Two of NYMR’s restoration projects have received Highly Commended awards at the prestigious 2024 National Railroad Heritage Awards.
Representatives from the NYMR Trust attended a ceremony to celebrate the approval of the Goathland Station Weighbridge Office Restoration Project and the Goathland Railway Motor Hut Restoration Project. Both awards were presented in the Network Rail Volunteer Awards category, highlighting the dedicated work of NYMR's volunteer team.
Kelly Carruthers, Head of Engagement at NYMR, said:
“These awards are testament to the fantastic efforts of our volunteers and the collaborative spirit that drives projects like this. We are grateful for the funding support from North York Moors National Park, which was provided through S106 funding from Woodsmith Polyhalite Mine. We are especially grateful to the people who helped us restore the huts along the railroad tracks.
We would also like to thank the individuals who made donations directly to Goathland Station for the restoration of the Weybridge Office and the Northallerton Area Group for funding the lighting for this project. This kindness and compassion means that these legacies can be preserved for future generations. ”
Weybridge Offices at Goathland Station is set in the iconic landscape that featured as Hogsmeade Station in the first Harry Potter film, and has been restored to reflect its original appearance in the 1920s. Historically, this office played the important role of weighing horse-drawn carriages transporting goods to and from the station.
The restoration, carried out by dedicated volunteers, includes recreating the authentic atmosphere of the time, allowing visitors to step back in time and learn about the history of the station's operation.
The Goathland railway motor shed is part of a wider trackside shed restoration project funded through the North York Moors National Park's 'Restoration of Degraded Heritage Assets in National Parks through Landscape and Ecology Compensation Donations' . These huts were once important shelters and tool storage for the railroad workers who maintained the tracks.
Restoration of the Rail Motor Hut included stabilizing the foundations, repairing eroded corrugations, and repainting the structure in its original LNER “stone” color. This work not only preserves the shed as a historical relic, but also breathes new life into it as a practical and educational feature of the railway.
This award is part of a larger effort by NYMR to preserve and celebrate the railroad's rich history. The railway hut restoration project has also revitalized other huts along the line, which now serve a dual purpose as both historical exhibits and active havens for conservation teams.
NYMR is committed to restoring historic assets and will take part in the upcoming Railway 200 campaign, which celebrates the 200th anniversary of Britain's modern railways. These restoration projects highlight the railway's dedication to preserving its historic character while inspiring future generations to engage with Britain's rich railway heritage.
