North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion

There's no way of altering anything at present due to the Northern services needing to clear Glaisdale before anything else can enter the branch. Whichever way you try and adjust things, it doesn't work without something waiting somewhere or removing other services.

The only way to reduce the time the 12.35 ex Whitby sits at Grosmont for without completely rearranging the timetable is to push the departure time back. But as they're so short of Whitby locos at present, that wouldn't allow loco changes at Grosmont as both platforms would be occupied at the same time. Whichever way you look at it, there's no real option but to keep it as it is.

 

This is a change that has been increasingly obvious just looking around at the pubs I frequent. With 38% of the population now over 50, perhaps not surprising. It poses one of the many challenges of adaptation required by heritage railways.

 

I noticed that the first out of Pickering this morning still had to be swapped for another despite the fact both were diesels. I could understand if they'd put steam on that wasn't registered but why start from Pickering with a non Whitby diesel?

With regard to paths I really do hope the re-signalling has some benefit to the NYMR when it happens. I know they aren't supposedly getting anymore paths (unless demand proves too light on customers for Northern to use them in the longer run) but I live in hope that the quicker times between Grosmont and Whitby (without having to stop and start continually to get permission from the signaller) will help them make improvements to timetables when everythings bedded in.

 

I went on holiday to Yorkshire in summer 2023 (I think). We, as a train loving family, went to a variety of heritage lines. I'll talk here about the NYMR and the KWVR. In the case of the former, we stayed for a week near Grosmont. In the latter case, we spent one day there having got the train from York-Leeds-Keighley.

The day at the KWVR was brilliant. We stopped off at each station on the KWVR, where we recieved a warm welcome, and there was lots to do. This was thanks to the two steam sets running back and forth at 45 minute intervals.

The NYMR was in a steam ban. I appreciate there isn't much they can do about that. It was still a decent week, and the volunteers were friendly. However, the train service was infrequent, and seemed to run about 2 hours late EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Regarding the NYMR, we accepted the steam ban - it is what it is. We planned to go back at Easter at some point to get some steam mileage in. I'm somewhat dissapointed that steam is not delivered even in the limited part of the year when the conditions allow it.

Why on earth should I bother returning to the NYMR? That's a massive, massive, massive journey for me. Only to find out when I'm half way up the ECML having woken up at 4am that actually the steam engine needed a washout today so they won't bother.

Contrastingly, I really want to pay the KWVR another visit. We had a great time and I'd love to see it again with some different locos out. It's worth the journey.

I think for so many people steam is so crucial. Young children are so excited. No, I, as an enthusiast, am not representative of the primary market for the NYMR. But I fear most people will turn up to a diesel and say never again.

If money is tight, then I think hiring in addition steam engines to maintain the service is one of the things which has to happen regardless. The Bluebell are in serious financial trouble This is rather an exaggeration, I admit. Recent accounts and discussion are visible on the Bluebell thread on Nat Pres. It is good to see a profit from the last year. This is by no means a statement endorsed by the railway and I have no intention of talking it down. The management people are doing a fabulous job of controlling finances and things are getting much better. but 2999 Lady of Legend is on loan, for good reason. To be honest, if it's diesel for the Whitby section then who cares? But, you, at least, need to have an engine sat in Grosmont platform 4 to take photos with and offer cab visits.

 

I think 37688 is the only Whitby diesel they have at the moment. You wouldn't want to send it to Pickering in case 44806 gave up in section. Except..... it's being sent to Pickering on the 1330.

Interesting to see that it's diesel on the diner today in the form of 47077.

 

That's a dangerous statement to make on a public forum.

 

" The Bluebell are in serious financial trouble". Are they?

 

Firstly, nothing I've said is from internal information. The accounts are publically visible and have been discussed on Nat Pres on the Bluebell thread. I appreciate the concern regarding this; I have no involvement in the finance part of the railway. Equally, none of my views are those of the railway and are simply my own thoughts, in this case exaggerated.

The reason for my comment is the fact that in many recent years there have been operating losses of hundereds of thousands of pounds. Last year, there was a profit, but as stated by someone in Bluebell Times if I recall correctly, there is still more work to do to fully stabilise the financial situation of the line. That said, the people who deal with the money are trying very hard to improve things - as can be seen by lots of recent successful events.

I want to properly apologise for my earlier comment as this was not a fair statement to make nor was it a reasonable summary or explanation of the situation. I have no intention to speak badly about the Bluebell as I love the line and wish it the best.