What’s in the Collection
WHAT IS THE COLLECTION?
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway Trust has an overall Collection Development Policy. To ensure the necessary focus for every item, given the diversity and range of the objects, artefacts and materials, more detailed Collection policies have been developed relating to each component of the Collection.
The Museum Collection has a geographical focus which relates to the former North Eastern Railway area. It includes historic and contemporary objects relating to railways. Continuing to add to the collection up to and including the present day means as well as enhancing the Collection, we are also gathering the history of the future so that the rich railway history in this part of the country continues to be cared for and developed and ensures that future generations can learn about and enjoy the past and its impact on the present time.
The Collection includes:
Heritage Locomotives – the Collection includes heritage steam and heritage diesel locomotives as well as supporting traction in the form of shunters. Most are owned by the Trust and some owned by individuals or groups. To find out more about our heritage locomotives, please visit:
Heritage Carriages
There are around 30 heritage carriages in the Collection – you may travel in one of these during your visit but some of the others in daily use are non-heritage as part of the operational fleet to ensure there is sufficient capacity for passengers and also to ensure flexibility in the range of seating and support accommodation. To find out more about our heritage carriages, visit Heritage Carriages.
Heritage Wagons
The NYMR's heritage wagons are looked after by the volunteer Wagon Group. The volunteers do a fantastic job of renovating, refurbishing and maintaining the heritage fleet and aim to operate a Demonstration Wagon Set at special days/events. Some of the wagons at the railway are for operational support only and not necessarily heritage. Find out more about the heritage wagon stock.
Lineside and Station Artefacts – as well as being historic, many of the artefacts which are on stations or along the line, are also functional. For example, “Whistle” signs (an instruction for locomotive crews to sound the whistle). Not all the artefacts you will see are original. Some may be reproduction. Some of them may have originated elsewhere but are typical of the type which could have been found here on this railway. Find out more information about the lineside and station Collection.
Archival Collection – a wide ranging and diverse assembly of materials – it includes railway records, photographic images, art work, books, maps, plans and drawings, history of railways in the north east and the history of the NYMR. Historical material continues to be collected when it becomes available but we also ensure contemporary items and records are added to the Archival Collection to ensure it reflects the life of the railway as it develops and continues for future generations to learn from and enjoy. Find out more information about the Archival Collection.
Signals and Telecommunications – Vital to everyday operations, many of the signals are historic as is much of the equipment in signal boxes.