The route, Pickering to Whitby
The operator calls it a “24-mile heritage railway through the heart of the North York Moors”, from Pickering by way of Levisham, Newtondale Halt (a request stop), Goathland and Grosmont to Whitby (NYMR route map, read 21 October 2026). South of Goathland the line drops “at a continuous gradient of 1 in 49 to Grosmont”, as the railway's own shop describes one of its histories (NYMR shop).
A railway from the 1830s
The first section, Whitby to Grosmont, opened in 1835 and reached Pickering in 1836; the deviation line via Goathland opened in 1865 (history of the NYMR, read 21 October 2026). At Grosmont you can still walk through the George Stephenson tunnel built in 1835 (Grosmont station page). The Beeching era closed it: the operator records “1965: Malton to Whitby passenger service closes”, and the line south of Pickering followed in 1966 (NYMR history).
Preservation, 1967 to 2007
The society held its inaugural meeting in 1967, public services began in 1973 with an official opening by the Duchess of Kent, the first through train ran from Whitby to Pickering in 1987, and regular services to Whitby started in 2007 (same history page). Pickering station itself is listed: its main building, Grade II, is “probably by G T Andrews” (list entry).
Goathland and Grosmont
Goathland is the famous one. The operator's station page says it “became Hogsmeade Station in the first Harry Potter film and featured as Aidensfield in the ITV programme Heartbeat” (Goathland station page, read 21 October 2026). From the village the Rail Trail is “a signposted three-and-a-half mile walk down the old railway line” to Grosmont, which makes a good half day with a train back. At Grosmont the engine sheds sit beside the line, and the operator invites visitors to catch a glimpse of the work going on there (Grosmont page).
When it runs
In 2026 the railway opened Saturday to Wednesday from 28 March to 15 July and from 12 September to 1 November, and daily through the summer holidays (opening times, read 21 October 2026). The autumn steam gala ran from 24 to 27 September with visiting engines including 60007 (NYMR news). Christmas has its own trains; the What's On page carries the dates.
The stations, one by one
Pickering's overall roof has been reinstated to the same design as the original, built in 1847 by G T Andrews (Pickering station page, read 21 October 2026). Levisham is presented as “a 1912 styled railway station” (Levisham station page), and Grosmont is where the line meets the Esk Valley Line to Middlesbrough and Whitby (Grosmont station page). The railway's history page traces it back to a survey by George Stephenson in 1832, and records horse-drawn working until 1845 (history).
Planning the day
For the 2026 season an adult Day Rover was listed at £53.85 at the regular fare or £42.35 at the school holiday saver fare (NYMR fares, read 21 October 2026). Car parks charge for the day: Pickering is £7.00, for example (parking page). Adapted carriages carry wheelchairs and electric scooters (accessibility page).
Photographing the line
Take as many photos as you like for yourself: the railway says personal photography and filming for private, non-commercial use is fine. Anything commercial needs its written permission first, and so does flying a drone. And never step onto the track or a footplate; the railway’s terms rule out operational areas for everyone without authorisation.
Sources: NYMR terms and conditions (read 21 October 2026).
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