The Yorkshire Wolds Railway (YWR) has already secured nearly £100,000 from the UK Government through its Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) for a new Visitor Centre and Working Facility, and this new campaign will allow its complete fit-out.

The Yorkshire Wolds Railway is a preserved railway in the East Riding of Yorkshire, located on a section of the Malton and Driffield Junction Railway near the village of Fimber. 

Since securing the funding last year, the railway successfully received planning permission and is now pulling out all the stops to build and outfit this exciting new facility, which will allow restoration work to proceed safely under cover.

Visitors to the new workshop facility, to be built at Fimber Halt, will now be able to see at first-hand what usually goes on behind closed doors.

The UKSPF funding will pay for the construction of the shell of the building along with basic facilities. This will allow the Yorkshire Wold Railway finally to have a covered working area together with more visitor displays.

The “Raise the Roof” funding (hopefully a further £100,000) will then cover the purchase of necessary items, such as track, points, heating, lighting, roadway improvements and a concrete apron.

The Yorkshire Wolds Railway (YWR) first opened to the public in 2015. This building will be the largest infrastructure project the East Yorkshire operation has taken on. Meanwhile, members of the fully volunteer-run heritage railway have laid ¼ of a mile of track, and the number of visitors has increased year by year.

The visitors can now enjoy a brake van ride along the line, which is set in the heart of the beautiful Yorkshire Wolds. Restoration of the brake van was completed in September 2023.

I am really excited to be involved with this major fund raising campaign for the YWR. When you say to people that you need to raise another £100,000 eyebrows are raised, but when you explain that a set of points can cost £18,000 they realise that you can soon eat through a large amount of money! The Visitor Centre and Working Facility will be another huge leap forward for the YWR that will improve the experience for visitors and members alike and we would be grateful for any donation – large or small!

Katy Bowser, Business Development Director of the YWR

You can donate to help Raise the Roof by visiting www.yorkshirewoldsrailway.org.uk/support

The Yorkshire Wold Railway is also famous for its annual model railway show.