The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) is gearing up for its Annual Steam Gala, a four-day celebration of steam heritage running from 24 to 27 September 2026. Organisers have confirmed that day ticket prices will be held at 2025 rates, with adult admission starting at £49.50 and children aged 0 to 15 admitted free of charge.
The event, held across one of Britain’s most scenic heritage railways, will bring together a collection of visiting locomotives alongside the NYMR’s own home fleet. Among the headline guests is No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, provided by the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust Ltd. Named after the celebrated LNER chief mechanical engineer responsible for designing some of the most iconic steam engines of the 20th century, this A4 Pacific is one of the most recognisable preserved locomotives in the country. Joining it will be No. 4079 Pendennis Castle, courtesy of Didcot Railway Centre, and No. 563, a T3 class steam locomotive on loan from the Swanage Railway Trust.
What Visitors Can Expect
Alongside a full timetable of steam-hauled services through the North York Moors National Park, the gala will include a barbecue at Grosmont station and the popular Annual Beer Festival. The Shed Shop will stock a wide range of railway merchandise, and the on-site Tea Rooms will be open throughout the event. A dedicated shuttle service will run from Whitby to Grosmont in the morning, with a return service from Grosmont to Whitby for those joining from the coast.
Tickets are available at the standard day rate of £49.50 per adult, with a donation ticket option priced at £54.45 per day, allowing visitors to contribute additional funds to the charitable trust. Multi-day tickets are also on offer, and holders of Patron and Ambassador membership will receive free admission across all four days.
For those unable to attend the gala itself, the NYMR is running a series of special pre-booked, seat-allocated services throughout September and October, branded as Rockstar Engines services, which will also feature No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley and No. 4079 Pendennis Castle.
About the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
The NYMR is an award-winning charitable trust widely regarded as Britain’s most popular heritage railway, drawing approximately a quarter of a million passengers each year. Operating a heritage service between Pickering and Grosmont — a journey of 18 miles through some of England’s most spectacular moorland scenery — the railway also runs services over Network Rail track from Grosmont into Whitby, giving it a unique connection to the mainline network.
As a fully accredited museum and Educational Charitable Trust, the NYMR is dedicated to preserving and operating historic rolling stock while providing what it describes as an authentic evocation of the steam age for visitors of all ages. The railway sits within the North York Moors National Park and forms a significant part of the region’s tourism economy, attracting visitors from across the UK and abroad.
Steam galas of this kind have become an important fixture in the heritage railway calendar, offering enthusiasts rare opportunities to see multiple visiting locomotives in operation over consecutive days. The decision to freeze ticket prices will be welcomed by families at a time when the cost of days out has risen markedly across the leisure sector.
Full details and ticket booking are available at the NYMR Steam Gala booking page.
