'Crisis appeal' raises £440k to secure future of North Yorkshire Moors railway

A 1264 locomotive locomotive travels through an autumn scene along North Yorkshire Moors Railway in the North York Moors National Park.
A 1264 locomotive locomotive travels through an autumn scene along North Yorkshire Moors Railway in the North York Moors National Park. Credit: PA

After a 'crisis appeal' for funding, £440,000 has been raised to secure the future of the North Yorkshire Moors railway. 

An emergency appeal was set up at the start of the first lockdown. While it has closed for now, the charity says the "vital" funds have helped to retain staff and ensure the railway can operate as planned once restrictions allow.

Chris Price, General Manager at NYMR commented: "It's an understatement to say that this year has been challenging for us. Whilst we are now feeling more positive, Spring 2020 was a bleak time. When we should have been opening our doors for the start of the season, we were having to lockdown the railway, not knowing when we would run services again.

"The NYMR is extremely important to the region, both economically and culturally. Funding throughout the pandemic has meant that the Yorkshire's Magnificent Journey (YMJ) project can carry on.

"This includes building its conservation and heritage apprenticeship programmes, lineside ecological conservation work, fuss free access for disabled visitors, expanding the railways learning offer and reaching out to individuals, groups and communities to share the charities passion for the history of the region through steam travel."

In addition to the crisis appeal, the railway was further supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) as part of its YMJ project, and was awarded £1.9m as part of the Government's £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund administered by the Arts Council.