North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion

That’s relatively easy. Persuading people to use these tickets will be the hard part.

 

I can quite see the operational need for extra locomotives. My suspicion is that this would definitely mean the railway living beyond its means.

 

It is probably living beyond its means. However, had things been as planned, it would have been hiring 63395 and 825. Their unavailability is the reason for a loco shortage. Having said that, I'm sure that bringing in third party locos would have been a more expensive option.

 

Probably, but can they afford not to? They're always very short of locos for most of the season.

The whole of the diesel fleet was out today, and other than no. 29 and Lucie, it seems 44806 is currently the only fully operational steam loco. 92134 is undergoing repairs according to Grosmont MPD Facebook page. 926 isn't ready. 45428 is still out of traffic. 2253 appears to spend most of its time being tweaked. Yes the loss of 63395 is unfortunate, but 825 has been out for 3 years.

 

It’s a difficult call. You need the fleet that can cope with the service, but if you can’t generate the cashflow…

 

Pity as walkers they never tried to open Farwath as a halt, pleasant trek from Pickering, slightly tricky from Levisham.

 

Sadly though the reality is that too few would make use of such a halt to make it viable or aid the railway to be more viable. People tend not to make intermediate journeys in big numbers.

 

We used to stop at Farwath several times a week to take the lady who lived at the farm there to and from Pickering. She didn’t drive and used to make besom brooms which she sold in the market. All part of a service long gone.

 

My suggestion was based around the "Whitby problem". The only short term fix to that is hiring certified locos but I fully understand that might not be viable. In which case the "Whitby problem" resolves itself, to the commercial detriment of the railway.
Ultimately the situation has become one where only a philanthropic gesture is perhaps going to provide the leg up needed to sustainability.

 

Back when I worked on the W&L in the late 80s there were several locals who used the train every market day to go shopping in Welshpool. The last return was often late while we waited for them to struggle back with their shopping. And one old chap who lived in Cyfronydd would use the train to go to Castle to the pub. He was so seriously wobbly one day that the train waited whilst I (fireman) walked him home so we could be sure he got there! As you say….

 

Great memories both, thanks for sharing.

 

I think you are assuming the Mr Smith wants to hire to the NYMR. I would say probably not!

 

I think that is very probably true despite the fact he only lives a few miles away! Someone back in the mists of time, must have upset him, and I think we know that he's a true Yorkshireman, whose mind seems to be impossible to change once it is set!

 

Given the constant loco shortages at the NYMR, I don't think any of the West Coast fleet have visited?

 

Riley's Black 5s, which obviously are closely associated with West Coast, have visited. I can't think of a WC-owned loco that's visited.

 

I'm not assuming that at all. I was looking at it purely from the NYMR side, "the Whitby problem", and what options the railway might explore. There used to be a working relationship with WC in the early days of Whitby ops.
Perhaps the Railway has made an approach and been rebuffed. Which would be a shame in the circumstances.

 

The 8f and the Hall both visited but a very long time ago.

 

Yet the chances are if someone did "upset him" they are no longer involved with NYMR.
Some NYMR crew also work for WC as I understand.

 

Quite a few NYMR volunteers work for WCRC although one or two have retired in recent times.

 

Information from Rail Advent site;

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2026/0...t-for-north-yorkshire-moors-railway-gala.html

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway has announced its line up for their upcoming Steam Gala.

The gala is set to take place between the 24th and 27th September and will see 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, 4079 Pendennis Castle and T3 563 visit. They will visit thanks to the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust, Didcot Railway Centre and the Swanage Railway Trust, respectively.

The three guests will join 9F No. 92134, Black 5s No. 44806 and 45428 Eric Treacy, 926 ‘Repton’, No. 29 ‘Peggy’, No. 8 ‘Lucie’, P3 No. 2392 and 2253 ‘Omaha’.

A number of trains will operate between Grosmont and Pickering, with a morning and evening shuttle to Whitby.