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North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Recordings from the 1980s.

K1 at Water Ark


I started recording the sounds of railways in 1984, and my first attempts were made on the NYMR. The railway did not have many steam locos available back then.
At the end of that year, I made up a compilation cassette which I called ''1 in 49!'. This was sold in the railway's shops for a while. It has been 'resting' for 20 years or so, although a copy appears on eBay now and then.
With digital editing easing the way, I've re-created the programme from the original recordings. Track numbers are those from the cassette.

In 1985 I produced a second compilation cassette. This time, a number of on-train recordings were featured, including 45428, 6619 and 80135. As for 1 in 49!, I've re-ceated the programme, Behind the Footplate , from the original cassettes. With 45428 about to return to service in 2010, this is a chance to hear it at work over 25 years ago.

A few more 1980s recordings are included.

1 in 49!

Side A

Track 1 LMS Class 5MT 45428 'Eric Treacy' climbing from Grosmont to Goathland at Water Ark. 22 April 1984. 2:04, 2.4MB.

Track 2a Class 35 'Hymek' D7029 starts up at Grosmont mpd on 29th September 1984. 1:05, 1.3MB.
Track 2b D7029 takes the 09:55 from Grosmont onto the the 1 in 49 gradient at Esk Valley cottages. 2:23, 2.7MB

Track 3 The early morning shed shunt at Grosmont on 4th August 1984. 'Black 5' 45428 pulls out of the inner shed road to the recording position, then reverses back onto the tunnel siding. On the outer shed road, a four engine line-up (K1 62005, J72 69023 'Joem', English Electric diesel shunter 12139 and "J94" 'Antwerp') is moved to the coaling point at the right by the combined efforts of 62005 and 69023. After warming up its cylinders, the K1 slips at first of the greasy depot trackwork. 4:14, 4.9MB.

Track 4a With BR Standard Class 4MT 80135 simmering gently, Deltic 55009 'Alycidon' runs into Goathland from Pickering on 9th June. 1:17, 1.5MB.
Track 4b A few minutes later 80135 departs for Pickering, passing under the road bridge and heading towards Moorgates. 2:32, 2.9MB

Track 5a Class 17 Clayton D8568 takes the 12:55 Grosmont - Pickering service towards Moorgates on 29th Sepember 1984. 1:33, 1.8MB.
Track 5b Twenty minutes later D8568 leaves Levisham after passing Class 24 D5032' Helen Turner' in the station. D5032 restarts for Newtondale shortly afterwards. 1:41, 1.9MB
Track 5c On its return journey, D8568 climbs through Newtondale with the 14:20 service from Pickering. Recorded from the hillside near Skelton Tower. 2:05, 2.4MB.

Track 6 Starting the 15:55 from Grosmont, the sound of LMS 'Black 5' 45429 'Eric Treacy' echoes from the mouth of the tunnel. 4th August 1984. 1:55, 2.2MB

Track 7 On 4th August 1984, K1 62005 approaches Esk Valley cottages then disappears behind them to cross the river bridge and whistles for the nearby accommodation crossing. 1:57, 2.3MB

Track 8a At the start of Diesel Day on 8th September 1984, EE diesel shunter 12139 is barred over before starting up. 1:29, 1.7MB
Track 8b Shortly afterwards, 12139 shunts Deltic 55019 'Royal Highland Fusilier' down the Grosmont headshunt. 1:08, 1.3MB

Track 9a Following a brief stop for instructions at Grosmont depot, the driver of Class 14 'Teddybear' D9529 opens up for the climb to Goathland. After passing the Deviation Shed and the stock parked in the headshunt the 1 in 49 gradient begins. 22 April 1984. 3:11, 3.7MB
Track 9b Nearing the end of the climb, D9529 runs into Goathland station. 2:00, 2.3MB

Side B

Track 1a On 9th June 1984 Deltic 55009 'Alycidon' starts one engine in Grosmont station. 00:59, 1.1MB
Track 1b 55019 'Royal Highland Fusilier' departs from Grosmont through the tunnel on 29th September 1984. 1:50, 2.1MB
Track 1c 55009 'Alycidon', running on one engine, climbs from Grosmont to pass the recording position at Green End and continues up the incline towards Beck Hole. 2:46, 3.2MB
Track 1d Shortly after, BR Standard 4MT 80135 runs down the hill with the 12:20 from Pickering. 1:01, 1.2MB
Track 1e With a flooded stream overflowing at Goathand on 29th September 1984, 55019 restarts for Pickering. 55009 departs for Grosmont in the background. With both engines running, 55019 sounds its horn as it emerges from the road bridge and heads towards Summit. 2:01, 2.3MB
Track 1f As the Pickering town clock strikes 6pm, 55009 'Alycidon' arrives with the last train of the day on 9th June. 1:43, 2.0MB
Track 1g After uncoupling, 55009 pulls out to the Pickering headshunt then runs back around its train. 2:03, 2.4MB
Track 1h 55009 shuts down at Grosmont on 29th September 1984. 00:58, 1.1MB

Track 2 Class J72 'Joem' pilots Class 24 D5032 'Helen Turner' as the 11:55 service departs from Grosmont on 30th September 1984. 1:40, 1.9MB

Track 3 Behind Class 24 D5032 'Helen Turner' from Levisham. After the restart, the road is crossed and then the journey to Newtondale begins. Power is reduced as Pickering Beck is brdged near The Grange. Following the horn warning at Yorfalls accommodation crossing, the Sulzer engine is opened up on the 1 in 60 gradient to Skelton Tower. 4th August 1984. 4;28, 5.1MB

Track 4 With an appreciative audience on the road bridge K1 62005 departs from Goathland on 22nd April 1984. 80135 restarts towards Grosmont in the background. 1:39, 1.9MB.

Track 5 Austerity 0-6-0ST 3180 Antwerp (ex WD 75130) climbs towards Green End, disappears for a moment behind the ganger's hut, and continues on its way to Beck Hole. 30th September 1984. 1:54, 2.2MB

Track 6 Behind 45428 'Eric Treacy' after the restart from Goathland. After whistling under the road bridge and emerging from the wood, Eller Back is crossed and re-crossed on the approach to Abbot's House. The whistle sounds as Moorgates is approached and the regulator closed as the gradient eases just before Summit. 4th August 1984. 3:54, 4.5MB

Track 7 With the sound echoing around the hills, Class 35 Hymek D7029 eases out of the Levisham loop towards Pickering on 29th September 1984. 3;43, 4.3MB

Track 8 K1 62005 on the 1 in 49 gradient at Water Ark. The whistle is sounded as Eller Beck is crossed for the third time in half a mile and the climb continues to Darnholme. 4th August 1984. 1:54, 2.2MB

Behind the Footplate

Side A

Track 1. 45428 in difficulty between Beck Hole and Goathland. Sunday 5th May 1985 was a difficult day for the Opera5ing staff. Running only a Sunday timetable had left the rails in poor condition. A shower of rain earlier in the morning only made matters worse.45428 left Grosmont with the first Up train at 10:50 and it soon became apparent that the going would be tough.
Track 1a After picking up to a steady beat after Green End, prolonged slipping starts at Beck Hole, where the curved rails and damp cutting make the climb all the more difficult. As the speed drops to a crawl, the footplate crew ask a lineside photographer 'have you got enough film?' and later 'bet you arranged all this'. Their skill is at last rewarded and 45428 gradually picks up speed again. 4:40, 5.4MB

Track 1b 45428 rumbles over Bridge 30 at Water Ark. Slipping starts just afterwards, next to the retaining wall to the west of the track. After briefly regaining a footing, slipping starts again north of Darnholm bridge. This time the crew are forced to abandon the unequal struggle and start to set back downhill. 3:27, 4.0MB

Track 1c A restart is made on the straight track south of Beck Hole. Speed builds up nicely until, once again, Bridge 30 is crossed and Darnhom approached. The second attempt comes to grief at the same place as the first. 5:34, 6.4MB

Track 1d A rescue is promptly organised and the combined efforts of 45428 and D5032 complete the climb to Goathland. 3:04, 3.54MB

Track 2 80135 climbing from Grosmont to Goathland at Darnholm. 28 October 1985. With a trailing load of eight coaches, 80135 climbs strongly and evenly past Darnholm bridge. After the train passes the recordng position towards Goathland, the sound echoes loudly from the arches of the bridge. 3:04, 3.5MB

Track 3. 6619 between Levisham and Newtondale on 10th August 1985.
Track 3a After the driver's instruction to 'blow her up', 6619 makes a smooth departure from Levisham. 1:39, 1.9MB

Track 3b The whistle is sounded as The Grange is approached; the regulator is opened immediately after crossing the bridge over the stream. The whistle sounds twice more as Yorfalls crossing is approached. A dog by the lineside whines as it passed on the climb towards Skelton Tower. 2:16, 2.6MB

Track 3c The flanges squeal on the reverse curves just before the regulator is opened for the 1 in 68/49 climb. The whistle sounds for Kidstye Farm crossing as the gradient eases. 6619 blows off as it runs into Newtondale Halt. 4:47, 5.5MB


Side B

Track 1 6619 at Water Ark. 29th August 1985. On an unusually still morning 6619 takes the first train of the day up the hill from Grosmont, slipping briefly after crossing Bridge 30. 2:15, 2.6MB

Track 2 Goathland signalbox is opened on 23rd October 1985. After hearing the 'call attention' bell, the signalman exchanges 5-5-5 bells with Grosmont. A 2-5 code comes from Grosmont, indicating the replacement of the token following the Engineering train the previous night. Grosmont then offers an ordinary passenger train (3-1), which Goathland accepts. The 'train entering section' code (2) follows immediately. 0:57, 1.1MB

Track 3 80135 between Grosmont and Goathland on 11th August 1985.
Track 3a Making a gentle start, 80135 lives up to its nickname ' the Standard Clank' as it accelerates through Grosmont tunnel. 2:37, 3.0MB

Track 3b After crossing Esk Bridge, 80135 slips briefly just before the overbridge, recovers, and builds speed past the permanent way hut at Green End and the following overbridge. 2:23, 2.7MB

Track 3c Later in the climb Bridge 30 is negotiated. The exhaust sharpens as Darnholm is passed. A slip occurs which is rapidly overcome as the final half mile to Goathland is covered. A 'grand finale' slip takes place as the platform is reached. 3:23, 3.9MB

Track 4 45428 departing from Levisham on 27th May 1985 after the late afternoon engine change. Rain is just beginning to fall; a nearby signal goes 'on' after the train has passed. 1:44, 2.0MB

Track 5 5th May 1985. After its difficulties earlier in the day (Side A, Track 1), 45428 shows its paces on the 1 in 54 gradient as it climbs to Fen Bog from Newtondale. 1:52, 2.1MB

Track 6 With a brief 'toot' on the whistle, 6619 departs from Newtondale Halt on 28th August 1985. Speed is kept low and steam is shut off for the reverse curves. The regulator is opened and speed builds below Pifelhead Wood on the way to Needle Point. 3:48, 4.4MB

Track 7 80135 climbing from Grosmont to Goathland on 27th May 1985. As the recording begins, 80135 is climbing the straight from Green End. The exhaust beat slows as the curve at Beck Hole increases the load on the loco. 2:06, 2.4MB

Track 8 6619 at Green End on 11th August 1985. Rain has just begun as 6619 makes its way uphill. In a magnificant display of control, the driver coaxes the loco onwards despite being on the brink of a severe slip. 2:36, 3.0MB

Track 9 45428 from Pickering on 26th May 1985. After it departs, the whistle is sounded for High Mill crossing. Speed builds along the straight past the trout farm before coasting and slowing for the level crossing at New Bridge. 45428 is then opened up for the journey to Levisham. 5:18, 6.1MB

More 1980s recordings

45428 passes Esk Valley cottages on 22 April 1984.
Behind 44767 climbing strongly from Water Ark, over Bridge 30 and past Darnholm into Goathland station.
P3 2392 (65894) climbs towards Green End and bursts from beneath the overbridge with the 15:30 from Grosmont on 14th April 1987.
841 leaves Goathland for Pickering with the 13:25 from Grosmont on 15 April 1987. The whistle is sounded to warn a p.way gang as Abbot's House Farm is approached.
Behind Lambton Tank No 5 on station pilot duties at Grosmont on 8th August 1986.
92220 restarts from Levisham towards Newtondale on 12th April 1986 12th April 1986.
55009 idles in the background as Warship D821 departs from Goathland on 29th August 1985


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