East Midlands Trains marks ten year charity partnership with Railway Children

The Pickering Paxman charity railtour at Whitby with power car 43082, staff and volunteers from Railway Children, EMT, BLS and 125 Group. Funds raised from the special train have since increased to £30,000! Photo ©Tony Shaw

Ten-year partnership between East Midlands Trains and Railway Children charity celebrated with special train service ‘The Pickering Paxman’ on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR)

Cheque presentation of £30,000 raised by the railtour made at London St Pancras to mark decade-long partnership

A special train on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway was recently chartered by East Midlands Trains to celebrate the tenth anniversary of its partnership with Railway Children, successfully raising £30,000 for the charity.

Staff and volunteers from East Midlands Trains, North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR), the 125 Group, Branch Line Society and Railway Children were out in force on Saturday 15 July to ensure the event’s success. The special service ran from Derby via Chesterfield, Sheffield and York on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR), from Grosmont to picturesque Pickering and then onward to Whitby. It is believed that this was the first time in Pickering’s history that the iconic High Speed Train has visited the ancient market town.

The route took in stunning scenery across Derbyshire and Yorkshire, where films such as Harry Potter and famous television shows like Heartbeat have been filmed. Once on the NYMR, there was a special rededication naming ceremony to mark the decade-long relationship between East Midlands Trains and Railway Children.

Jake Kelly, Managing Director for East Midlands Trains, said: “Everyone involved had been looking forward to the big day and the opportunity to raise money for such a good cause. All of the prep work we’d put in with our operations partner Direct Rail Services paid off as the day went like clockwork, and the support from the 125 Group, Railway Children and Branch Line Society was fantastic.”

Presentation of cheque for £30,000 to Railway Children at St.Pancras 1st August with (left to right) Ian Mortimer Branch Line Society Treasurer, Darren Ward East Midlands Trains Head of Drivers, Jake Kelly EMT Managing Director and Anuradha Chandran Head of Corporate Partnerships at Railway Children, not forgetting EMT power car 43046! ©Geoff Plumb

Anuradha Chandran, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Railway Children, said: “Railway Children were delighted to celebrate the 10th anniversary of our partnership and greatly appreciate the incredible support of East Midlands Trains, North Yorkshire Moors Railway, the 125 Group and Branch Line Society.“

All funds raised through our valuable partnership with East Midlands Trains and their customers will have a very real impact on the lives of vulnerable children in the UK, India and East Africa. Just £5.95 will allow us to feed a child in India three meals a day for a week and £25 would be enough to take a child off the streets in East Africa and get her home safely.”

Chris Price, General Manager of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, said: “Although we run a wide range of locomotives ourselves, it was an historic occasion to welcome two stunning class 43’s to our heritage line and a unique opportunity for passengers to experience the North York Moors National Park from a special High Speed Train service.”

Pickering HST railtour – Pay on the day Seats Available

43051 at Glaisdale on a railtour in 1989. Photo Copyright Richard Allen

Seats are still available on ‘The Pickering Paxman’ East Midlands Trains  / Branch Line Society HST charity special to Pickering and Whitby on Saturday 15th July. The railtour runs from Derby depart 05:55 / arrive back 21:19, Chesterfield depart 07:06 / (does not stop on return), Sheffield depart 07:21 / arrive back 20:13 and York depart 08:28 / arrive back 19:07.

Featuring unusual lines, plus haulage by shunting locos 08417 + 08899 on the first leg of the railtour from Derby onto Etches Park depot.

Standard class tickets are available to buy on the day from coach E on-board the train. Accompanied under 18s 50% reduction. No unaccompanied under 18s.

Full fare £81, Discount rate for BLS & 125 Group members / Railway Industry Staff / NRM Volunteers & Employees £69.

‘Mini Paxman’ Derby-Etches Park depot-Chesterfield one way only single £29

‘Wensleydale Paxman’ Mini Paxman plus travel to AND from York – handy if you are travelling to the Wensleydale Railway diesel weekend and loco 60044! £39

Join us for this historic first visit of a High Speed Train to Pickering on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, raising funds for the charity Railway Children, fighting for street children at home and abroad.