The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is celebrating after it reached the halfway point in its fundraising target of £800,000 needed to pay for the vital repair of Bridge 42 at Grosmont.
The fundraiser was launched earlier this year to pay for structural repairs to stabilise the bridge between Grosmont Level Crossing and the tunnel. In order to let the popular heritage railway continue to operate throughout the busy summer period, Bridge 42 has been temporarily propped, but a permanent repair is necessary to secure the future of the line
It is one of more than 30 vital bridges and culverts carrying trains and passengers through the landscapes of the North York Moors.
Funds have been raised via donations from supporters across the world, with donors who give at least £25 receiving a limited-edition pin badge with exclusive artwork by Leeds based artist, David Cockayne.
Other members and supporters have organised their own campaigns, including a sponsored walk from Pickering to Whitby last month and plans for NYMR staff and volunteers to bungee jump from Larpool Viaduct later this month.
The NYMR was also awarded a £50,000 contribution from North York Moors National Park’s S106 Landscape and Ecology fund under the Restoration of Degraded Heritage Assets scheme.
Laura Strangeway, CEO at NYMR, said: “We are enormously grateful for the generous support we have received so far, including the grant awarded by the North York Moors National Park.
“The repair of Bridge 42 is a complex project for us and one that is incredibly important to complete so the NYMR can continue to be the heritage railway we all love.
“To reach over £400,000 is an incredible milestone, and we continue to explore all other funding opportunities and partnerships as we move towards our fundraising target.
“The funding raised will ensure this historic route remains open and continues to be a vital heritage, economic, and community asset which boosts the regional economy, protects railway heritage, and supports local livelihoods.”
A full structural restoration is scheduled for winter 2026/27, dependent on the securing of the remainder of the necessary funding to complete the repairs to Bridge 42.
