The North Yorkshire Moors Railway has announced that it has chosen construction firm, Hobson & Porter, to build a carriage shed to help secure the future of the heritage steam railway.
The work by Hobson & Porter is part of the £10m Yorshire's Magnificient Journey Appeal.
The carriage shed is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the supporters of the NYMR.
The four-track carriage shed, which is to be built near Pickering, will accommodate up to 40 carriages and will enable the servicing and cleaning of the carriages to take place undercover for the first time.
Internally, direct platform access will be available, and an inspection pit will provide access underneath the carriages to allow inspections to take place.
The project on the carriage shed started in early January 2020 at the steam railway in North Yorkshire and is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.
The other six Yorkshire's Magnificent Journey projects include:
- The renewal of old bridges at Goathland Station.
- The conversion of four carriages to provide easier wheelchair facilities and accessible toilets on every train.
- Conservation of the railway lineside through the North Yorks Moors National Park
- A drive to promote awareness of volunteering and a new volunteering centre.
- Improved education facilities on the railway.
- 12 apprenticeships to be brought on to sustain the heritage railway
What did the officials say?
Patrick Horton, Hobson & Porter's Contracts manager, said:
“We are delighted to have been chosen to carry out this vital work to secure the future of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
“Over the years, many thousands of people have enjoyed breath-taking steam and diesel train journeys through the stunning North Yorkshire countryside, on these heritage trains. Our work will help keep these wonderful carriages in pristine condition and keep them safe when they're not being used.
“It is going to be a challenging scheme, but our team are more than capable of working next to a live rail environment and we will be keeping any disruption to a minimum.”
Chris Price, NYMR General Manager, said:
“The benefits the carriage stable will bring will repay the investment time and time again.
“The carriage stable will help ensure the historic carriages survive for the enjoyment of future generations of passengers by reducing deterioration levels of the carriages, deliver an improved journey experience for our visitors and provide better working conditions for our staff to sustain our 1930's and 1960's carriages for our visitors to enjoy.”
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Good news indeed, well done Chris! Much-needed security, too. Interesting operating scenario with locos at one end of the line and rolling stock at the other.
Being A Keen Train Enthusiast … I still think the NYMR is one of the most popular and well developed/preserved Heritage Railways, in both the British Isles and also within the UK Preservation Movement.
I wonder if the NYMR might one day consider aiming to (though they’d get permission first, let alone take many years to achieve) install A Turntable at Whitby railway station.
Also, I even wonder if the NYMR’s own Class 101 DMU might ever reach Whitby (that would be very interesting, even A Potential Preservation Highlight).
I wish the NYMR Good Luck on the rest of it’s current appeal.
I’m Pleasantly Impressed at how well the North Yorkshire Moors Railway have been doing, Especially on it’s Latest Appeal to secure it’s Future.
So far, They’re doing well on Bridge Renewals (to the south of Goathland), Now there going to eventually get their own Carriage Shed built as part of said Appeal, To protect the fleet of Carriages from what happen to them a while back.
I’d look forward to checking out the NYMR and it’s Developing Chapters (the next time I do visit and ride aboard ‘in-person’ one day).