Waterman signals a new era for railway

But a major new development to keep Britain's most popular heritage steam railway on track for the upcoming tourist season has finally been unveiled.

Now according to a man who knows a thing or two about staying at the top, it is full steam ahead for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for many years to come.

Rail enthusiast and legendary pop mogul Pete Waterman, the man who discovered Kylie Minogue's singing talent, joined a host of dignitaries at the official opening of the new 750,000 bridge, which carries the railway over Eller Beck at Darnholme, near Goathland, and replaces a 145-year-old structure no longer fit for use.

Waterman, a patron of the railway who donated money to help pay for the new bridge, said: "It looks absolutely fantastic and this will make a huge difference to what is a phenomenal railway.

"The North York Moors is one of the most beautiful parts of the country and to have a steam railway running through it makes it just stunning.

"I have been coming up here for the past 30 years and I know this railway very well. It is something very special and I am delighted this will keep it going.

"I am a massive rail enthusiast. I own 17 locomotives, was born next to a train track and have been interested in trains all my life.

"But this is about more than that.

"The North Yorkshire Moors Railway has a huge impact on the rural economy and attracts thousands of visitors from all over the country.

"When I saw they needed to raise some money to build the new bridge, I jumped at the chance.

"This marks a new lease of life for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and will enable it to continue to go from strength to strength."

Work began on the new bridge, known as "Bridge 30", in January and involved a massive operation between volunteers and railway workers.

A 100 ton crane – one of the biggest on the national rail network – belonging to Doncaster-based firm VolkerRail Group, was also used to lift out the old girders from the Victorian bridge.

To pay for the work, more than 250,000 was raised by 10,000 members of the railway, alongside a 300,000 grant from North Yorkshire County

Council and a 100,000 grant from the North York Moors

Coast & Hills Leader Programme.

Because of the remote location of the site and the fact the bridge had to be replaced over the winter in readiness for the start of the main running season, it was described as the biggest engineering challenge the heritage steam railway had faced in years.

But despite the appalling conditions, the team completed the project on time and within budget. Murray Brown, chairman of the North York Moors Historical Railway Trust, said: "From when we began this work it has been a very long battle to get it done.

"We were battling to get the old bridge out in one foot deep snow and temperatures well below freezing.

"The conditions were horrendous but I am so proud of the whole team who managed to get it done.

"This bridge was 145 years old and it was a huge and very complex project to get it out.But to keep the railway running it was vital this project went ahead."

After unveiling a plaque, guests who also included the new Bishop of Whitby, Martin Warner, were treated to a light lunch on board one of the steam train's historic saloon carriages while travelling from Goathland to Pickering.

The locomotive used to haul the guests was engine 49395, known as the "Super D" which is owned by the National Railway Museum, but was restored with money paid by Pete Waterman.

Line that just wouldn't die

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway operates steam trains along an 18-mile line through the heart of the North York Moors National Park.

The complete 24-mile stretch of line was fully opened in May 1836 and was one of the earliest lines in the north and an important trade link between Pickering and Whitby.

In the 1950s traffic began to dwindle and by 1965 the line operated its last passenger service.

But following a major fund- raising scheme the line was re-opened by a group of volunteers as a tourist attraction in 1975 between Grosmont and Pickering.

Research suggests the railway has now become Britain's most popular heritage steam railway, and the world's busiest steam attraction. Last year it attracted a record 350,000 visitors.