Taking a Steam Train on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is a scenic steam train railway trip through the Yorkshire Moors, starting in the picturesque town of Pickering and terminating in the popular seaside town of Whitby.  When the North Yorkshire Moors Railway company reached out to me to see if I wanted to check out this scenic steam journey, of course, I said yes!

Getting to the station at Pickering I was really surprised at how much detail and attention had been paid to the station itself.  It felt like walking back in time!  From the stacks of vintage suitcases on the platform, to the hanging baskets adorning the walls, to the vintage style signage and uniforms, it really did add to the glamourous feeling of the trip.  As the platform filled with steam it made me feel like I was stepping onto the set of a 1920’s film noir.

All proportions for the current Covid-19 guidelines have been taking including social distancing both on the train and on the platform, wearing marks throughout the trip, the elimination of usually scheduled stops on the route, limited capacities, Zoono ‘Fogging’ both onboard the train and around the station facilities and more.  I truly did feel safe on this trip, take a look at their dedicated web page on Covid-19 for more information.

Currently, there is only one train in use to Covid-19, The Optimist.  This aptly named steam train was waiting for us on our arrival and this large vehicle is a truly impressive sight to see.  The large engine pulled along a great many carriages, it was one of the largest steam trains I have seen in person.  We entered our assigned carriage and took our seats in surprising comfort. I’ve been on quite a few steam trains in my time and I can often say I have never ridden one that was so comfortable.  Often steam trains are quite jerky and the seats rather bouncy but this journey was incredibly smooth.  All passengers get their own personal table which seats four people.  However, if you want to some real luxury the North Yorkshire Moors Railway also has private carriages, which truly do look like something straight out of Harry Potter!

Winding through the stunning Yorkshire Moors was a true joy as the scenery was spectacular, I could barely take my eyes away.  Each part of the journey was as beautiful as the last as the train wound its way around the peaks, moors and villages on route.  Before Covid, this train would usually also have the additional stops of Grosmont and Goathland on the route, and although they currently do not stop there the train does take a break at these stations so you can take in the beauty of the stations themselves.

Now I know talking about the beauty of a train station may seem a little odd but trust me when I tell you these are some of the most beautiful train stations I’ve ever seen.  They’ve both been done up in a true vintage style, along with many of the stations you pass through on your route.  They truly look magical.  Goathland was used as the set of Hogsmede in the Harry Potter films.

Before long you arrive at the seaside town of Whitby, known most of all of course for its connection to Dracula.  Arriving here in October then, was the perfect time to see this town with its spooky connections.  You get around 3 hours here before your journey back to Pickering, which allowed us enough time to take a walk through the cobbled streets, head up the famous 199 steps to Whitby Abbey, let the dog have an all-important paddle in the sea and have time for a slap-up fish and chip meal before heading back to the station.

The return journey is just as beautiful as the trip out, I loved being able to lean out of the window in between the carriages and see the carriage as it wound around corners, with the steam passing by.

The journey was truly magical, and the scenery on the trip was much more beautiful than I had expected.  I truly enjoyed every second of this trip and wouldn’t hesitate to do it again, especially in the summer when the Yorkshire heather on the moors is in full bloom!  Tickets for the train journey start from £35 each for a single ticket with plenty of offers for couples and families or £150 for a private carriage, which seats six.  Journeys are currently twice daily but check their website for the current timetable.

Tickets for this trip were given complimentary in exchange for a review, all words and opinions are my own