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The Mallard at York's National Railway Museum.

North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, used in the 1970s Railway Children film

Middleton Railway nr Leeds, the World's Oldest Railway

Vintage Diesal & Steam Trains on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway

National Railway Museum North Yorkshire Moors Railway Settle Carlisle Railway Yorkshire Railways

You can trace the history of British railways to Yorkshire so it's not surprising that Yorkshire contains some of the most scenic and historic of the country's railways. The National Railway Museum is aptly placed in York, North Yorkshire and ranks as the world's largest railway museum.

Historic Yorkshire Railways are across the county and include the two most famous - the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and the Settle Carlisle Railway. Britain's oldest railway is at Middleton near Leeds whilst the stunning Keighley & Worth Valley railway takes you through the heart of Bronte Country (and Railway Children country!) stopping at Haworth Station. In South Yorkshire near Barnsley the Elsecar Steam Railway starts at the historic Fitzwilliam ironworks with on-site heritage centre and craft workshops. Back in the Yorkshire Dales the Wensleydale Railway runs trains between Leeming Bar near Northallerton and Redmire and forms part of the plan to extend the Settle Carlisle Railway. The charming little Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway near Skipton takes in a stunning stretch of the South Dales, ending at Bolton Abbey with its many attractions including abbey ruins and fun farm park. Whitby on the Yorkshire Coast is a superb holiday location for hooking into Yorkshire Steam Railways. Both the Esk Valley Railway and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway stop at Whitby Station. Yorkshire's steam railways make for superb family fun days out, with a choice of ticket options available for hopping on and off at historic stations with more attractions nearby and local walks in the Moors and Dales.

National Railway Museum (NRM) York

The UK's National Railway Museum and indeed the world's largest railway museum is here in York. A mecca for railway enthusiasts and a superb family attraction, the National Railway Museum doesn't just trace the history of Britain's railways from the early 19th century through to the present, it also digs deep into the international history of rail. Alongside historic British steam locamotives in the museum's Great Hall such as the Mallard and an exact replica of Stephenson's Rocket (from which all locomotives can trace their roots) you'll also find a Chinese Locomotive built in Britain and a Japanese Bullet train.

Daily talks, workshops, demonstrations of railway turntables and an exciting line-up of exhibitions including The Flying Scotsman Story and British Rail Story from Nationalisation to Privatisation are all part of the National Railway Museum experience.

National Railway Museum, Leeman Road, York YO26 4XJ. Tel. 08448 153139.
Open Daily 10am to 6pm. Admission is Free! www.nrm.org.uk

North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Esk Valley Railway & Scarborough Mini Railway

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway takes you on one of the most spectacular historic rail trips in the UK. Nostalgic diesel and steam engines weave right through the heart of the North York Moors starting at pretty market town Pickering with stops at Lewisham and a request stop at Newton Dale Halt on the edge of the scenic Cropton Forest area. The journey then moves on up to Goathland made famous as Aidensfield in the Yorkshire tv series Heartbeat. Next stop is Grosmont, a delightful 1950s rail junction and site for a display of historic locomotives, engine sheds and station cafe. The line then detours north east onto Yorkshire coastal hotspot Whitby.

The full journey time without stops from Pickering to Whitby takes just over one and a half hours. Each stop holds its own delights, and with a choice of single, return and rover tickets available you can plan your own day. Hop on and off Pickering to Grosmont Day Rover tickets or Pickering to Whitby Day Rover tickets are popular options, with special rates available for families.

Checkout the North Yorkshire Moors Railway's webguide right for details on events, including the LNER Steam Festival. North Yorkshire Moors Railway Customer Services tel. 01751 472508. Talking timetable tel. 01751 473535. The complete timetable and ticket prices are listed on the website.

The stunning Esk Valley Railway line pushes south west from Whitby through the Esk Valley into the North York Moors linking Whitby with Grosmont. At Grosmont the Esk line connects with the North Yorkshire Moors Railway down to Pickering. Alternatively you can stay on the Esk Valley line moving west through Egton, Lealholm, Danby, Battersby and Great Ayton then on upto Middlesbrough. See a comprehensive map via the Esk Valley Railway's webguide right. You'll also find up-to-date Summer timetables - Esk Valley trains operate daily from Whitby to Middlesbrough. Scarborough's historic North Bay Miniature Railway has been operating here using the same Hudswell Clarke locomotives and coaches for holidaymakers since 1931! A new station building plus a shop, waiting room and the Glass House Bistro are all opening at Peasholm Park Station in May 2008 and check the Miniature Railways webguide right for news of a new railways history museum and coach shed due to open at Scalby Mills. North Bay Miniature Railway North Bay, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO12 6PF. Tel. 01723 260004.

Settle Carlisle Railway, Wensleydale Railway & The Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway Yorkshire Dales

Widely considered as one of the most scenic railway journies in England, the historic Settle-Carlisle Railway line runs for 72 miles from Settle in the Yorkshire Dales upto Carlisle. First opened to the public in May 1876, the line takes in the famous 24 arched Ribblehead Viaduct and the longest tunnel on the line at Blea Moor. The route also pushes through stunning Dentdale, leaving the Dales at Garsdale then on through the Eden Valley to Carlisle.

Both steam and diesal trains operate on the line, and you can hook into the route from Leeds, Blackpool, Preston and Blackburn. Checkout the daily timetable via the Settle Carlisle Railways webguide right. Stations along the 72 mile line include Settle, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Ribblehead, Dent, Garsdale, Kirkby Stephen, Appleby, Langwathby, Lazonby, Armathwaite and Carlisle. Look to the Settle Carlisle webguide for attractions and ideas for days out at each stop.

Choose from a variety of ticket options including Day Ranger Tickets and Rail Rover Tickets. Under fives travel free of charge. Tickets can be booked online in advance via the Settle Carlisle Railway Webguide or at Stations.

The Wensleydale Railway runs trains between Leeming Bar (near Northallerton) and Redmire (on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park), via Bedale and Leyburn. Trains usually consist of heritage diesel rail cars from the 1960s, which have large windows and a great view of the line ahead if you sit behind the driver. This is the first part of a project to restore the full 40 mile route between Northallerton (on the East Coast Main Line) and Garsdale (on the Settle-Carlisle Railway). Wensleydale Railway plc, Leeming Bar Station, Leases Road, Leeming Bar, Northallerton, North Yorkshire DL7 9AR. Ticketline Tel. 08454 50 54 74. Group Booking Enquiries Tel. 01677 425805. See also the webguide rright for the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway. This picturesque railway departs from Embsay Station just outside Skipton through stunning South Dales scenery stopping at Bolton Abbey with on-site historic abbey ruins and farm park.

The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway - West Yorkshire

Platform 3 and 4 at Keighley Station in West Yorkshire are designated to the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway and fully restored branch line. Take your seat on a vintage steam train which will take you from Keighley to Ingrow, Oakworth, Haworth and Oxenhope with beautiful views of the moors and Bronte Country and key sites which featured in The Railway Children film, starring Jenny Agutter along the route.

In Summer the railway runs daily, and out of season it runs weekends only and most people operating the service are volunteers - it's their efforts which have ensured the survival of this Yorkshire Railway! Adults and children alike will marvel at the heritage steam and diesel trains and the beautiful Yorkshire scenery along the 5 mile line. Worth Valley trains leave from Platform 4 at Keighley (note the preserved cast iron canopy!) and takes you on an unforgettable journey through beautiful countryside taking in mills and viaducts. For dates of special Thomas the Tank Engine days and times for a Buffet Car service offering Yorkshire real ales check out the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway's webguide link right.

Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, The Railway Station Haworth, Keighley, West Yorkshire BD22 8NJ. Tel. 01535 645214.

Middleton Steam Railway Leeds

The Middleton Railway Trust Ltd has formidable claims to fame. It is the direct descendant of a wagon-way which was constructed between Middleton and Casson Close, near Leeds Bridge. Having been established by an Act of Parliament in 1758, the Middleton Railway can claim to be the oldest working Railway in the world. This historic standard gauge Leeds Railway is a superb family steam railway attraction, and a must for British Heritage Railway enthusiasts. As well as operating a steam railway passenger service over 1 mile of track between Hunslet and Park Halt, the on-site museum houses an impressive collection of historic Leeds steam and diesel locomotives (see the Middleton Railway rolling stock lists on the website linked right). Find the Middleton Railway on the outskirts of Middleton Park south of Leeds. This historic railway played host to the first revenue earning steam locomotives as distinct from experimental operations, which entered service in June, 1812.

The Middleton Railway Trust Ltd, Moor Road, Leeds LS10 2JQ. Tel International. 00 44 113 271 0320. (UK. 0113 271 0320).

Elsecar Steam Railway & Heritage Centre near Barnsley

The Elsecar Heritage Centre, Steam Railway and craft workshops are located on the former site of the Earls Fitzwilliam Iron works and colliery near Barnsley. The Dearne and Dove Canal also runs through the site, and there's plenty to do including a tour of the Newcomen Beam Engine or there's ample craft workshops and specialised shopping on offer.

The Elsecar Steam Railway runs between Rockingham Station at Elsecar to the Hemingfield Basin on the Dearne and Dove Canal. They do Thomas the Tank Engine days and more.

Elsecar Heritage Centre, Wath Road, Elsecar, Barnsley S74 8HJ. Telephone. (01226) 740203 (follow the signs off the M1 at junction 36).

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