NYMR "Train of Thought" Lottery Project

Whilst the NYMR's "Bridge & Wheels" Appeal is understandably receiving more publicity due to the urgent need for funds, another major project, Lottery funded, is quietly moving along at Pickering. The £1million "Train of Thought" project involves the building of an education facility, a demonstration signalbox, and the rebuilding of the overall roof over the platforms and tracks at Pickering.

Progress with the building of the education building is proceeding rapidly, as can be seen from the "Gallery" section of the project website:

http://www.thetrainofthought.co.uk

46118

 

So the box is based on Pickering's original?

 

I'm not sure if the signal box will be based on any actual original that stood at Pickering station, but I will quote the words from an article in "Moorsline" as follows:

"A heritage signal box at the Southern end of platform 2 will be reconstructed, based on original drawings..."

That could either mean original drawings of what stood at Pickering earlier, or maybe a new build of a suitable NER-style box that fits the space available. Maybe they already have a suitable lever frame, and will need to build around that.

Regards

46118

 

Any news from the NYMR about this project at Pickering please? The website words havn't been updated since June, and the photo gallery shows the Education Centre roofed but otherwise incomplete.
How is the Education Centre progressing, and is there any progress with the reinstatement of the overall roof at Pickering?

Perhaps there are progress updates on another website that I havn't as yet found?

46118

 

With the "train of thought" website seemingly abandoned, and out of date, and no updates forthcoming otherwise on Nat Pres, here is an update for those interested in this important Heritage Lottery ( and Yorkshire Foreward) project at Pickering NYMR station. The information is summarised from the Project Manager's article in the latest edition of "Moorsline" which dropped through my letterbox this morning:

The first part of the project is the building of a Learning Centre on land immediately behind the train shed wall on platform 2. Work got off to a slow start in late 2008/early 2009 due to contaminated ground issues, and the need to conduct an archaeological assessment. Work started in earnest after Easter 2009, and a feature of this build was the need to bring in all materials by rail from New Bridge yard on a shuttle service between service trains. There are some images of the construction work on the trainofthought website, up to about July. The building is now essentially complete, with attention turning to interior decoration and fitting out. The Learning Centre, which will include a store for the NYMR archives, will have state of the art information technology facilities, which will no doubt be of considerable use when the centre starts to offer educational facilities to schools.

Once the Learning Centre is complete, attention will turn to the reinstatement of an overall roof at Pickering station, which apart from replacing a historic feature in itself, will provide some protection for the train shed walls, and winter storage for carriages. The physical works are likely to take place over the winter of 2010/11.

46118

 

Sorry 46118 - I did see your question and meant to reply but been up to my ears in the 2010 Budget the last few weeks.

Latest news is that some work needs finalising on gas supply and sewage and then the building is complete and can be handed over by the contractors. At present, it is still officially "theirs" and access can only be conducted by the contractors.

The plan is for the official opening to be during the February half-term week, although the building will be in use before then. Trust Board plans to hold its first meeting there in early February. There is a large meeting/class room downstairs capable of holding 30 school children with working space or up to 50 people at a meeting, and the library part of the archives upstairs has room for smaller meetings of up to about a dozen.

The NYMR has previously had no meeting room capable of taking more than about 8 to 10 people (and that is the General Manager's Office!), so this is going to be a major help for training etc. (The MIC Classroom at Grosmont can hold rather more but is a specialist loco training facility full of sectioned models etc. and hence not suitable for general use).

2010 work will include the bulk of the conversion of the existing building behind the north end of Platform 2 to the visitor/"welcome" centre, including equiping with "interpretation" - the aim here is to give passengers who have just missed a train plenty to see and do as an introduction to the Railway until the next train comes in.

Towards the end of 2010, the main structure of the roof will be purchased.

During 2010, the opportunity to help the scheme by "buying a slate" on the roof will made available.

Steven