North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion

Thirty is permissible between Grosmont & Whitby, subject to there being sufficient 'on train' staff. Drivers are given a ticket by the guard which tells them the maximum permissible speed. I doubt that any driver would exceed their permitted limit; the locos may not have OTMR but radar guns are used and point to point times can easily be checked.

AFAIK, the 25mph limit was not specified in the Light Railways Act but became the norm in the conditions laid down by the Railway Inspectorate when approving light railways. It is, however, enshrined in modern legislation as 40 kmph (25mph) being the break point at which more rigorous requirements kick in.
I may be wrong about the line limit being 30 mph in BR days but I'm fairly certain that it wasn't as much as 45 mph. I need to do some checking. It was and is certainly 30 mph between Grosmont & Whitby.

 

I think that the question is not whether a railway could get its speed limit raised or not, but why it would want to spend a considerable amount of money to do so. Central locking of doors, crash worthiness, and pway suitability and maintenance standards would be the thin end of the wedge. Lineside fencing, level crossings, signage and all other aspects of the infrastructure would have to be assessed, and possibly some of it changed. Then there is the question of staff competency which becomes more of an issue over 25mph. I think all the drivers would for example have to be part of the European drivers licence scheme.

 

One worries that sooner or later all this will come to pass regardless of nominal safe speed. are there any stats on stopping distances for 250 tonne Vbraked trains at 20mph, 25mph, 30mph ?

 

Assuming you are referring to train drivers, could you give more details on this scheme please?

 

I don't know enough to give you much more, but there is info on the ORR website. I lost interest when I realised it didn't apply to minor railways. One of the characteristics mentioned (though not the only I am sure) was that 40kph figure again.

 

Thanks

 

The RAIB report has just been released:

Rail Accident Investigation: Report232012

It make sad, but interesting reading. Everyone involved in operations on heritage railways should read this.

 

Any news regarding happenings on the NYMR please? Winter infrastructure work, motive power developments, in fact....anything of interest would be appreciated.

There is some brief information on the main NYMR website, but does anyone have any useful links to other sources of information about NYMR behind the scenes work please?

They appear to have gone very quiet...!

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I can't tell you what is going on with the rest of the railway, but at Pickering the LNER Coach Association are in the final stages of rebuilding Thompson TK 1623 - see the rolling stock thread for a linkn to the latest pictures of the newly installed seats. There is still a long way to go - the devil is in the detail! - but we hope to have 1623 running in the second half of this year

 

Speaking of the LNERCA, what news of 3669? Both the Preserved Railway Stocklist and the VCT register have it down as still being at Brid.

 

It's still there, getting very close to completion now. The LNERCA has commission a batch of late 20s/early30s "fawn rep" moquette which is needed for it and as soon as it comes the seats will be done. After that it's mostly fitting brass fittings, and bogie overhaul, neither of which can be done at this location (there's a large travellers camp nearby, so putting brass fittings in would probably be somewhat counterproductive! 36689 is another coach we hope to see completed this year but it is privately owned, not one of the LNERCA's but an associated member's. The NYMR turned down a request to move it to the railway last year, ut didn't rule it out when more complete; they may or may not get the opportunity again this year as the owners are now being seduced by the prospect of shed accommodation elsewhere!

Accident-damaged BTO 43567 is at Ramparts, Barrow Hill, for repair and is expected back in time for the peak season.

Once Thompson 1623 is complee the LNERCA will move on to Thompson CK 18477, another unique coach. One of the earliest coaches to arrive on the NYMR it is internally complete but hasn't run in passenger service since 1971, before the NYMR offically opened! It needs more or less the entire body frame replacing on the corridor side, but the compartment side seems reasonably OK. All new steel panels are required but these are in stock, along with most other materials. After 18477it'll be back to Gresleys, most probably part-restored open third 24109.

 

Just to try and fill in a little more info, and dont shoot the messenger if this is out of date, it has been taken from the main NYMR website just now, here is their steam situation:-
--In traffic: 75029 and 61264. Spare: None.
--Repairs: 29. Under restoration. Due in service late Spring. 825: Winter exam Boiler exam VPX. 45428: Trailing wheels to tyre turn Winter exam. 60007: Mechanical repairs. 63395: Firebox repairs required Under repair at Crewe. 76079: Under restoration Due in service late Summer. 92214: Boiler overhaul Under repair at Grosmont Due in service Mid Summer.
--Guest locomotives: Definite: 44871,45407, 37518, due 22nd March. 62005 4th May for a few days.

Looks like a fingers crossed situation for their peak steam service. Thank goodness for "Riley Rescue" !

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(By the way I dont know what "VPX" means above, just taken it from their website)

 

On the infrastructure side of things it has been a reasonably steady winter no major headline grabbing projects this year.
Renewal 1 was a 17 length relay and reballast North of Newbridge.
Renewal 2 was a Reballast and realignment over Bridge 31 near Beckhole. This to put the track more central on the bridge and reduce side loading to the walls.
A Third Renewal starts next week in Pickering station approx 7 lengths to be relaid in Platform 1 towards High mill Lc.
A number of sites along the railway have been reclipped, repadded and reinsulated. Summit and Levisham straight being 2 of the sites.

On the Civils wagon front 2 plate wagons have recently been refurbished and returned to traffic, a 3rd is in for refurb and repaint. The RUDD wagon has been in for floor repairs.

Over the winter a regular team has been out most thursdays chopping back the vegetation and improving sightlines especially around Moorgates to Summit.

More new Whistle Boards and approx 23 Gradient boards have been installed as part of an ongoing project.

Not sure what the progress is with the Pickering Wagon group other than the 12t Van has emerged from the shed and now work has started on a milk tanker for the freight train.

 

Valve & piston examination would be my guess.

Keith

 

Yes that sounds likely, thanks!

Thanks also to Bryan for the infrastructure info.

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Interesting; many thanks. How do 23890 and the ECJS restaurant car fit into the scheme of things?

 

Cant wait to see the K1 back on the line as thats my favourite machine. Having NELPGs Q6 back too will be fantastic (as surprise, surprise!! Its another favourite...) when repairs are complete. The B1 too looks great, having called in once already to the railway just to see that back. Glad to see I dont think that they have changed the smokebox door away from its NER style, something rumoured to be happening. Did the NYMR contibute to the costs of the B1's overhaul in return for it being based on the line. Having the B1 for Whitby, is certainly a help to both the NYMR and the B1 Trust as its still a semi-mainline engine? No doubt Bean Counter knows the answer to that one...

 

Interesting; many thanks. How do 23890 and the ECJS restaurant car fit into the scheme of things?

Well all future plans are subject to change, and there's part restored corridor third 23896 to work into the equation as well. We were hoping for a grant from HLF for 189 as it is such an important carriage (one the earliest restaurant cars, one of the earliest gangwayed carriages, one of the earlist to be fitted with Pullman gangways) but we've just been turned down - we'll be improving the application and resubmitting and we hope it will eventually take care of 189. After that, its a question of what is likely to attract donations and what is likely to cost the least - that's why 18477 is next, we already have most of what we need for it and there is a possibilty of some grant funding. The NYMR are keen to have more seats in the teak train and may contribute towards 24109, which is why that is likely to follow, and again we have most of what is needed for 23896 available in stock. 23890 is the least likely to attract donations because it is not a genuine LNER restoration.

 

VPX for 60007 as well.

 

Had an update from the Lineside clearance team and I am posting his comments here, should be of interest to the many photographers on here. Just to note that one of the gangs involved comprises of a number of photographers.

Our main Thursday Team project has been between Lyke Wake crossing and Moorgates. All broom has been cut down and burned in addition to cutting branches and leaning trees to about 15 feet. We are planning to do even more next winter as there are some parts in need of further work. Time has become tight as we have lost at least three bonfire sessions due to snow.
The photographers group has been active between Br 30 and Br 37 particularly around Br 36 where the eastern side embankments have been cleared totally and debris burned.
There is still much to dispose of around Br 35 and help has been promised by fencing team members prior to 23rd March.
Carriage cleaning/fire com team have been active between between Platelayers Cottages and Kidstye Farm cutting back vegetation to assist the fire truck during fire watch period.
The project to improve sighting of the footbridge at mp 16.5 was also completed during the winter, having started a couple of months before the end of the running season.
The only other small job was cutting back near to Abbots House to assist the view of Goathland signalman.

Levisham Station Group have made an extensive cut back from the northern end of the North siding to Platelayers Cottages but have been hampered by bad weather in disposing of debris. Several members from the Junior Volunteers Group have been recruited to assist with bonfires over the next two weekends.
That is all of the activity at present, apart from a proposed session at mp8 to mp8.25 and a steady repair to the dry stone wall between Br 30-31 which may be completed in time for its 150 year anniversary in 2015.