NYMR Photography Guide

This guide is being updated as all of the photo links were lost when Fotopic died. Links to Flickr are the updated working links.

Right, if your going to the NYMR, here's some good places to photo / video!

If you don't mind walking 3 miles the rail trail from Grosmont to Goathland gives some good spots, its well signposted and pretty obvious so you shouldn't get lost!

First spot on the trail (from Grosmont end) is as you go past the sheds, should let you get photos like:

http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p14167761.html
http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p14167764.html
http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p8060107.html

The rail trail then swings away from the railway, but as it goes you can get photos like this as the engines start the 1:49 climb.
Esk Valley
Morning shot
Go under the railway bridge, which is just past the end of the head shunt and into the field for this shot:
Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/60283079@N05/8715860770/in/photostream/
Map: http://tinyurl.com/eskvalleymorning
Google Maps ref: 54.427491,-0.730972

Afternoon / Evening shot
Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/60283079@N05/8714740665/in/photostream
Map: http://tinyurl.com/eskvalleyafternoonmap
Google Maps ref: 54.427703,-0.733968

Afternoon / Evening in the landscape shot


Next easily accessible spot is Beckhole. Its signposted off the rail Trail, BUT its a very steep climb up to the railway bridge!

Map

http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p9269958.html

Its right in the middle of the 1:49 though, so you do get good effects.

Rail Trail will then lead you up to Goathland where they filmed Heartbeat.

http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p41065720.html
http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p35650490.html
http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p35650492.html
http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p34724103.html

Another good spot is the curve at Darnholme, a 5 minute walk from the station (cross the tracks, so you are on the moor side not the village side of the station, and follow the path to the left)

Map


http://garylyne.zenfolio.com/p68288280/h31f54055#h31f54055

Last good opportunity between Grosmont and Goathland is at Water Ark bridge. This should be labelled as Thomasson Foss. The paths round here get VERY muddy when its been raining though, and the river is very noisy if you're trying to video -

http://garylyne.zenfolio.com/p26236612/h2ce085dc#h2ce085dc
http://garylyne.zenfolio.com/p68288280/h3df1d1bf#h35383971
http://garylyne.zenfolio.com/p68288280/h3df1d1bf#h3df1d1bf

There's a fair few paths round this area so if you don't like one location move around.

 

Goathland's quite good for photos, but during the summer, or during an event, it will be busy with a lot of people. Try from the road bridge. South of Goathland the lines a lot flatter, and there's usually fewer people trying to get photos videos. The next photo spot is Moorgates, a short drive or slightly longer walk. There's absolutely loads of shots here, depending on the time of day.

Map


http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p34374289.html
http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p37319471.html
http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p37319452.html
http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p46674382.html
http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p41069395.html

The next spot is Fen Bog / Goathland Summit / Lyke Wyke walk crossing.


Map
(The circle on the map is about half way between Moorgates and the above mentioned locations - it should be South of where it is now, the location is where both the road and the railwayturn and the footpath crosses them)

http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p32489986.html
http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p32489986.html

Next spots are deep in Newtondale and you will need to walk from the train at Newtondale halt, as there is no car access. Leave the the halt and turn right on to the forest road. It follows the line and there are several spots to get photos / videos:

http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p40630316.html
http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p40630321.html
http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p46674517.html
http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p40630323.html

If you take a very steep walk up to Needle Point (signposted from Newtondale Halt), you can get pictures like:

http://garylyne.zenfolio.com/p339460472/hff0e76d#hff0e76d

Map


By this point, the trains are over the highest point of the line, and are pretty much coasting all the way to Pickering. Northbound trains are working hard, but as most of the locos face South, the Northbound trains are usually tender / tank first.

Next is Skelton Tower. If driving I'd recommend parking on the moor and walking accross to it as it is a VERY steep climb out of Levisham station and up on to the moor if you're walking! (BTW if its windy, being at Skelton Tower is not a good idea unless you have very warm clothing!)

http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p15231756.html

From the photo above, if you climb up even higher onto the ridge above Skelton Tower, you can get views like:

http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p46501339.html

Or if you don't fancy climbing, just follow the moor round to the North and you can get:

http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p46501340.html
http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p46501287.html

Map


Next locations are Yorfalls crossing, and The Grange. Both are about a mile north of Levisham, and can be driven to. Cross the railway at Levisham, and follow the forest drive.The Grange is a holiday cottage, just before you reach it there is a footpath on the right hand side of the road, which take you down across the beck and up and across the railway. Yorfalls crossing is just round the corner from the Grange, opposite two cottages and across a bridge Again the south bound trains are only coasting at these points, but the north bound trains are working hard, as the gradient I believe is in the region of 1:50 - 1:75.

http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p45654785.html (southbound train)
http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p43996573.html (north bound train)
http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p49451297.html (northbound - cross the line, and follow the the boundary fence round the corner)

Map

 

Levisham is usally quite a good spot, as due to its remoteness it doesn't get as many visitors as Goathland.

http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p8060124.html

South of Levisham theresnot as many spots, and those that there are, you'll need a car and or be prepared for a walk!

Newbridge crossing is one spot (no photos).

Map


To get to the spots below, go over the crossing and turn right, past the depot and along the road through the farm and onto the forest track. Follow this along and you will reach a point where the forest track splits, one bit following the railway line (no car access) and the other carries on up into the woods. At this points there a crossing and you can get pics like:

http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p12933566.html (northbound train)
http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p12933570.html (northbound train, but you'll use this angle for southbound trains)

Park the car and follow the forest path / track which sticks to the side of the railway and you'll get pics like:

http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p13707266.html
http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p17884544.html (same curve but otherside of track after a 15 min walk / climb!)
http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p13707306.html

Last spot is Pickering station, which will be busy, but there's plenty of options for photos / videos.

All the above photos are from public places so you should have no problems.

Still reading this guide? There's one more good location that I haven't mentioned before, because I'm not sure if there is official public access to it - its Greenend, which is between Grosmont and Goathland. From the rail trail footpath it looks like:

http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p49451297.html

Follow the dirt track up past the barn, and across the fields and you will reach Green End bridge - where you can get photos such as:

http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p32262809.html
http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p44038870.html
http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p44038871.html
http://nymrphotos.fotopic.net/p41065731.html

 

Thanks thats useful.

 

Google Earth has an add-on called Panoramio, with which photographers (try to) locate a link at the exact spot from where the photo was taken. Following the NMYR line in 3D terrain mode, you can click on any number of these and get a good idea of what to expect.

 

Very informative. Well done!

 

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that it is possible to follow trains on the NYMR. If you start at Holme House above the miners cottages, you can then drive to Moorgates and catch the same train, and then on to Newbridge. Particularly useful for videographers!

Regards

 

None of the links above work for me?

 

Most of the links ( posted in 2005) are to fotopic who went bust a couple of years ago.

 

Some photos with locations pinned to Flickr map
Autumn Gala 2015
https://www.flickr.com/photos/66957213@N00/albums/72157658761979908

Autumn Gala 2013
https://www.flickr.com/photos/66957213@N00/albums/72157633477778462

 

I presume you have a line side permit for the shots taken "inside the fence."

 

Trackside pass is required, yes!

 

Fair enough but at some locations the directions are to "walk down the track."

 

Hmm, I'll be honest, I'd completley forgotten about this thread! Death of Fotopic stopped me uploading anything for the last couple of years, and have only just restarted with a Flickr account, so this reminder is well timed, I'll update the orginal posts this weekend.

Now about your locations:
1) Not all of them accesible to the public - the ones you've posted at Esk Valley and Beckhole are Lineside permit only shots. The ones in the original posts were all totally accesible to the public.
2) You do have a photo permit don't you?
3) Some of the shots you've posted aren't the best ones avaliable at that location - the footpath crossing at Fen Bog - much better shot if you are up on the hill opposite, rather than right up close to the track at the crossing.