Chasing Steam: A Day Photographing Sir Nigel Gresley on the NYMR

Some locomotives have a real presence—something about their history, engineering, and the sheer spectacle of their motion makes them irresistible to photograph. Sir Nigel Gresley is one of those engines. Having captured it a few years ago, I knew I couldn’t miss the opportunity when I heard it was visiting the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR)for a week. With no real plan, I grabbed my camera and set off.

Pickering: The Starting Point

Pickering seemed like a sensible place to start. It’s a great station with plenty of photographic potential, but when I arrived, the platform was dominated by a diesel locomotive. Where was Sir Nigel? Turns out, it was at the other end of the train, with the diesel along for the ride. Despite the crowds and the limited time before departure, I managed to capture the star of the show—a striking sight in its gleaming blue livery.

The Race to Goathland (Via an Unplanned Adventure)

With the train leaving Pickering, I decided to hot-foot it to Goathland to capture it in a more scenic location. But my chosen route took me over the moors—winding roads, steep inclines, and then a deep ford. Not ideal for my popular German Saloon car! There was no way I was risking that crossing, so I had to quickly rethink.

Instead, I diverted to Grosmont, just in time to see the train arriving. The sight of steam billowing through the valley made for some fantastic shots, and I could already tell the day was going to be as much about capturing the atmosphere of the railway as the locomotive itself.

Goathland: Just in Time!

Determined to get a classic under-the-bridge shot at Goathland, I pressed on. The station, famous for its appearances in Heartbeat and Harry Potter, has a wonderful vintage charm, making it a great setting. I arrived just in time to get the perfect shot of Sir Nigel Gresley thundering through. There’s something about steam engines in motion that still gives me goosebumps—it’s not just the visuals but the sound and energy they bring.

Levisham: A Quiet Stop

Next, I made a last-minute decision to head to Levisham, another stunning location on the line. Getting there was another challenge—a winding, steep, single-track road leading to the station. But I made it just in time (again!) to capture more shots as the locomotive passed through.

The Return to Pickering

After a day of mad dashes and close calls, I decided to return to Pickering to catch the locomotive’s final arrival. The platform was just as busy as before, full of fellow enthusiasts and visitors soaking in the sight and sound of this magnificent machine.

More Than Just a Train

While my main goal was to photograph Sir Nigel Gresley, I also wanted to capture the essence of the day—the crowds, the movement, the atmosphere of a heritage railway in full swing. I’m not a train spotter, but there’s something undeniably special about seeing an engine like this fully steamed up and powering along the line. It was an exhausting but exhilarating day, filled with unexpected detours, last-minute arrivals, and plenty of rewarding shots.

Would I do it again? Absolutely. Next time, though, I might just plan my route a little better!

I didn’t quite have time to capture that distant shot of the locomotive winding its way through the valleys of the Yorkshire Moors—but there’s always next week!