Climb aboard for railway's Magnificent Journey appeal

One of Yorkshire's best-loved tourist attractions has launched a public appeal to raise £2.5m so it can steam into a thriving future.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) wants to build a new carriage maintenance depot at its Pickering base, and to adapt rolling stock so it’s easier for less mobile passengers, wheelchair users and families with pushchairs to come aboard.

Hitting the Magnificent Journey Appeal’s £2.5m target means the railway will be able to secure a matching grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Head of traction and rolling stock at NYMR, Paul Middleton, said: “The railway’s carriage and wagon department does a fantastic job in maintaining the fleet up to the highest main line standards, but their efforts are hampered by the fact that the stock lives out in the open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“Rot and corrosion are one of the biggest issues faced by the fleet. We must stay on top of their maintenance as there are no more carriages available from the same era to replace them.”

The solution to beating the Yorkshire weather is to build a four-road single-storey carriage shed alongside the railway, with the roof cantilevered out over an existing siding to provide a fifth covered road.

The great majority of the NYMR’s fleet of carriages will then be sheltered from the elements, along with other rolling stock awaiting restoration.

The railway's carriage and wagon manager, Kieran Murray, said: “The deterioration levels in the fleet will drop significantly, which in turn will have a positive effect on the required frequency of carriage overhauls and on the quality of the journey experience for visitors.”

Improving a specific aspect of that journey experience is the key aim of the second part of the Magnificent Journey project, as Paul explained.

“The current accommodation for wheelchairs consists of designated wheelchair bays located in one end of selected second class carriages. However, these vehicles do not have suitable bodyside doors to enable easy loading.

“Typically, we are limited to two wheelchair users per train, and there are times when disabled passengers have had to suffer the indignity of travelling in the unheated and austere luggage area.

“Although we operate a 19th century railway using 20th century locomotives and rolling stock, it is increasingly unacceptable in the 21st century for passengers with mobility problems to be conveyed in these conditions.”

The plan is for at least one carriage on every train to be fitted with double doors, accessing a specially-created area with space for wheelchair users and their families, eliminating the need to manoeuvre through narrow corridors and gangways.

“The space available will be comparable with the capacity of a minibus adapted to carry a number of wheelchairs,” explained Kieran. “It will ensure that all passengers enjoy the same experience and are equally able to admire the stunning scenery as they steam across the moors.”

For further information on NYMR’s Magnificent Journey Appeal and ways to donate, visit'¯www.nymr.co.uk/YMJ