Steam train from Pickering to Whitby

The stations, in order

Pickering: the southern terminus, a 1930s-themed station with a tea room, gift shop and toilets. Its roof was reinstated to the original 1847 design by G T Andrews.

Levisham: the first stop north of Pickering, and the turning point for the Santa Express.

Newtondale Halt: a request stop. Check with the railway how to request it.

Goathland: the station that played Hogsmeade in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Aidensfield in ITV's Heartbeat, with a tea room in the 1922 goods shed. The Rail Trail runs about three and a half miles from Goathland to Grosmont if you want to walk one way.

Grosmont: home to the railway's engine sheds, reached through an 1835 George Stephenson tunnel, and the junction with Northern's Esk Valley line.

Whitby: selected trains run through to Whitby station. There are no toilets at the station itself; use the public toilets in the town.

How long it takes

Allow around two hours each way between Pickering and Whitby. Not every train goes through to Whitby, so check the day's timetable, and remember that standard services only run on set days.

Steam train from Whitby

On operating days you can start at Whitby and ride towards Pickering, or take the train to Grosmont and return to Whitby another way. Northern's Esk Valley line also serves Grosmont and Whitby, so you can combine the two railways.

Is there a steam train from Whitby to Scarborough?

No. The coast railway between Scarborough and Whitby closed in 1965, and its trackbed is now the Cinder Track, a path for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Scarborough does get the occasional summer steam excursion, the Scarborough Spa Express, but it comes from the west via York and does not serve Whitby. In 2026 it ran on five Wednesdays in the summer.

A short history

The line began as the Whitby and Pickering Railway, engineered by George Stephenson, with services between Whitby and Pickering starting in 1836. It was worked by horses at first and converted to steam in the 1840s. British Railways closed the Pickering to Grosmont section in 1965, leaving Grosmont to Whitby as part of the Esk Valley line. A preservation society was formed in 1967 and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway reopened in 1973. Its passenger trains have run through to Whitby since 2007.

Parking at Pickering station

The station car park at Pickering is run by a private operator and is charged from 9am to 6pm every day; Blue Badge holders are not exempt. It is small and fills on busy days, so use one of the town's other car parks, such as Platform 3, Vivis Lane or Eastgate, if it is full. Coaches should use the lay-by on The Ropery or the paid coach park in Eastgate.

Frequently asked questions

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