The start of the 2026 season at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway faces disruption after "urgent" works to stabilize a vital river crossing proved to be "more complicated than first anticipated".
Bridge 42, a Grade II listed structure that has stood over the River Murk Esk since 1846, is currently undergoing essential maintenance to "temporarily prop" the crossing ahead of a larger restoration project. However, the complexity of the task means the full line will not be operational when the season begins on Saturday, 28 March.
Revised Services for Spring
Railway officials have confirmed that from the season's opening until Wednesday, 22 April, heritage services will be restricted to the southern end of the line. During this period, trains will only operate between Pickering, Levisham, Newtondale Halt, and Goathland stations.
The closure of the bridge, situated between the tunnel and the station at Grosmont, effectively severs the "vital link" to the coast. The NYMR stated that the full line is expected to re-open on Saturday, 25 April, finally allowing passengers to travel through to Grosmont and Whitby.
A Significant Engineering Challenge
The bridge is described by the NYMR as its "most historic and hardest-working," supporting approximately 10,000 locomotive movements every year. To facilitate the current repairs, engineers must remove both tracks, a move the railway admits brings "all train services to a halt" at that specific location.
The project involves the "careful restoration of the stone and brick arch masonry," requiring specialist heritage skills. The NYMR noted that "without Bridge 42, trains simply cannot run to Whitby and Grosmont," emphasizing the urgency of the work.
Financial and Passenger Impact
The delay comes at a difficult time for the heritage attraction. The railway explained that the need to halt services results in a "serious loss of income at the very moment restoration costs are at their highest". An appeal has been launched to raise a minimum of £800,000 to cover the propping and long-term repairs.
In a statement to those affected by the shortened route, the NYMR said: "We have contacted all customers who have already booked tickets for the 2026 season and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused while this essential work is carried out".
The railway is urging the public to support the Bridge 42 Appeal to ensure the 180-year-old Victorian icon can continue "carrying passengers through the North York Moors for generations". Efforts are focused on bringing the structure back into "good order" as the immediate priority for all funds raised.
There is more information about the fundraising efforts at https://www.nymr.co.uk/bridge42
Related Stories
16 Feb 2026 - The North Yorkshire Moors Railway says £130000 has now been raised towards the urgent stabilisation of Bridge 42, marking a major milestone ...
8 Feb 2026 - The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) has confirmed that Bridge 42, a key structure on its line, will be temporarily propped to allow ...-
23 Jan 2026 - North Yorkshire Moors Railway launches urgent Bridge 42 Appeal to save a vital link and secure the future of the heritage railway.
11 Dec 2025 - A thorough examination of Bridge 42 was carried out in May 2025 as part of the railway's standard structural monitoring. Following an ...
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