Moorsline’s Magnificent Journey
Second major Government grant boost
THE North Yorkshire Moors Railway has been celebrating a second award from the Government's £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund for their Yorkshire's Magnificent Journey (YMJ) project, delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Capital Kickstart Award of £296,000 announced on February 19 means it can now fulfil one of the major elements of the project by continuing the renewal of Goathland station's bridges. Bridges 24 and 25 will now be replaced by January 2022.
The impact of Covid-19 has meant the NYMR has had to defer some of its YMJ match funding.
NYMR general manager Chris Price has welcomed the extra money.
“Our spirits have been completely lifted thanks to the news that we've successfully been awarded this additional grant,” he said.
“In January we announced that our own emergency appeal to raise vital funds during the pandemic raised an incredible £440,000.
“These funds helped retain our people and ensured that the railway could operate in the future.
“We knew, however, that although we had overcome such an enormous hurdle, more was needed to keep projects like YMJ steaming ahead, which is how the Capital Kickstart Award will support us.
Significance
“This project is significantly important as, in addition to the major restorations of the Goathland station bridges, it enables us to continue with building our conservation and heritage apprenticeship programmes, our lineside ecological conservation work, offer fuss-free access for disabled visitors, grow our learning offer at Pickering and Goathland, and, of course, reach out to individuals, groups and communities to share our passion for the history of the region through steam travel.
“From the whole team at the railway, and all 300,000 of our annual visitors, thank you!”
The latest award comes in the wake of £1.94 million Culture Recovery Fund grant highlighted in issue 274, and which has enabled the line to continue its busy programme of restoration and maintenance projects during lockdown in readiness for when day services are allowed to restart.
The line's traction and rolling stock manager, Paul Middleton (aka Piglet), said: “Even though we're not open to the public right now, the work doesn't stop for NYMR's team of 40plus fitters and engineers – including 12 in the carriage and wagon team at Pickering.
“As well as the major ongoing restoration work, there's the annual programme of winter maintenance, which this year is complicated by the challenges of Covid-19.
Challenges
“As you can imagine, carrying out engineering work while observing all the necessary social distancing guidelines is challenging to say the least.
The shed is split into two smaller bubbles, working in separate areas with staggered start times and split tea breaks and lunchtimes.
“We're not as efficient as we'd like to be and were pre-Covid, but everyone's doing the very best they can under the circumstances.”
LMS ‘Black Five' 4-6-0 No. 44806, formerly known as Magpie ,is undergoing a full restoration.
As reported last issue, the boiler has gone away to Riley & Sons at Heywood, while the chassis is at Grosmont, where Andrew Jeffery and his team of young fitters have completed the first part of the bogey overhaul, repairing the axle boxes.
No. 44806 is scheduled to run again running in 18 months' time, returning to traffic in spring/ summer 2023.
Meanwhile, in the boiler shop, Phil Naylor and James Newton are busy fitting a new copper tube plate, new half copper door plate and half copper sides to BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 No. 75029 The Green Knight, which is also undergoing a chassis high bottom-end overhaul and will return for summer/autumn 2022.
Chassis work on Bullied West Country light Pacific No. 34101 Hartland has been completed, but work on the boiler continues.
A new firebox has been pressed and 2500 holes now need to be to drilled, reamed and tapped, ready for the stays. The locomotive is due back in traffic in 2022.
Overhaul
The North East Locomotive Preservation Group is undertaking a major overhaul on LNER Q6 0-8-0 No.66395 (2238) with the NYMR's help, with the bulk of the work being carried out on the chassis. The boiler has been removed for overhaul and is ready to be steam tested.
A major 10-year restoration of Class 24 No. 5032 Helen Turner still has two years to run, with the line's small diesel team carrying out work in between repairs and maintenance on locomotives that are in traffic.
The project has involved many new bodywork panels, a bogie and engine overhaul and a complete rewire. The generator has been sent away for overhaul.
Alongside these major projects, the running fleet is undergoing essential annual winter maintenance.
Work on SR Schools 4-4-0 No. 926 Repton includes repairs to the super heater header and a full set of super heater elements, while the cracked chimney is also being welded.
LMS ‘Black Five' No. 5428 Eric Treacy is to be fitted with a new horn guide before the new season opens.
NELPG's J27 0-6-0 65894 (NER P3 2392) is having new motion bushes, cylinders bored and other mechanical repairs.
Class 25 D7628 Sybilla is due to have its tyres turned and Class 37 No. 37264 is having new batteries fitted.