The not-for-profit railway conservation has been given a Capitak Kickstart Award from the government’s Culture Recovery Fund. The grants and money will go towards North Yorkshire Moors’ Yorkshire Magnificent Journey project.
Back in March 2020 the coronavirus pandemic had to cancel events and NYMR said they were concerned it could “threaten the very existence” of the railway. It had to cancel its large-scale event, including the 1960s music festival.
The works that will go ahead now will include the renewal of its iconic bridges at Goathland Station – which aims to be completed by January 22
After a very hard year NYMR general manager Chris Price said: “Our spirits have been completely lifted thanks to news that we’ve successfully been awarded this additional grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Culture Recovery Fund.”
“Just last month we announced that our own emergency appeal to raise vital funds from the loss 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 that more was needed to keep projects like Yorkshire’s Magnificent Journey steaming ahead which is how the Capital Kickstart Award will support us.”
“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.”
The railway is the UK’s busiest heritage railway and attracts over 400,000 visitors annually. All the money generated goes back into the railway. It also does a lot for Yorkshire’s economy by attracting thousands to North Yorkshire’s prettiest towns and villages like Levisham and Goathland
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