North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion

Interesting points. I am hoping to make a visit to the Moors in October when i am in the UK with my wife for our honeymoon (she's very tolerant of my railway obsession, loved her day on the SVR in 2011, and we are doing the Jacobite when visiting family in Scotland this year). I think she will go for a day at the NYMR as Goathland's Harry Potter connection is a big selling point for her. What i am curious about, as I've been struggling to make sense of it, is the Green Timetable and equipment allocation. It looks to me like there are probably four sets of equipment in service, i am assuming logistically that means one is a diesel diagram. Thats not a problem, what i am looking to figure out is how the sets are cycling to try and maximize the opportunity to ride behind as many different locomotives as possible in a single day.

Any help in clarifying how the Green timetable for this year works would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Stephen

 

Keep watching http://www.nymrdiesel.co.uk/timetable/green4-1.htm

The fact it shows many ?? currently rather indicates it is work in progress!

Although I can be critical of elements of the way the railway is managed, the best steam action on a daily basis in England is probably here and even on a 'poor' day there will be impressive steam action. The daily rosters are usually posted at the Grosmont booking office and at the buffet counter in Pickering. Alas they tend to appear around start of day which can be a bit late to make decisions.

http://www.nymrdiesel.co.uk/timetable/gold4-2.htm is the current timetable which gives you a feel for the operation. October will obviously be different.

Note that 10-12 October is a big event - see NYMR website. Something I personally avoid, but the huge crowds show its popularity.

David

 

Thanks David, that helps a fair bit in understanding how the equipment and such are cycling. Frankly, i relish any chance i get to enjoy steam haulage, and a "bad" day with only one loco in steam is better than i can do locally most days of the year here!!

Our visit to the Moors will be sometime between October 19th and 25th, no risk of being there on a crazy event day. Before that we are visiting family in Northern Ireland and Scotland and touring, the week noted we will be based in the Newcastle area with family and doing day/overnight trips. We haven't actually made plans and bookings other than some key dates (Jacobite tickets and Fort William Hotel, Ferries to Ireland to give dates to family etc). Right now I'm just trying to be organized so that when we sit down in a couple of weeks with the lists of what we'd like to see and do and come up with an outline for our trip, i have good information to work with!

Stephen

 

Link to the NYMR full timetable.
Check your dates as to which colour timetable you need.
http://www.nymr.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/Post-Whitby-Completion-Timetables-A4.pdf

 

October is in the heating period so it is possible it will be an all steam affair as there are currently no steam heat diesels available (although it is hoped that the Cl 37 will have a boiler by then and there is a possibility of a DMU being operational.) On 'Green' days there are four locos, two starting at Pickering and two at Grosmont (which are Whitby locos).
P1 should do P09.30/G11.30/P13.00/G15.40
P2 should do P11.00/G13.30/P15.00/G17.15
G1W should do G09.18/W10.00/P12.00/W14.00/P16.10/W18.00
G2W should do G10.43/W12.45/G14.32/W16.40
However, there are variations on Moorlander days when a fifth loco is required and there is flexibility in the diagramming to allow locos to be swapped around during the day, if required and this often happens. Such decisions are usually made on the day.
As always, all the usual caveats. One thing the NYMR isn't is predictable.

 

But it is hugely enjoyable! The extra few miles to Whitby adds a new dimension to the railway - after the grandeur of the moors, the approach to the seadide and the chance of seeing seals basking on the mudflats under Larpool Viaduct. i don't think there are many other lines that can offer that. plus of course the old Whitby itself as the inspiration and setting for Dracula. I'm not sure when the Goth festival is, but you may find yourselves in the midst of that!

 

And that is something else! I don't think I've ever walked down streets so crowded with people and some of the sights are well worth it! It's the first W/W of November this year.

 

SG Canada, Just spending the whole day at Grosmont is an experience in itself as there is always something happening. Although I love the journey from Pickering to Whitby, I always plan a two day visit so that one of them can be just spent at Grosmont.

 

Could someone clarify for me:

If I visit next week (Green timetable) is this likely to be an all steam operation between Grosmont & Pickering, or are diesels having to be used on those services?

I am not concerned with what's on the Grosmont - Whitby services.

Any advice gratefully received.

 

Good question as last time I enquired, green / red diagrams hadn't been finalised

 

.

 

Thanks Desert Songster - I'll keep an eye on that link

 

The Green/Red timetable is planned to be all steam except on days when the Moorlander luncheon train is running. See my earlier post (465). There is also likely to be a diesel on the first train out of Pickering on a Monday and the last train to Pickering on a Saturday.
Usual caveats.

 

Good chance the Class 37 will be in use, it generally is on last train returning to Pickering from Grosmont.
Also a chance the hire Diesel should be in anytime soon. A Deltic I believe, as in Gala one.
Also being Network metals passed good chance it could be used for Whitby if needed, time to repair Class 25.
Deltics have a good following, and many wouldn't be so upset with that at the front.
Nothing appeared in writing on site yet though.

 

NYMR website shows 61264 needing a washout from 29th, so next few days will be tight for power with D7628 in use to Whitby I presume.

 

Is 75029 not Whitby-fit at present?

Jon

 

I understand that there are concerns about its tyres but, although it is not being used routinely it can go to Whitby, if necessary.
New tyres are available. Just needs the time to fit them. Perhaps as soon as 76079 is back?

 

No disrespect, but why wasn't this done whilst the loco was out of traffic when the boiler overhaul was done? Did the moors think it would last longer? Just interested to know - not picking faults at all.

 

At the time of the overhaul there was some life left in them. They were originally planned to be done last winter, but it was thought that a further season could be got out of them - and so it has more or less worked out.

 

Tempus fugit as the Italians used to say - 75029 returned to traffic in February 2012 after overhaul and has run getting on for 35,000 miles since!

A major factor in the tyres not being done last winter was the lack of time when the new tyres had arrived from South Africa to fit them and still have the loco ready for the start of the daily running season.

Steven