Must see railway attractions in Yorkshire

The setting of unforgettable movie moments from Harry Potter to The Railway Children, Yorkshire is home to railways offering an unforgettable experience of its iconic scenery.

For anyone staying in a hotel near Scarborough looking for a fun family day out, we have created a short list of the best Railway attractions within a manageable drive.

National Railway Museum

The National Railway Museum is a must see destination for anyone interested in trains. The largest railway museum in the world, with a collection of over one million objects covering more than 300 years of railway history.

Built up over the past 80 years, it has over 100 locomotives telling the story of the railway from the early 19^th century till today.

The collection includes the impressive Mallard. Built in 1938, it broke the world speed record for steam locomotives, which is yet to be beaten.

The ‘Chinese Engine’ – the largest single locomotive in the museum standing at over 15 foot tall and more than 93 feet in length, was presented to the museum by the Chinese Government in 1981.

Eurostar – Donated by Eurostar, the power car is centre of a new exhibition acknowledging the historic role the train has served in connecting the UK with mainland Europe. The power car has an average operating speed of 186mph and is part of the same series of train that holds the current UK rail speed record of over 208mph.

North Bay Miniature Railway

Celebrating its 85th year, the North Bay Miniature Railway has been in operation since 1931. Using the line, you can visit Scalby Mills and the Sea Life Centre.

The ¾ mile ride from Peasholm Park to Scalby Mills Stations offer beautiful views of Scarborough’s North Bay, while the Glass House Café serves up superb coffee, light lunches and pastries. Takeaway seafood and snacks are available from the Scampi Shack.

Alternatively, visitors can have a go on the Sky Trail, as you experience thrills of the North Bay Railway’s Sky Trail Adventure, a two level rope bridge and beam course. For anyone that fancies themselves as a train driver, North Bay

North Yorkshire Moors Railway

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway Preservation Society was formed back in June 1967, by a small group of local people. The NYMR is a preserved historic railway stretching 18 miles through the heart of the North York Moors National Park.

Now a not-for-profit charitable organisation run by the local community, it cares for the improvement in the quality of infrastructure, the railway vehicles and visitor experience operated with support and commitment of over 550 volunteers.

Voted Best Visitor Attraction winner for 2007 & 2009 by the Moors & Coast Tourism Partnership, it is Britain’s most popular heritage steam railway.

One of its six stations, Goathland station was transformed into “Hogsmeade” for the first Harry Potter film, the Philosopher’s Stone.

Wensleydale Railway

After losing its passenger services in 1954 and nearly half of its route mileage in the early 1960s, the line survived until 1992 by carrying limestone to the smelters on Teesside.

The Ministry of Defence then decided to use the line for transport of military vehicles. This traffic kept the line alive long enough that the Wensleydale Railway Association was able to build support and eventually form a company, taking a 100 year lease on the 22 miles of line from Northallerton to Redmire.

The Wensleydale Railway serves its local community, while offering families, tourists and transportation enthusiasts an opportunity to experience the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales.

Image Credit: Lobsan Matt Buck John S Turner TheTurfBurner