Disabled Access on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Much of the infrastructure and buildings of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway goes back to the last century. When it was built the designers had no thoughts about access for the less able members of society.

The dilemma facing the Railway is how to provide safe access for all our visitors both able-bodied and and the less mobile without destroying or radically altering what is after all a piece of history.

As with all these things the result is a compromise, we have aimed to provide as much easy access and facilities as possible without affecting the historical infrastructure of the line.

Facilities and Access to Stations

The traditional ramp at the end of the platforms on railway stations provides the ideal access ramp to the platforms:-

Grosmont

Here the main platform, has an existing ramp which comes down to the road by the level crossing.
The shop has now been enlarged and re-built with a level access from the platform entrance.
The Refreshment room has level access from the platform.
The Gents Toilet has been modernized and a disabled toilet facility has been provided.

The Platform at Grosmont

Pickering

Here there is a fenced walkway around the southern end of the track which joins the two platforms as an alternative to the footbridge, level access from Park Street is available through the gates at the southern end of the station.
The Car park has level access around the back of the Carriage and Wagon works onto the slope at the north end of platform 2

The ramp and walkway at Pickering

Carriage & Wagon Footpath from the Car park

The rebuilt Platform 2 at Pickering

With the aid of a Grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund A large part of Pickering station has now been refurbished and made much more wheelchair friendly.

The Heritage Lottery Fund

As part of the rebuild on Platform 1 the shop and tea-room have level access

The New Pickering Tea-room

The New Shop at Pickering

In addition the rebuild has allowed the provision of a disabled access toilet adjacent to the main toilets. So remember to take your RADAR key with you when you visit the railway.

Facilities and access on the Trains

All the standard rakes of carriages in us on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway have been modified to accommodate wheelchair passengers.

Wheelchair access between the Brake and the TSO

One of the TSOs (Tourist Second Open) carriages has had two seats removed in the end seating bay. The table has also be removed. This will allow two wheelchair passengers to ride in the main part of each train.
The only problem is the width of the corridor connection, this is wide enough to take most wheelchairs but some larger chairs won't quite go through.

However there is a solution!!

The seats removed in the TSO

Tip-up seat in the Brake

In the Brake on the train the mail cages in the brake van have been removed and a tip-up seat installed so the career can travel in comfort as well. the view is just as good if the decor is a little plain!! Most people don't mind travelling with the odd bike or a re-supply for the Diner at Grosmont.

All the trains carry a simple sturdy ramp that locks into the double doors on the Brake. There is never a problem in finding some strong backs and weak heads from the train crew, platform staff or other passengers to help with the loading and unloading.

Note

In a conventional wheelchair always come out backwards its much safer!! If you are in a scooter then it is easier forwards as you have the handlebars to hang on to!!!

Unloading at Pickering

Unloading the Bill's Buggy at Pickering

With a bit of ingenuity an electric Buggy can get in and out of the brake van!
This year we had a three wheeler hired in the town which could even get into the carriage
This is Bill Saville. An MS sufferer who enjoys visiting the Railway with your Webmaster. The Buggies were hired locally after we had travelled from Kings Cross by train, It sure beats pushing!!!

Bill and a three wheeler in the main carriage!

What Disabled people think of the NYMR

The following article appeared in the newsletter of the Bexley Access Group, written by Bill Savill after we visited the Railway during August 1998. Bill is himself confined to a wheelchair

Yorkshire Steam

I recently had a three day trip to the Yorkshire dales to see the steam railway, we had great difficulty in finding accommodation for disabled people, the friend I was going with found one place just outside Pickering called "Sunnyside" at Middleton Telephone No: 01751 476104. Although not completely adequate for my use with the help of the proprietor and shedding of some furniture we made some space for my wheelchair, the food was good and it had a no smoking rule in the Bungalow but had a covered area in the garden for us smokers, but with my Bexley issue wheelchair being big and awkward I was unable to get through the door of the bathroom, but I coped quite well as we do. My travelling companion being involved with the railway took us to Pickering station, on meeting members of the staff they ask me to test their facilities for people in wheelchairs and people with other disabilities. Pickering Station, was well accessible but had no real facilities to the shop or cafe, but we found toilets in the main Council car park, a ramp was supplied to enable me into the guards van with the assistance of very eager staff, the carriage next to the van had seats removed for wheelchair users. Levisham and Newton Dale and Goathland Stations were accessible but had no facilities, Grosmont Station, end of line was well equipped with a fully accessible toilet, ramps to the Shop, Restaurant, Workshops, Pub, School, Church and Museum. We did make a few suggestions to improve accessibility, but on the whole they were good, most of all was the staff and the publics willingness to help, making an enjoyable few days.

For customer services and brochure ring 01751 472508

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