The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) has raised £400,000 towards repairing Bridge 42, passing the halfway mark in its £800,000 fundraising appeal.
The heritage bridge, which sits between Grosmont level crossing and the adjoining tunnel, is one of more than 30 bridges and culverts on the line that carry trains and passengers through the North York Moors.
Following inspections, temporary propping has been installed to allow trains to continue crossing safely during the 2026 season while a full repair programme is developed.
A structural restoration is scheduled for winter 2026/27, subject to the remaining funding being secured. Once the £800,000 target is met, work will begin to restore the bridge to full structural integrity.
The appeal, launched earlier this year, has been funded through public donations – with supporters giving £25 or more receiving a limited-edition pin badge featuring artwork by Leeds-based artist David Cockayne – along with sales of 69 of 100 limited-edition lino prints of the bridge. A total of 754 pin badges have been issued to date.
The railway also secured a £50,000 grant from North York Moors National Park’s S106 Landscape and Ecology fund, awarded under its Restoration of Degraded Heritage Assets scheme.
Laura Strangeway, chief executive at NYMR, said: “We are enormously grateful for the generous support we have received so far, including the grant awarded by the North York Moors National Park. But there is still more to do. Every donation takes us another step towards our goal and helps secure the future of the NYMR for generations to come.”
She added: “The repair of Bridge 42 is a complex project for us and one that is incredibly important to complete so that the NYMR can continue to be the heritage railway that we all love. To reach over £400,000 is an incredible milestone, and we continue to explore all other funding opportunities and partnerships as we move towards our fundraising target.
“The funding raised will ensure that this historic route remains open and continues to be a vital heritage, economic, and community asset that boosts the regional economy, protects railway heritage, and supports local livelihoods.”
Image credit: Bridge 42, courtesy of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
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