
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) has announced that it will be operating its train services using its heritage diesel fleet following a series of lineside fires.
The heritage railway says that the fires broke out during the week commencing April 7th at various locations along the railway line. The cause of these incidents is attributed to the unprecedented dry spell of weather.
Members of staff identified the fires and promptly escalated the response to the emergency services, the North York Moors National Park, and local gamekeepers. The fire brigade has been in attendance to manage the situation.
As a precautionary measure due to the ongoing dry conditions, the NYMR will be operating its services with heritage diesel locomotives No. 47077 North Star, No. 31466, No. 31128 Charybdis, and No. 37264 until Monday 14 April.
Despite the change in locomotive power, the NYMR has confirmed that train services will continue to operate between Pickering, Goathland, Grosmont, and Whitby. Passengers are advised to arrive for their scheduled departure times.
Paul Middleton, Director of Mechanical Engineering at the NYMR, stated:
"It has been especially dry since March, and with the weather set to continue with little rain, we will be operating our fleet of heritage diesel locomotives on our services".
Mr. Middleton also noted that the NYMR is
"working closely with local partners including the North York Moors National Park, North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service, and wildfire groups to reduce risk as we introduce these extra safety measures".
For enthusiasts of steam traction, No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley will be in steam at Grosmont Station on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 April. Additionally, No. 8 steam tram Lucie, operated by NYMR’s Paul 'Piglet' Middleton, will be in steam at Pickering Station on Saturday 12 April. However, these locomotives will not be operating the regular train services during this period.
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway has assured the public that they are
"doing everything we can to fully cooperate with the emergency services, taking every precaution to ensure the safety of both staff and passengers, which is always our priority".
The NYMR also expressed their gratitude for the "continued support" of the public. The railway is looking forward to continuing to provide scenic journeys through the North York Moors to the coast at Whitby.
Comments
Add a comment