Registered Charity No. 1073653

York Area Group mainly comprises NYMR members who live in the York area but not exclusively. It is run by its trustees who are unpaid volunteers and it has no employees.

For more information about the NYMR, including Tickets & Timetable, Pullman Dining, Events, Locomotives, Webcam and Jobs, see the

We have financed the purchase of various vehicles for the NYMR - details on our

We also have links with other associated York area Heritage Organisations: -

MEETINGS, EVENTS & NEWS

Meetings are open to the general public.You can become a Group Member for the very reasonable cost of only £3.00 per annum, although an additional donation will always be most welcome:

York Area Group Meetings are held at St. Lawrence's Church Hall, Lawrence Street, York, YO10 3WP, in Autumn/Winter/Spring. Car parking is available to the rear, accessed via the driveway on the left hand side.

A buffet lunch is kindly provided by the Church, for which a voluntary donation is suggested. Also, there is a raffle, drawn in the interval, for books generally on a railway or related subject, the cost being £1 for 5 tickets.

Saturday 5th July 2025 - York Area Group's Drewry DC 2164 No,WS37 'Ken Smith' now with working vacuum connections did its first trial with coaches up the line on the DVLR. Thanks to all the DVLR volunteers for making this a locomotive to be proud of.  Photos: David Rice

Tuesday 17^th June 2025 saw members of the YAG enjoy a visit around the First York depot on James Street.

The group were taken round by Paul, the Workshop Manager and Rob, the Workshop Electrician. The pair were very informative and answered the group's many questions. Their knowledge was excellent, and explained the transition the depot had undergone, changing from a diesel fleet of vehicles to an all-electric fleet of 86, the only exception being the 2 driver training vehicles. Inspection panels were opened and a general guide to the workings of an electric vehicle were explained, giving us a good basic insight into what goes on unseen from the outside. Our visit was rounded off with a ride on one of the Wright StreetDeck Electroliner buses around Fulford and University areas of York ending a very interesting two hours in the company of First York. To show the group's appreciation Nick Beilby handed over to our driver, Tony Richmond, a £120 donation to go towards First York’s nominated charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young). Thanks go to First York and a good afternoon was had by all. – David Rice.

On Saturday, March 1st, YAG held its 2025 model railway show in St Lawrence Church Hall.

The day was a great success and we were delighted to welcome the City of York Civic Party and the last member of York Normandy Veterans, Ken Cooke aged 99.

We were especially pleased to see many young people enjoying the day and I am particularly grateful to the groups and individuals who displayed and entertained. My sincere thanks go to YAG members who helped to set up the night before and on the day and for their support in many areas without which the event would not take place and for Project Management by Stephen Dew.

We received many positive comments about the refreshments and our thanks go to the Ladies of St. Lawrence for providing this service.

We look forward to next year.

 

Nick Beilby, Chairman.

 

Photos: David Rice

Two of the YAG trustees Nick Beilby and Stephen Dew getting off Reliance Service 30X, the 10.18 from Station Avenue to Thirsk at Easingwold Market Place on Friday 17th January 2025. Complete with notebook in hand, getting their bus miles in as it was the penultimate day of Reliance Buses providing service to the rural parts of Hambleton, North of York, they having been in service for over 80 years. From Sunday 19th January 2025 their route transfers to Transdev York & Country. Photo: David Rice.

On July 24th 2024, the long awaited return to working order, dedication and naming of the Group’s Drewry diesel mechanical shunter took place at Murton Park, the home of the Derwent Valley Light Railway. DC 2164 was built in 1941 as War Department no. 37 and served in Egypt and Palestine until 1947. Some of its sisters came ashore in Normandy following D Day on June 6, 1944. Following its return to the UK it worked at various industrial sites ending up at BP Saltend. In 1984 the locomotive was donated to the York Area Group and worked on Permanent Way duties on the NYMR.

Following mechanical failure in around 1995, the locomotive was laid aside and allowed to deteriorate, including water ingress in to one of the cylinders. The YAG took the decision to repatriate DC 2164 and find a home where she could be cared for, restored to working order and her historical significance recognised. This was accomplished in July 2021 when the locomotive was transported to Murton.

Following three years work including returning the Gardner engine to working order and solving many other complex problems, the DVLR have completed a superb restoration.

The event on July 24 was attended by over 100 invited guests including the Lord Mayor of York and Civic Party, members of the Armed Services and the remaining member of York Normandy Veteran Ken Cooke aged 98.

Father Adam Romanis of the Parish Church of St Lawrence Dedicated and blessed the locomotive and then invited Ken Cooke and Gloria Smith the Widow of York Normandy Veteran Ken Smith to unveil the nameplate.

Gloria had no inkling whatsoever as to the name and when she saw her husband’s name, she was understandably overwhelmed. The Last Post and Reveille were played by Bugler David Ventress followed by readings by RAF Veteran Bryan Airlie and Ken Cooke.

The naming and restoration of this locomotive provides a fitting memorial to Ken Smith and all those who served in the Middle East and is probably the most significant and poignant achievement by the York Area Group coupled with the wonderful restoration by volunteers at the DVLR.

It was a very special day that will be long remembered with pride by all who attended.

Nick Beilby.

 

Photos: Philip Benham

Friday July 19^th 2024 Fundraising Day at St Crux

Our Chairman, Nick Beilby, would like to thank those members who gave their time and supported our event. We raised £185 and were delighted to welcome the Lord Mayor and her Consort who were clearly impressed by the group’s activities in the local community.

We were fortunate that our friends from the Derwent Valley Light Railway joined us and helped Martyn Jones with refreshments.

York Area Group visit Yorkshire Wolds Railway

Wednesday 19th June 2024 saw a small group of York Area Group members enjoy a mid-summer evening visit to the Yorkshire Wolds Railway at Fimber Halt. Trips up the line took place using their BR 20Ton Brake Van B955043, built in 1961 at Ashford Wagon Works in Kent. It was hauled by a GEC Traction 0-4-0 diesel hydraulic 5576 built for Shotton Steel Works in 1979 and named ‘Sir Tatton Sykes’ on 25.05.15. The ex-Hull and Barnsley Railway, Spotbrough signal box is in the process of being rebuilt and is planned to be opened on 1st September 2024. An interesting and comprehensive museum is in their BR Mk1 BG Full Brake 92990 (81305) built in 1957 by Pressed Steel of Glasgow. Their most recent acquisitions are the seven wagons of the Farwath Area Rolling Stock Team, transferred from Levisham on the NYMR. The evening was rounded off with fish or pie and chips from Wetwang; its station site is the ultimate destination for the Yorkshire Wolds Railway. – David Rice.

Monday 29th April 2024 – The 82nd Anniversary of the ‘Baedeker Air Raid’ targeting York Station and its infrastructure. Two railway persons were killed that night, William Millner, Station Foreman and Robert W Smith, Railway Policeman. Wreaths were laid on the memorial on platform 3 at York station and poppies placed on the memorial plaque outside the station. LNER had kindly sponsored a headstone to the then unmarked grave of Robert Smith in York Cemetery where a service of remembrance was held. Ken Cooke, York’s last remaining D-Day veteran and David Horne, General Manager of LNER stand either side of the newly placed headstone.

April 20^th 2024: After a prolonged stay of about 5 years in New Bridge Shed due to Covid and various supplier delays, 40T WELTROL 230908 finally emerged into the daylight.

New North end coil springs, replacement transverse rails, new brass sheet cover to centre casting, new lubrication system to centre casting, new handbrake beam machined at MPD, new brake block support shaft ends and a full repaint.

Photo: Nick Carter

Hornby 1:76 scale Rowntree & Co (R3895)

R & H 88DS, meets 1:1 scale Locomotive.

 

 

Thursday 11^th April 2024 saw Nick Beilby, Chairman of the York Area Group of the NYMR welcomed friends and special guests to Murton Halt, the home of the Derwent Valley Light Railway.

 

The occasion was two-fold as Hornby Representative Andy Singh was here to present Glynnis and Tony Frith owners of the 1:1 scale 1960 built Ruston & Hornsby 4wDM 88DS No.441934 Rowntree No.3 with a Hornby 00 gauge working model of their engine, complete with a special plinth.

 

Also receiving a model replica from Hornby was Ken Cooke whose name the engine carries. Private Ken Cooke of the 7^th Battalion the Green Howards aged 98 is York’s sole surviving Normandy Veteran who, at just 18 years old, stormed Gold Beach on the morning of the 6^th June 1944 in the first wave of landings of D-Day.

 

Also in attendance was the City of York’s Lord Mayor, Reverend Councillor Chris Cullwick, The Lady Mayoress Mrs Joy Cullwick and Sue Hunter the Sheriff of York. At the end of the preceding’s the Lord Mayor, presented Ken with the special headboard to which Ken instinctively held above his head and said, “What else do you do with a headboard”. – Text & photos (below) David Rice.

At the Derwent Valley Light Railway, an extensive restoration and overhaul of our former War Department Drewry diesel shunter has been carried out. The old badly corroded cab was transported away to DG Sheet Metal Services at Leeds, as a template for a new one to be fabricated.The shunter is on long term loan at the DVLR at Murton, where further work has included overhauling its Gardner engine, replacing its radiators and de-rusting/repainting. Later photos show the newly fabricated cab before its transport to Murton, followed by application of primer and reinstallation of fittings after fixing onto the loco. Since that, there was lots of work on bonnet, gearbox, air system, etc. up to its first run in 23 years, followed by final coats of gloss paint and numbering being applied. Vacuum brake equipment is being sourced for fitting to the loco to enable passenger train operation. Photos: Tony Simons and David Rice.

The two photos below show the York Power Station Loco, which has now been saved from the scrapman, transported from Essex and is now on the DVLR metals at Murton; also the meccano electric loco which Tony Simons built to promote the project at the YAG Model Railway Show. He is always on the lookout for Meccano to promote engineering. If anyone has any they no longer use, please get in touch with him, email: tony_simons@icloud.com.

Our Wickham Engineer's Railmotor, also on loan at the Derwent Valley Light Railway, is currently undergoing mechanical repairs to its elderly JAP engine, carburettor and starter to get it back into running order. Photos: Paul Sheridan & Mac Bierowiec