North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion

Why are trains restricted to 4 coaches? If it's due to platform length at Goathland why are 7 coach through trains permitted to stop there?

Jon

 

I was there yesterday and there was around 40, if that, on the afternoon departure.

They will need at least 800 people per day at the Thomas event to cover what a very mediocre day on the normal timetable would bring in.

 

With through trains, passengers for Goathland are instructed to travel in the northernmost three coaches. If the train is terminating there it stands to reason that all passengers will be doing that. Four coaches will just fit in the platform. ORR requirements are that terminal platforms should be long enough to accommodate all coaches. See RSP5.

 

NYMR seems to have a new website up. Looks smart from a first glance, although I'm struggling to navigate to an actual timetable. I can see the callendar, and download the old booklet, but actual times of trains don't seem to be on there. I also haven't yet found the loco roster. https://www.nymr.co.uk/

 

Bust my buffers the Mid Hants has changed!

 

I think that's called slop. But it's actually worse than slop

 

From a very quick glance, lke most website updates a step back from what it replaced.
Timetable seems to have gone the same way as many lines what I call "The Bluebell Annoyance"

 

The normal downloadable timetable is still there, under menu then plan your visit. I was expecting something dreadful but it's actually pretty good. Everything is easy to find and it's not a complete mess like before. They've done a good job with it, a lot of other lines could learn from it.

 

Equal parts Strasbourg Railroad and architects render of some development project.

 

If you have to tell someone where to find a particular piece of information, then “everything is easy to find “ cannot be true.

 

Is there any chance you would kindly be able to elaborate on what you mean by this? I volunteer at the Bluebell and one of my roles is linked to timetabling, albeit behind the scenes. Any feedback I can pass on to marketing and try and get any suggestions incorporated into future public timetables. Can't make any promises though. The updated Road Meets Rail timetable has platforms in, which I hope is appreciated. https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Road-Meets-Rail_PTT_2026_OBO.pdf

 

I too was wondering what was meant by "The Bluebell Annoyance".

BTW welcome to the forum young man. Nat Pres, like the Bluebell, needs young blood like yourself to keep us old codgers in check. Hopefully you will be keeping preservation going long after we are gone.

Peter

 

I don't think two clicks to find a timetable is that much of an issue. It's better than the GCR's website. Click on August in the calender for example, click on the date, and instead of taking you to the timetable for that day it takes you to a PDF of 2025 events!

I assume by "Bluebell Annoyance" @Gladiator 5076 means there isn't a single page that shows a calendar for the whole year, you have to check every month individually to see what's happening.

 

In fairness, it's not just a "Bluebell annoyance" but a design feature on many preserved railway websites to make you drill down through layers, and often then only get a result for the specific day which you then need to cross-check - I've seen different versions of this on the L&B, WSR, & GWSR websites in the last couple of weeks. Frequently, they render better on screen than if you want to print them.

 

I don't see a lot wrong with that Bluebell timetable (although the colours are a bit much...), but what on earth is meant by "Accessible Access"? What other sort of access is there?

 

I presume they mean wheelchair accomodation.
Ramps and the like.

 

Oh, I knew what they meant... the symbol made that clear. The words, though, just add a layer of doubt!

 

As opposed to inaccessible access?

 

The fact that it takes you to some large calendar page that you them have to click on a link to see what the timetable is.
I much prefer what the NYMR used to be different colour dates on a calendar of the year, with all the timetables shown below.
Bluebell was like this way back in the paper age and early drive to make it all internet based. Now I just find it an annoyance .
These may not be ideal but at least on one screen tells you what is likely to be the days with most trains
https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/calendar
https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/calendar

 

I suppose it is annoying for railway calendar not to show the colours or services. It bothers me greatly at other railways - but I hadn't thought of it at the Bluebell - I don't really use the public website!