Construction milestone reached at heritage railway
A heritage railway carriage maintenance facility has reached a major milestone in its construction following the announcement of the reopening of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR).
Contractor Hobson & Porter has begun the steel erection at the new stabling facility, located near Pickering Station in North Yorkshire.
It is part of a National Lottery Heritage Fund and European Union Rural Development Programme for England funded project for the NYMR’s wider Magnificent Journey scheme.
Credit: Charlotte Graham
When complete, the five track single-storey carriage shed featuring a cantilevered roof, will accommodate up to 40 of the railway’s heritage carriages and for the first time enable servicing and cleaning tasks to be completed undercover.
Platform access to most tracks will be provided for servicing and cleaning, and one track will have a pit along its whole length to facilitate fitness to run inspections and brake block changing.
Works at the facility began in January this year with a new access bridge being completed just prior to the UK-wide lockdown.
Construction work at the site halted for a few weeks during April to allow Hobson & Porter to implement new safe working practices.
Work resumed in late April, enabling the project team to advance their line-side works due to the railway being closed as a visitor attraction. The project is due to complete early in 2021.
Trains are currently performing trial runs on the railway in anticipation of the full-service reopening on 1 August.
Patrick Horton, contracts manager for Hobson & Porter, said: “This first erection of steelwork is an exciting milestone for the new carriage stabling facility at Pickering, for the first time people are able to really appreciate the scale of the project.
“Following the fantastic news that the railway will soon reopen to passengers at the beginning of August we are delighted to be back working onsite and progressing works.”
Chris Price, NYMR general manager, said: “After a delayed start to 2020, it’s great to be able to see works of this project well underway ahead of our season opening this Yorkshire day.
Credit: Charlotte Graham
“It’s a real symbol of progress for us, of moving forwards, and is a real significant step in the development of our highly-anticipated new stabling facility.
“Thanks are due to the people of Pickering for their patience during this major construction project, which will help ensure that the railway continues to bring jobs and economic benefit to the town.”
The facility at Pickering forms part of a larger scheme to transform the railway and secure its future as part of its £10m Yorkshire’s Magnificent Journey (YMJ) Appeal.
