9th March, 2026
Easter family fun at North Yorkshire Moors Railway
B1 61264 near Goathland on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
61264 designed by Edward Thompson, the B1 was a wartime utility mixed traffic locomotive for general passenger and freight duties, travelling towards Pickering North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) will host its Annual Steam Gala from Friday 28th September to Sunday 30th September, with a combination of guest locomotives and home fleet engines in steam over the weekend.
Experience this year's Steam Gala which will be unlike any other as the railway celebrates 100 years of the railway's Q6 locomotives along with the 100th anniversary of the RAF.
Don't miss out on the celebration! The NYMR's own Q6 locomotive is 100 years old and additionally preserved locomotives of the same age will join the railway for the celebration.
The railway has invited 2857 from the Severn Valley Railway and Locomotive number 6 Douglas from the Talyllyn Railway (which is also an ex RAF engine and painted in RAF plant blue to mark the centenary) which will travel on a flat wagon as part of the railway's demonstration goods train.
Bullied SR 4-6-2 'Battle of Britain' Class Pacific design, 34081 92 SQUADRON will also join the NYMR from Nene Valley Railway.
Owned by The Battle of Britain Locomotive Society the class pacific locomotive was named after the famous Spitfire squadron based at Biggin Hill during the Battle of Britain in 1940.
Entering service from Brighton works in September 1948, her all-too-brief mainline career ended when she was withdrawn from Eastleigh shed in August 1964 and subsequently sold to Dai Woodhams scrap yard at Barry Island in South Wales.
The Q6 will be operating alongside its NELPG (North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group) sister the J27 which returned to service in early 2018.
This year’s gala will be one of the railway's biggest galas to date with potentially 10 locomotives on show.
During the weekend stations along the line will be hosting exciting events of their own such as the Autumn Steam Gala Beer Festival which sees Levisham and Goathland offering a wide selection of real ales from local breweries such as Brass Castle, Helmsley Brewing Co, Baytown and many more.
• The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is a not for profit charitable trust providing memorable experiences for visitors and fulfilment for volunteers and staff through the operation of Britain’s most popular heritage railway between Whitby and Pickering.
• NYMR recently launched the Yorkshire’s Magnificent Journey appeal, which aims to raise £2,500,000 over the next five years for maintenance and repair that is vital to ensure that the railway remains operational. To find out more about the appeal and pledge your support, visit nymr.co.uk/ymj
• NYMR have recently been the stars of Channel 5 documentary ‘The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard’
• The NYMR cares for operating and developing the railway it owns from Pickering to Grosmont. The heritage railway operates over Network Rail from Grosmont to Whitby.
• The charity provides a high quality, safe and authentic evocation of the steam age for the public.
• The NYMR is an Educational Charitable Trust. Providing education for all ages.
• The railway is a fully accredited museum.
Running between 28 March and 12 April, North Yorkshire Moors Railway is set to host a range of family-friendly activities at its historic stations in Pickering and Goathland.
Visitors can look forward to fun-filled days where special activities blend play, learning, and creativity, while supporting the railway’s Bridge 42 Appeal.
Young visitors and their families can take part in an Easter Scavenger hunt, where colourful easter eggs can be discovered around Pickering and Goathland stations.
Each egg reveals a mystery letter, with visitors who can solve the puzzle up for a chance to win an Easter Egg.
Happening between 28 March and 12 April.