At the 2024 National Railway Heritage Awards, two restoration projects at North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) received first-class certificates presented under the Network Rail Volunteer Awards category.

These awards have acknowledged the work of volunteers on the restoration of Goathlands’ Rail Motor Hut and Station Weighbridge Office.

Like the majority of heritage railways across the UK, the NYMR is dedicated to restoring its heritage assets in order to preserve a lost way of railway life in the Yorkshire moors.

Restoration projects such as these emphasize the railway’s commitment to preserving its historic character with the rich railway heritage of Great Britain.

The Lineside Hut Restoration Project, funded by the North York Moors National Park, encompassed the restoration of the Motor Hut.

The restoration involved repairing corrugated sheets, stabilizing the foundation of the structure and repainting the hut in its original LNER ‘stone’ colour.

This initiative not only preserves the hut as a historical artefact but also revitalizes it as a practical and educational feature of the railway.

This hut serves as a reminder of the many others which once served as vital shelters and storage for railway workers responsible for track maintenance.

This project has also inspired the restoration of other huts along the NYMR, which act as historical exhibits and shelters for P-way and conservation teams.

The weighbridge office played an important role in weighing horse-drawn carts that transported goods to and from the station.

The restoration has involved recreating the atmosphere of the period, reflecting its original appearance from the 1920s, which will give visitors the chance to observe the station’s operational history, when goods were transported to the station by horse and cart before being loaded onto a train bound for the cities.

“These awards are a testament to the incredible efforts of our volunteers and the collaborative spirit that drives projects like these. We are especially grateful for the funding support from the North York Moors National Park, provided through the S106 monies from the Woodsmith Polyhalite mine, which has allowed us to restore the lineside hut. Our thanks also go to individuals who donated directly to Goathland Station for the Weighbridge Office restoration, and Northallerton Area Group for funding the lights for this project. This kindness and compassion means these heritage assets can be preserved for future generations.”

Kerry Carruthers, Head of Engagement at the NYMR