NYMR Autumn 2019 Gala

Whilst the potential line up looks exceptionally inviting, if it did end up in double figures as suggested I wonder how much use each loco would get, especially if double heading is difficult operationally. I would not expect to be able to ride behind every loco in a day but with what seems to be restricted to an hourly service (from previous galas) due to length of line, passing points etc, it may be difficult to experience very many I suspect. A day on the trains and a day photographing would probably be my limit and many others I suggest. Sometimes you can have too many locos if not all get used every day of a gala as has been seen elsewhere.
But well done to the organisers for the line up so far.

 

Point taken, but for me a trip to the NYMR is 300 miles and the best part of six hours travelling each way. That said, it's probably 30 years since I've last been there, so about time I made the effort again.

 

I expect that one thing that will get done will be to send one set onto the branch and onto the battersby run. That will form the service with connections at Grosmont for Whitby, fitting in between NYMR service trains - previously two NYMR trains have ran on this but I expect with the new Northern timetable that this is no longer possible at all.

However, it would mean that either one mainline engine and possibly another if top and tailed would be used on this. That would then put the rest of the timetable solely between Grosmont and Pickering, meaning that trains don't need to worry about swapping for a Whitby engine at Grosmont or have a Whitby train work through from Pickering. On other occasions the Whitby set has worked to Goathland, so it all depends on whether the NYMR want to send a trip up to Battersby - which is a fantastic run equal to an experience on the Jacobite if I was asked.

Some engines will be no use for Whitby and the gala will feature many of these. The 9F, Q6, King, Hall, J27, No. 29, S15 and the A4 would all not run to Whitby, although rumours are that the S15 might be fitted to enable Whitby operation (shudders at the thought!). That will mean that the service on the NYMR proper can be used to cater for the highlights of the visiting engines. Probably with a goods running and maybe other passenger shuttle like Levisham - Pickering. I think the timetable will still mean some engines might be sat waiting for parts of the day, but it stands the chance of being fantastic...

 

Presumably the King won't be gauged for Whitby!?...

 

No because the King is not mainline registered. Locos like Black 5s, Repton, 76079 B1s etc can go into Whitby.

 

I do know that, was only jesting, but I had rather lost track of whether the King was still technically mainline registered but just didn't fit anywhere or not!

 

It's an incredible line up and, to be honest, I think a couple might fall by the wayside. I expect that there will be a shuttle between Pickering and Levisham and possibly from Grosmont to Goathland as it is possible to fit these in between the hourly core service. Running to Battersby is not that easy these days as the Northern T/T doesn't give sufficient leaway. Trains have to be T & T as there is only five minutes allowed at Battersby so no time to run round.

 

I suspect that over 3 days not everything will get steamed every day - perhaps 10 a day as that's the most that can reasonably made use of at any one time - although I'd expect the visitors to be out every day. Hopefully, the opportunity will be taken to change engines at Pickering, leaving one to stand in the platform or on the turntable in between trains to give people something to see.

 

I'm driving up from Sussex for this event (my first ever visit to the gala event). Shall hopefully cram in as many loco's as possible whilst there. Have brakevan rides been offered at previous events on the freight train and if so what the cost was please? It's on offer at this years event, it's something I would consider paying for if not too expensive.

Many thanks

Ben

 

Probably me, but I can't see a link to that on the event page - something that could get me to travel.

 

I think the single chimney 9F and seeing the lambton tank 29 especiaĺly will be a welcome site to all who are members and attend the N.Y.M.R. bur throw in 6023 65894 and 63395 and what a good gala w,end for everyone to see. but it would be nice if the battersby whitby rat run could be thrown in with 5428 and diesel class 25 silvia its always whats made N.Y.M.R. galas unique i reckon in days gone by main line running to battersby and whitby compared to other heritage railways.
Davo 56F.

 

Could it not be TnT with steam? With 15x proposed locos, there's only so much capacity on standard NYMR...

 

Biggest problem with your suggestion, is, not all the locos' will be "mainline approved" or fit"into the loading gauge" of the Whitby-Grosmont section. Whilst they may fit in on the [Middlesbrough-] Battersby-Grosmont section. That's why the bigger visitors like Tornado, Flying Scotsman, Union of South Africa only run to/from Grosmont. Would be nice if the Moors could TnT with steam.

That's something I've always felt. That as many as possible Moors based steamers should be passed [with the owners consent] for restricted Whitby-Battersby running. I don't know if it could/would be possible to design some sort of portable TPWS etc system that could be fitted to each loco. Certainly be helpful if one loco was out of service for routine maintenance, boiler washout etc and the TPWS being temporally transfer to another..........

 

That, to my mind, would be a waste of time, money and effort. Even if it were to be technically feasible, the NYMR struggle to find paths as it is. You have yourself highlighted (perhaps elsewhere) that an additional "normal" service round trip is to be added between Middlesboro and Whitby, which is likely to reduce opportunities still further.

Apart from all that, the NYMR needs to remember its roots and concentrate on running what it has!

 

Access costs on network rail, such additional running has to produce more passenger use to justify, Whitby covers costs, would regular Battersby ?

 

Seven locos in steam at the NYMR yesterday, plus two diesels, and it was just an ordinary day. Who needs a gala?

 

St

 

I went to whitby steve from pickering early april silvia C.25 diesel to whitby 9:00 and 65894 banking it, i changed at grosmont for the 2nd whitby train hauled by 5428 at 11am from pickering to whitby i stayed on it all day til 5pm last train on bronze timetable i went up glaisdale on my bike via egton bridge up to my uncles trevor silkstone he lives at glaisdale station on the esk valley line im his nephew back in april when 61264 went to scotland on the great britain tour steve.
Davo 56F.

 

926, 5428, 1264, 76079 are already passed. And then there's 62005 as well if you really want. It's only 3x days, so plenty of options for rotation on a Whitby - Battersby shuttle. Leaves 6023 6990 60009 92134 to run more on the core NYMR service.

They used to charge a supplement for "Battersby" Rover Tickets. I've visited when both 44767 and 75029 have been used for such in the past, and think the adult Rover was £32 ish back then. Well worth the price, and I remember each trip was busy. A gala should show off everything your railway can do, and whilst I don't disagree Grosmont - Pickering should forever be the core focus - the Battersby stretch is something unique to NYMR.

 

As I've said previously, though; Battersby running is no longer an easy option. The root cause of this was a change to the TPE Manchester Airport T/T a couple of years ago which altered their platform requirements at Middlesborough and had a knock-on effect on Northern services arriving and departing that station, including those to Whitby. There is now no real time for Battersby runs during the day and very little during the evening.