Grosmont Yorkshire England United Kingdom - A multi-million pound appeal has been launched to secure the future of a renowned heritage railway.
 
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) must raise £2.5 million from members, passengers, and the public over the next five years for an investment programme to be delivered.
 
Earlier this year, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) awarded NYMR £4.6 million as part of the £9.2 million sustainability project, NYMR's Yorkshire's Magnificent Journey Appeal.
 
The NYMR must raise matching funds of £4.6 million, with the rest hoped to come from member bequests and further grants.
 
Its aim is to boost investment in the infrastructure and the activities of the railway to help ensure it can continue to operate successfully for the next fifty years.
 
John Bailey, chairman of NYMR's trust, said, "Fifty years ago our founders had the vision and determination to re-open the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Today we face a challenge of similar scale. We are extremely grateful for the support from the National Lottery. With its backing, we can plan confidently both the implementation of essential projects, and our appeal for the balance of funds required. This should ensure that, fifty years hence, people will still be learning from and enjoying the experience of steam across the moors."
 
Features of the programme include the repair and renewal of iron bridges around Goathland (£2.67 million), and the construction of a covered stable for up to 40 carriages at Pickering (£4.16 million).
 
It also hopes to build a dedicated education carriage at Goathland (£330,000), create a new volunteer hostel at Grosmont (£450,000), and start a railway apprenticeship programme (£470,000).
 
The award winning visitor attraction, which carries more than 350,000 passengers every year, is owned and operated by an independent charitable trust with the day to day operations carried out by volunteers.
 
It employs more than 100 people, depends on more than 1,000 volunteers, and contributes more than £30 million per annum to the economy of the moors and coast.
 
The 180-year-old railway, consisting of 18 miles of track and more than 30 bridges, already invests around £1 million annually.
 
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