North Yorkshire Moors Railway
From George Stephenson's horse-drawn line to a preserved steam railway, the route between Pickering and Whitby is the easiest way into the moors.
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is a heritage line stretching 24 miles through the heart of the North York Moors National Park, from Pickering to Whitby. The preserved railway runs 18 miles from Pickering through Levisham, Newtondale and Goathland to Grosmont, with a further 6-mile extension over Network Rail's Esk Valley line to Whitby.
From Horse Power to Preservation
Built to connect the towns of Whitby and Pickering, the Whitby and Pickering Railway was surveyed by George Stephenson and opened in 1836, at first with horse-drawn carriages. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway's history page explains that a deviation line via Goathland opened in 1865, bypassing the steep rope-worked incline at Beck Hole that steam engines could not manage. The Malton to Whitby passenger service closed in 1965. However, a preservation society held its inaugural meeting in 1967, and the line was officially reopened as a heritage railway by the Duchess of Kent in 1973. The railway's own passenger services to Whitby began in 2007.
The Stations
The journey begins at Pickering, a market town station with a tea room. The next stop is Levisham, a remote station in the valley of Newton Dale, popular among walkers. Newtondale Halt, further up the valley, can be reached only by rail or on foot. Goathland is best known as Aidensfield in the television series Heartbeat and as Hogsmeade station in the first Harry Potter film; this station has its own tea room and picnic area. Grosmont is home to the railway's engine sheds, and from there trains continue to Whitby, where the line meets the National Rail network.
Trains are hauled by steam and heritage diesel locomotives, and the railway publishes which services run on which days. It is a practical way to see the moorland without driving, and an easy link between the inland moors and the coast at Whitby.
Walking From the Train
For walkers, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway offers an ideal starting point for exploring the surrounding countryside. The North York Moors National Park Authority confirms that many walks can be accessed directly from the stations of the Esk Valley Railway and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Levisham and Newtondale Halt open straight onto moorland and forest paths, while the Rail Trail between Grosmont and Goathland follows the course of the original 1836 horse-drawn line.
To plan a visit, head to the official website, nymr.co.uk, for current timetables, ticket information and event details. Fares, timetables and operating days change from season to season, so check the website before travelling, and carry a map and suitable clothing if setting off on foot from one of the moorland stations.
