Steam's up for latest phase of heritage railway redevelopment

THE sights and smells of the steam era evoke a romanticism that is unbridled for many.

And visitors to a new centre on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway are being given the chance to stimulate their senses to find out more about one of the UK’s most popular heritage lines.

The two-storey visitor centre at Pickering Station was officially opened on Friday and features inter-active displays including a smoke box that releases the sulphurous smell of a steam engine.

The centre has been built to chart the history of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and its importance as a major tourist attraction. Railway officials announced in February that they had attracted a record 350,000 visitors during the previous year.

The visitor centre, which cost 190,000 to complete, is the latest phase of a major re-development of Pickering Station.

The waste management company, Yorwaste Limited, provided 33,000 towards the cost - the 500th Yorventure grant to help local projects with cash raised through landfill tax credits. The Heritage Lottery Fund provided 120,000.

The last phase of the 1.7m re-development – replacing the station roof – should be completed by next March.