As in previous years, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) be running Whitby Winter Excursions over the Christmas and New Year period.

The festive trip through the picturesque moors will run every day from Saturday 27 December 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026.

Each day, the steam train will leave Pickering at 9:35am and travel for one hour 40 minutes, arriving at Whitby at 11:15am. The return journey will depart from Whitby at 2:10pm.

Passengers will have nearly three hours to look around Whitby, a seaside town at the mouth of the River Esk, famous for its harbour and for its Abbey, which inspired Bram Stoker to write Dracula.

The train will travel a total of 36 miles, on a journey that offers great views of the scenic moors. Passengers will be able to enjoy the wintry landscape from the warmth of their seats in heritage carriages.

Tickets cost £49.50 each for adults and £12.15 each for children. Discounted rates are available for NYMR members.

As a final celebration of the bicentenary of the modern railway, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway will see the return of diesel-powered North Eastern Railway Electric Autocar No. 3170 following restoration. The loco comes to NYMR courtesy of NER 1903 Electric Autocar Trust.

NER Autocar will run services between Pickering, Levisham, Goathland and Grosmont stations. Passengers will not have to buy tickets but can hop on and off, starting their journeys at any of the four stations.

NER Autocar Day Rover tickets cost £25 for adults (16+) and £12.50 for children. Rail Trail Single tickets from Grosmont to Goathland will be available for £12 per adult or £3.20 per child.

Pickering Station’s Tea Room will be open, with visitors having the opportunity to buy bacon rolls, snacks, hot drinks, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Refreshments will also be available on board the Whitby Winter Excursions services.

More information and tickets are available on the Railway’s website for both the Whitby Winter Excursions and the NER Autocar.

“The Whitby Winter Excursions are perfect for post-Christmas adventures to create cherished memories. They have become a highlight during the winter season and are an ideal way for passengers to experience the charm of steam travel at that time of year.”

Laura Strangeway, Chief Executive Officer, North Yorkshire Moors Railway