The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) joins the celebration of England’s rich history of invention, industry and innovation with Heritage Open Days. The NYMR has announced a series of exciting events and activities at the award-winning heritage attraction, all free to attend.
A free national festival celebrating history and culture, Heritage Open Days will take place from 6th – 15th September 2024 and will feature exclusive events and opportunities that aren’t usually available to public access at the NYMR. This year, there are some new activities on offer, including:
Volunteer Voices Exhibition – 6th – 15th September
Unearth the stories behind the iconic heritage railway, spanning five decades of camaraderie, dedication, and shared passion for preserving a bygone era.
Goathland Station Tour – 6th, 11th September
Accompanied by an NYMR volunteer, you’ll learn about the history of this beautiful country station.
LNERCA Atkins Building Tour – 6th, 8th, 10th, 13th September
Carriage Stable Walking Tour – 6th, 10th, 12th, 13th September
Take a short tour of the new carriage care facility at Trout Farm Carriage Stable in Pickering and see how this new facility enables them to care for the heritage carriages.
Wagon Group Talk & Demo – 7th September
Take a short tour of the Atkins shed in Pickering, see progress on current projects and watch the turntable in operation. The tour will explain what is involved in carrying out routine maintenance right through to full overhauls.
Motive Power Department Walking Tour – 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th September
See what happens behind the scenes at the locomotive sheds in Grosmont, the operating hub of the railway.
Guided Rail Trail Walk – 9th, 10th September
The ‘Rail Trail’ from Goathland to Grosmont via Beck Hole is a 5.5 km walk along the original horse-drawn Stephenson’s line.
Grosmont Station Tour – 9th, 12th September
Explore the Grosmont 1952-themed heritage station, the home to the operating and engineering world of the NYMR.
Carriage & Wagon Tour with Lift Demonstration – 9th, 11th September
The tour will explain what is involved in carrying out routine heritage carriage maintenance right through to full overhauls.
Archives Open Day – 10th, 12th September
Find out more about the wide-ranging collection of over 8,000 objects covering rolling stock, signs, notices, signals, maps, drawings and artefacts.
Pickering Station Tour – 11th September
Explore Pickering 1930s-themed heritage station to transport yourself back in time to the steam era.
All A-Board Games Night – 13th September
Whether you’re a seasoned board game enthusiast or a curious beginner, the Board Game Night promises excitement for all. The All A-board Games Night is an innovative event developed by young adults from the Heritage Open Days’ New Wave programme, bringing fresh ideas and excitement to our heritage celebrations.
History of the Line Talk – 15th September
The talk explores the development of the original Whitby-Pickering line from Beeching’s cuts to the start of the NYMR.
Signal Box Demo & Victorian Games – 15th September
Explore the role of the Signaller and how important they are in ensuring safety on the railway.
Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture. Running for ten days every September, the festival offers free access to heritage events and activities across England. In 2024, the festival will celebrate how people and ideas have moved around and come together throughout history.
Transport routes, communication networks, trade unions, and social clubs, the travellers who have spread ideas and the hosts who welcome them—there are so many stories on our doorsteps just waiting to be uncovered.
Macey Palmer, Learning and Interpretation Officer at the NYMR, said, “Heritage Open Days is a great opportunity to showcase some of the behind-the-scenes elements at our heritage railway. We have some favourite tours and talks returning this year, and we’ve also opened up even more locations for people to explore and learn about our charitable aims, including our Carriage and wagon Department and on-site Archives.”
Heritage Open Days is brought to you by the National Trust with support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, and delivered locally by a large range of organisations such as the NYMR.
The NYMR’s Trust is a not-for-profit charity that focuses on educating people of all backgrounds through the operation of a living museum that demonstrates the impact of the coal-powered steam railway as a catalyst for the rapid expansion of the Industrial Revolution and a foundation of modern societies and economies.
More information about the full lineup of events, along with booking details, can be found online at www.nymr.co.uk/heritage-open-days.
Every single Heritage Open Days event is free, including access to many sites that usually charge for admission. For further details about the festival, visit www.heritageopendays.org.uk.
Lead photograph by Charlotte Graham.