On 1st May 2023, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) celebrated its 50th Anniversary as Britain’s most popular heritage railway by recreating the first official passenger service using the same two locomotives it did in 1973 and three of its original service volunteers.
Chris Cubitt and Terry Newman were back as footplate crew, whilst John Bruce operated the signal box on the 1330 departure from Grosmont Station replicating their roles on the same day, 50 years later with the same locomotives.
Another long standing volunteer, John Hunt, was there for a book signing of his latest book North Yorkshire Moors Railway Golden Jubilee. The book takes the reader on a journey along the entire original route from Whitby through to Pickering with visuals to allow the reader to compare the railway of old to how it runs today. The book serves as a tribute to half a century of progress and to the many hundreds of people who have been involved along the way.
Renowned historian and expert on the NYMR, Ron Pickering, also give a captivating talk ‘Celebrating 50 Years’ of the railway line.
Chris Price CEO said,
“Celebrating 50 years of the railway is an incredible achievement. We are so grateful to each and every member of staff and volunteers who continue to spread the joy and knowledge of steam trains to all of our visitors. For some of the team this anniversary is extra special because they have worked at the NYMR since the first day in 1973 when the Duchess of Kent officially opened the railway. John Bruce, Chris Cubitt, John Hunt, and Terry Newman are still working full steam ahead as the NYMR continues its journey. The preservation of the railway means future generations can enjoy it for years and years to come.”
For its 2023 season opening, the NYMR announced the launch of a new Unlimited Annual Pass which lets passengers pay for one day and benefit from travel for 12-months. As well as this, Kids Go Free in 2023 meaning any child between 0-15 years old travels completely free! The Headline Fare is £40 and valid for 12 months along the full length of the line between Pickering and Whitby, and a single-use Shorter Journeys ticket can be purchased for £15.
The dedicated charity is encouraging all of its loyal visitors and new guests to join in the 50th celebrations this year. Whilst on board, visitors can take in the breath-taking scenery of the North York Moors National Park, including Goathland railway station, known to millions as a filming location for the iconic Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The NYMR has also recently been used as a location for the latest films in the Mission: Impossible and Indiana Jones franchises.
The NYMR welcomes over 300,000 visitors every year and relies on a dedicated team of full-time staff and over 900 active volunteers to run and maintain the 24 miles of heritage railway.
For more information, to purchase tickets and to support the NYMR through another 50 years visit, www.nymr.co.uk.
