Special Saturday service to celebrate relationship between East Midlands Trains and Railway Children

East Midlands Trains HST at York – Copyright 125 Group

Rail partners aiming to raise £30,000 for Railway Children charity with special train service on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR)

Staff and volunteers from East Midlands Trains, North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR), Railway Children, the 125 Group and Branch Line Society will be out in force on Saturday 15 July
The special service will start at Derby and call at Chesterfield, Sheffield, York, Pickering and Whitby

East Midlands Trains is putting on a special train on Saturday 15 July to raise funds for the Railway Children charity.

The special service will run from Derby via Chesterfield, Sheffield and York on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) from Grosmont to picturesque Pickering then onward to Whitby. It is believed that this will be the first time in Pickering’s history that a high speed train has visited.

The route will take 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 will be 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 is really looking forward to the day itself and raising money for such a good cause.

“We’ve been working very hard with our operations partner Direct Rail Services to make sure everything goes smoothly on the day and we’ve had fantastic support from the 125 Group, Railway Children and Branch Line Society.”

Chris Price, General Manager of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, said: “We are really looking forward to the visit of the high speed train, although we run a wide range of locomotives ourselves, it does make a change to welcome two stunning class 43’s to our heritage line.

“Passengers will have the unique opportunity to experience the North York Moors National Park from the high speed train service.”

To purchase tickets for the event from the Branch Line Society, visit www.goo.gl/JuhEgJ

For East Midlands Trains press release visit HERE.

Rare Class 08 Loco(s) and Etches Park visit added to Pickering Paxman HST Railtour

The first HST visit to the Whitby branch took place on 23 April 1988, the railtour is seen arriving at Battersby on its outward run with 43118 leading. Photo Copyright Richard Allen

With huge thanks to East Midlands Trains and the Etches Park depot team, we are delighted to announce an exciting addition to the Pickering Paxman HST “Railway Children” charity charter on Saturday 15 July 2017.

Departing at an earlier estimated time of 05.30, our 8-car HST will be hauled from Derby station on to Etches Park depot by 2 x Class 08 (both under power). EMT’s own 08899 has been fully confirmed …

*** UPDATE … and use of 08417 is now also CONFIRMED with thanks to East Midlands Trains, LORAM and Network Rail. Both 08899 and 08417 will be crewed and both locomotives will be under power. ***

It is booked that the charter will traverse the old Carriage Wash Road, which has not featured in the various recent BLS charters at Etches Park. The HST set will then return by taking the Pilot Siding (not previously covered) and the Goods Lines including St Mary’s crossover (avoiding Derby station), under its own power, before picking up at Chesterfield Platform 3 at 06.52 (estimated) , then proceeding to Sheffield as booked.

For those who just wish to travel on this short addition, a special advance single fare Derby – Etches Park depot – Chesterfield of £29.00 applies.

For those who wish to travel on the shunters and then on to York (and return) as they are heading to the Wensleydale Railway event (where a Class 60 is expected to feature), a special advance fare of £39.00 applies.

Finally, standard class fares remain available for the entire journey including the shunter special and the journey to North Yorkshire Moors Railway and Whitby (platform 2). First class dining is fully sold out. Those who have already booked will be able to travel on the shunter special at no extra charge. Any passengers who may wish to have an extra hour in bed rather than enjoy the rare line and rare locos will be permitted to travel with the compliments of East Midlands Trains on the 06.27 Meridian service from Derby to Chesterfield platform 1, arriving at 06.45, where they can make the short transfer to platform 3 for the 125 Special.

Note that our visit to Whitby is now AFTER our visit to Pickering.

The updated booking form is available, click HERE.