stunts.

 

It definitely looked shut at the Steam Gala.

 

Googling indicates it's been shut since Christmas 2022 but it could be later.

 

It looked like it was open 2023 Steam Gala. I didn't go in but it was open as far as I remember.