North Yorkshire Moors Railway

While planning my UK road trip this year (did you see my post about The Midlands?) there were some places that just had to be included and a ride on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway was one of those.

Trains these days are all about commuting, speed, and efficiency – or that’s what we’re told – yet the images we see in children’s books are always of steam trains and time for friendship.  Thomas the Tank Engine would have us believe these trains are still standard in the UK but they’re not and you need to search out the specialist railways such as the NYMR.

The NYMR railway runs from Pickering to Whitby with stops at Levisham, Newton Dale Halt, Goathland, Grosmont and Whitby. I wouldn’t call myself a rail enthusiast but seeing a steam train arrive at the station is quite magical and makes you feel young inside. Everyone from toddlers to grandparents all smile, wave and take photos, even if they are not taking a ride on the train.

I did go on-board as I wanted to see a particular station, the celebrity station on the line: Goathland. For many, this is known as “Aidensfield” from the Yorkshire TV programme Heartbeat which was filmed here for many years. But for me, and other Harry Potter fans, Goathland is “Hogsmeade” as this was the setting for the fictional train station in the first film of the Harry Potter series, called Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in the UK and Harry Potter and the Scorcerer’s Stone in the US. This is the train station where the students disembark for the ‘Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry’ and are met by Hagrid who escorts them to school.

Goathland Station

I asked station staff about the popularity of the station and they told me numbers have increased from under twenty passengers a day when the line was in regular use for commuters to now when it receives hundreds a day. Visitors to the area can take the short walk to the village of Goathland or can stay at the station and enjoy tea and refreshments in the converted 1922 style goods shed.

I looked around for signs of the TV series and famous film but this has been kept more as an authentic village station and therefore there’s not much to help you recognise this famous location.

Who’s left a broomstick by the back door?

The NYMR celebrated the 175th anniversary of the Whitby & Pickering Railway in 2011 and now has many special events such as Pullman dining trains and Santa Specials in December. After my recent dining trip on the Orient Express I am interested in heading back up north as many call the NYMR “Yorkshire’s answer to the Orient Express”.

The NYMR is run mostly by volunteers and rail enthusiasts and is a charity that exists to “bring the experience and excitement of past rail travel to today’s generation.”

Wonderful attention to detail: the ice-cream wafer was swan shaped!

I stayed overnight in Pickering at The White Swan which is a 16th century coaching inn with a choice of accommodation from vintage rooms with four poster beds in the main building to the newly converted stables with a contemporary design.

As well as the quality of the food, the hospitality stood out here as staff really seem to care and service was a notch higher than expected. And do read the Guest Welcome Pack in the room as it’s full of Yorkshire humour.

If you too are a Harry Potter fan check out the Top 10 Harry Potter Film Locations around Britain and other Harry Potter posts on the VisitBritain Super Blog.

Laura Porter writes the About.com London Travel site which is an online travel guide for visitors to London. She has lived in the London area all her life and can’t imagine ever wanting to live elsewhere. You can follow her on Twitter and Facebook too.

Laura’s earlier posts include:

• London on a Budget
• Offbeat Things to Do in London
• Is a One Day London Pass Really Worth it?
• Orient Express UK Day Trips
• Birmingham – Explore The Midlands
• Afternoon Tea is for Everyone
• Things You Can’t Do in London