North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Long overdue visit; Visiting the NYMR has been on the to do list for sometime, and we were not disappointed. We choose a last minute get away to Pickering from Northampton. Even without prior booking the staff at NYMR made us welcome and made light work of getting us booked onto a running service to Goathland and back. So lucky to see the Moors dusted with snow. Lots to see and do at all stations depending on your itinerary. They have on going work with one of the bridges after Goathland so the train stops there. Will be back for sure to try some of the other services like the pullman dining train. Priced well for a good day out and helping the future of this railway sits well with us. Loved every minute.

Had a brilliant day on the Pullman today. Beautiful food, brilliant service despite half of the staff not been able to be there due to the weather. The snow topped it off. Thank you for a lovely afternoon

Loved my visit to this station. We came to travel on the flying Scotsman. Are departure time was 8:45 There is lots of parking available just a short walk away run by the North Yorkshire countryside team. There are parking metres and please make sure you use them as they patrol and produce tickets readily. The station buffet was open by 8:00 am serving hot drinks and bacon butties etc. Apparently on our train there were 1800 passengers. We boarded very quickly and the train ran on time. When we returned there was the next passengers ready to board the 11:40. They were held back behind a barrier giving us plenty of space to leave the station. The volunteers are a credit to the organisation. Well worth visiting.

We had a lovely trip from Pickering to Goathland and back with a quick pitstop at the local pub for a spot of lunch. What can I say everyone loves a heritage railway. Staff were attentive and didn't mind so much that we did have tickets and had to purchase them on the train. Fascinating story by the volunteer gentlemen wearing the British Legion Halifax Bomber lapel badge. Chapeaux.

Wee jaunt for my parents. Travelled on Flying Scotsman from Grosmont Station to Pickering return. Journey time was approx 2hrs comfortable seats with table in between. There is a buffet car but if you want to eat bring ur own food as not much choice and expensive. Really enjoyed the relaxing journey through some beautiful countryside.

Really disappointed by the Christmas dining, would not recommend this experience at all. Staff (who i understand to be volunteers) were absolutely lovely and the reason for any stars although they did keep putting the bottom of plates on top of other plates of food when carrying which massively put me off because where has the bottom of the other plate been before touching my food?? Cutlery was also dirty. Farmhouse roll was literally a supermarket basic bread roll, the butternut soup was incredibly thin and bland, prawns mediocre. Turkey and sides all quite dry, bad texture, very thin, tasteless gravy. Puddings fine but again very basic. Best part was genuinely the coffee with cream at the end. It reminded me of a school dinner if I'm being honest. The windows were dirty, constantly steamed up inside and out so impossible to see out of and when we could it was nothing special compared to any countryside train journey. I wouldn't be so harsh except bear in mind we paid £100 each to sit on train we could barely see out of and eat food that I wouldn't even pay £20pp for. Supposed to be a special occasional but the food and situation just does not live up to that, feels extremely cheap especially if the staff weren't even paid from the very first 1/4 filled paper cup of mulled wine to the dry mince pie. I don't know how expensive it is to run the trains but i just don't think this experience is at all worth the money. Comfy seats tbf but massively regret spending this much money at Christmas.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fantastic experience on the Flying Scotsman We had an excellent day! The staff at each station were brilliant — very helpful, clear with instructions and kind throughout. Everything was so well organised for such a special event, especially with hundreds of people boarding the train or watching and taking photos. Absolutely thrilled to have had the experience — a wonderful birthday treat and a day we’ll never forget! 🚂 ❤️

We bought the tickets the day before so we knew our train time. It was very exciting seeing the steam train coming around the bend into the station. We were very impressed with all the volunteers and how smartly they were dressed. They were very informative and helpful. The journey from Whitby to Pickering was just under two hours and the scenery was lovely. We stopped at several stations, all immaculately looked after and one was the station from Heartbeat. The experience is not cheap but if you like old trains it's worth it.

Just a normal passage to Whitby. In a nutshell, underwhelming. The views were nothing to write home about, occluded mostly by trees. Not one of the best steam journeys. The train was clean and comfortable but the volunteers (and I hate to say this - vapid), come on guys don't wait for questions, give us info, make it exciting.) Upon advice we took the 840 coastliner bus back to Pickering, sat up top. It was awesome, so much better than the (not) views on the train and just two squid from Whitby to Goathland. NYMR - well no moors views for a start so a bit of a misnomer.

North Yorkshire Moors railway is quite romanatic especially for those of us who love steam engines. I know someone who was proposed to on one of the journeys. The railway was planned in 1831 by George Stephenson as a means of opening up trade routes inland from the then important seaport of Whitby. The initial railway was designed and built to be used by horse-drawn carriages. Whitby's original 'station' stood near to the end of the remaining platform, in the form of the offices, workshop and carriage shed of the Whitby and Pickering Railway Whitby railway station is the northern terminus of the NYMR. There are regular trains to Whitby from Pickering throughout the year. Whitby's only other surviving railway buildings are the two track engine shed, originally built by the York and North Midland Railway and extended by the NER and now in prospect of conversion into Captain Cook World (why does that make me think of Rimmer World?) and the neglected remains of one of the pair of Whitby and Pickering Railway 1835 weighbridge houses. The Y&NM built the present Whitby station to the design of its architect George Townsend Andrews, who also designed the locomotive shed and the goods shed (demolished to make way for a supermarket, although a German bomber made a start during WW2). Some events also take place for enthusiasts and families.. East Coast Giants Weekends: with LNER A4 No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley and Class 55 'Deltic' No. 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier will be in operation on the following dates: Aug 16-17th, 30-31st Teddy Bears Picnic: Aug 16-17th All aboard for a trip to Levisham Station for a fabulous party Picnic with Paddington Bear-don't forget to bring your bear! LNER Vintage Train with 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley hauling the LNER set. Running Sept 8th, 20th, 22-24th & Oct 5th, 7-9th LNER K4 No. 61994 The Great Marquess will be operating regularly through the summer until 21st Sept Autumn Gala: 26-28th September At least 9 locos in steam over the weekend including 71000 Duke of Gloucester (first visit of a BR Standard Pacific to NYMR) and hopefully one other visiting locomotive. The 18-mile railway is the second-longest heritage line in the United Kingdom and runs across the North York Moors from Pickering via Levisham, Newton Dale and Goathland to Grosmont. It is the middle section of the former Whitby, Pickering and Malton line which was closed in 1965 as part of the Beeching cuts. The NYMR is owned by the North York Moors Historical Railway Trust .. It is mostly operated and staffed by volunteers. Trains run every day from the beginning of April and the end of October, plus selected dates through the winter. Trains are mostly steam-hauled; however in some cases heritage diesel is used. At the height of the running timetable, trains depart hourly from each station. As well as the normal passenger running, there are dining services on some evenings and weekends. The fairly recent extension of steam operated services to Whitby have proved extremely popular. The romantic way to get to Whitby.

I was looking forward to a Pullman Experience on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. The excitement, even at my age, of seeing the steam train standing in the station. The noise, the smells took me back 60 years. The Pullman carriages tables were laid beautifully. Arriving at our carriage we were greeted by the young lady who guided us to our table. Having removed a dirty napkin from my seat we sat down. Drinks were ordered from a very pleasant young man which arrived promptly. Sitting back, the train began its journey to Pickering. The smoke billowing across the countryside. Other than the silver service by the young attendants, which was exemplary, the positives stop here. The food was the worst that I have eaten, even in lesser carveries around the country. Stodgy vegetables, inedible roast potatoes. I won't go on. I don't need to. I realise that the NYMR is a charitable concern but even charities need to give 'value for money'. Yes I would return for the train experience but would totally avoid their Pullman Experience.

Well yes this is OK if you turn up on a good day we however turned up on Bank Holiday week (silly old me expecting a steam train). As it is promoted as being a Steam Railway you can understand our disappointment when we where told that the train heading to Grosmont would be a Diesel train however at least we were assured that the return later in the day would be a Steam train. UNFORTUNATLEY IT WASNT It was the same Diesel train you could see leaving Doncaster or Crewe on most Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tue, Wed, Thur, Etc Etc. So not only were we disappointed but the grand Kids were too. (Never mind in years to come they will show their grandkids the historic Intercity 125!!!) We got off at Goathland (Heartbeat Country) and had a look there are also a couple of other stations that are quaint and pretty and certainly worth a look but I must say the lack of the steam train did spoil it. In fact we did intend to book the Pullman evening meal service but not sure what type of train we would get, I've decided no to bother. Shame. (If you do go here ring first and try and check what's due to run).

Having got off the the train with two kids convinced they've just sat in the same seat Harry Potter did during the first film how can I say anything other than amazing, sadly the seats in Goathland dont say Hogsmead on them but hey the kids loved it. Just them seeing the train emerge from a bank of steam was a special moment for my two who are all too used to diesels. The journey it'self is through a very nice part of Yorkshire and I saw more than one train enthusiast having a nerdgasm whilst steaming along so well worth a visit for anyone with a desire to see either great scenery or a steam train and the final category of people just wanting to get from Pickering to Whitby. The staff are all friendly and the on board refreshments are cheaper than a normal train still inflated but not so much that you feel ripped off if you are planning your journey get the tickets online for a 20% reduction

Our kids love a ride on the steam train here -- it's been a highlight (no, the highlight) of our weeks in Pickering for several years now. The staff are very friendly -- they seem to delight in explaining the various aspects of their trades to visitors, particularly younger ones -- and the scenery is simply stunning. How this line was rescued after Beeching and restored is a heart-warming tale of human dedication and commitment. The only downside is the price -- but if you join as a member (for a gift-aid-able fee) you get a 50% discount for a year which, with careful planning, makes our annual visits better value (we only join every other year!).

This railway runs through some of the most beautiful countryside the UK has to offer, it also boasts some picturesque stations. However my last trip to it was very disappointing. My family and I got off the train at Pickering to go for lunch. On our return a heavy rain and hail storm struck us so we dashed for the first carriage open to us and started ti make our way with two young children and a push chair along the coaches when a very rude and arrogant railway volunteer in hi-vis orange clothing stopped us in our tracks (excuse the pun) You're not going in there It turns out that you can't take pushchairs into some of the historic coaches for fear of damage ok that's fair enough but the manner in which he spoke to us was appalling. He then suggested to us that we disembark (in the rain) and take the pushchair to the guards van. We refused! Seconds later a man with two large wet dogs walked into the carriage followed by a photographer carrying a large tripod that clanged against the carriage walls - none of this made any difference to Jobsworth! His whole attitude was appaling and a number of other customers commented on his behaviour. In the end he did offer to take the pushchair through the coach himself. When I went to pick up the pushchair from the guards van later I discovered a young mother looking after her sleeping son. It turns out the same hi-vis volunteer had made her travel in there because she refused to wake her sleep son. What was so outrageous about this was that there were carriages in which you could take pushchairs! Sadly it doesn't end there! Later that day we tried to escape a second downpour by popping into the Cafe at Grosmont station. By this time my youngest niece was fast asleep in the pushchair. Yet the Cafe staff refused to let us in with the pushchair because of fire regulations... yet the Cafe was large, spacious and COMPLETELY EMPTY. On the basis of this trip I really cannot recommend the railway to parents with pushchairs, not only was the cleanliness of the coaches (as others have pointed out) terrible it seems that a number of their staff/volounteers go out of their way to be unhelpful and rude

for all heartbeat fans and harry potter fans! as the goathland station was where the harry potter films where filmed at for the station scenes in philosophers stone, when it was transformed into hogsmeade station, and goathland itself is better known as aidensfield! for the tv series heartbeat! the journy starts at pickering station, (has a good sized carpark) levisham, newton dale halt, goathland, grosmont, whitby. you can get on the train and visit the stops, either going or coming back. we stopped at 2 places goathland and grosmont. depending on the trains, some have little private carriages, and some brilliant scenic views when travelling. goathland, station looks really olde de worlde, and you can make out where the scenes where filmed for the harry potter films. the village itself is great to wonder into! after overcoming a very steep road into the village! it has a very touristy set up, with lots of tearooms, little shops and things are priced for tourists! and sheep droppings everywhere on the paths! as for grosmont, its just a stop to extend the visit, but an interesting place to look about, but by this time the kids where truely bored and ready for home, so we didn't see as much as we would have liked to! take care with the train times as i think the last train back from grosmont was around 5pm. around christmas they do special santa trains from pickering, with events throughout the year, so worth it's checking the website to see whats happening, if your thinking of taking a ride on a steam train.

As traditional as you want it to be. The look of the trains and the carriages are superb, always very clean and tidy. Can seem a bit pricey but understanding the upkeep keeps it all in perspective. Beautiful and a very scenic journey, especially if you take the whole route in.

We have been in previous years for a ride with the steam engine but were very disappointed with a Christmas/Santa special trip last year. We found the volunteers to be extremely bossy and unfriendly. Hot drinks and mince pies were included in the expensive tickets, but not for children. A few children were sick on the train and it not cleared up - not pleasant, the carriages were dirty - it wasn't an experience we shall repeat.