Yorkshire Moors

North Yorkshire Moors Railway

North Yorkshire Moors Railway locomotives

By Jon Cosson · Updated 25 October 2026

Trains on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway are hauled by steam and heritage diesel locomotives. The railway maintains them at its engine sheds at Grosmont, and in recent years it has begun converting historic steam engines from coal to oil firing.

Which locomotives run on a given day is not published in advance on the timetable, so do not count on a particular engine, or on steam, for every train.

Locomotives on the NYMR

The railway's own locomotive pages include steam engines such as 926 Repton, 2253 Omaha, 44806, 45428 Eric Treacy, 63395, 75029 The Green Knight, 80135, 92134, 34101 Hartland, 3672 Dame Vera Lynn, 825 and 29, and diesels including 37264 and D7628 Sybilla.

Locomotives come and go for overhaul and on loan to other railways, so this is not a list of what will be running. The NYMR's galas are the best chance to see several engines in one day.

The engine sheds at Grosmont

Grosmont is the railway's engineering base, where steam and diesel locomotives are maintained. The sheds are reached on foot through an 1835 tunnel built for George Stephenson's original line.

Converting historic steam locomotives to oil

In July 2024 the NYMR announced that it would convert 2253 Omaha, a 2-8-0 built by Baldwin in the United States in 1943, from coal to oil firing. The work was designed with FMW Solutions, an American engineering firm, with parts made in Tennessee and at Grosmont. Rail industry press described it as the first conversion of a full-size steam locomotive to oil in Britain since the end of main line steam.

The railway gave several reasons: shrinking supplies of British steam coal and the high cost of imported coal, a lower risk of lineside fires on the moors in hot, dry weather, lower particulate emissions, and less maintenance. Its longer-term plan also includes 3672 Dame Vera Lynn, a 2-10-0 that is due to return from overhaul as an oil-fired engine.

In 2026 rail press reported that Omaha had been converted and was trialling cold pressed rapeseed oil. Check the railway's news pages for the latest on which oil-fired engines are in service.

The story of 2253 Omaha

Omaha was built for the United States Army Transportation Corps and arrived in Hull in 1943, working for the LNER from Leeds before going to France in 1944. After the war it ran in Poland, and it came back to Britain in 1992. It has worked on the NYMR, been displayed at Locomotion in Shildon, and spent time on the Dartmouth Steam Railway.

Frequently asked questions

Which NYMR locomotive was converted from coal to oil?

2253 Omaha, a 1943 American-built 2-8-0. The railway announced the conversion in July 2024, and 3672 Dame Vera Lynn is planned to follow.

Why is the NYMR converting steam locomotives to oil?

The railway cites the shrinking supply and high cost of steam coal, a lower risk of lineside fires in hot weather, lower particulate emissions and less maintenance.

Are all NYMR trains steam hauled?

No. Trains are hauled by steam or heritage diesel locomotives, so steam is not guaranteed on every service.

Where are the NYMR engine sheds?

At Grosmont, reached on foot through an 1835 tunnel from George Stephenson's original line.

More North York Moors questions? See the full FAQ →

Sources

Where to stay in the North York Moors

Self-catering cottages, village inns and farmhouse boltholes right across the moors, from the southern villages to the coast.

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