On 18 June the Olympic Flame will be coming to Yorkshire – don’t miss a chance in a lifetime to witness this historic event

London 2012 Olympic Torch - photograph courtesy of London 2012

The record-breaking Sir Nigel Gresley steam locomotive will be carrying the Olympic Torch on Monday 18 June 2012

In just a few days, a new chapter of local history will be made when the Olympic Torch arrives in North Yorkshire. Monday 18 June is the big day, and after an early start in Middlesbrough, the Relay arrives in Whitby at around 9.40, having previously passed through Hinderwell, Lythe & and Sandsend. At Whitby Station, the Torch and its entourage board the Sir Nigel Gresley which will carry the flame to Pickering on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) – leaving the Station at 10.09 am. It’s due to arrive at Pickering Station around 11.34 am.

The Sir Nigel Gresley (LNER Class A4 4498, BR 60097) will carry the Olympic Flame from Grosmont to Pickering - photo courtesy of NYMR

The NYMR will be using two locomotives for the occasion – the streamlined blue Sir Nigel Gresley – which holds the record of being the fastest steam loco since World War 2 (112 mph in 1959) and the Green Knight – taking the Olympic Flame on its scenic journey through the beautiful North York Moors National Park. The Green Knight will start the historic journey, carrying the torch from Whitby to Grosmont, and then Sir Nigel will majestically finish the journey taking the Torch from Whitby to Pickering. It’s a huge honour for the NYMR, as it’s the only heritage railway in the country to be granted the privilege of carrying the Torch, and to celebrate, the NYMR has invited 220 local schoolchildren to travel on the train.

The Green Knight (BR 4-6-0 Standard Class 4MT no.75029) at Grosmont Station, the end of its run from Whitby with the Olympic Torch - photo courtesy of NYMR

Also on board will be former British Olympic rower (Munich 1972) Rooney Massara and his wife Pat. Pat and Rooney are the owners of Beech Farm Cottages holiday accommodation and Rooney’s interest in the Olympic Games stems from the London Olympics of 1948, which his father took him to when he was just five-years-old. Rooney’s really excited to have the chance to connect with the Olympics in a third and very different way to the two previous occasions. Incidentally, another of Rooney’s claims to fame was that he appeared in the Beatles film A Hard Day’s Night as a sculler, rowing the Thames at Kew as Ringo Starr walks besides the river.

Unfortunately the Torchbearing train and Whitby Station will not be open to the public, and there will be only limited access for the public at Pickering Station, which will undoubtedly be the best vantage point as the steam train dramatically pulls in, but the streets of Whitby and Pickering will be excellent places to view the Torch and be part of the occasion. After 12.00, when the Torch has left Pickering Station, the public will be able to travel on other NYMR trains – and there will be a special timetable for services between Pickering and Whitby – but be sure to check out the NYMR website before making travel plans.

From Pickering the Olympic Torch will be taken by convoy to Scarborough, and then on to Filey, Bridlington, Beverley and Hull. The following day, Tuesday 19 June, the Torch will travel from York to Hull, and on the Wednesday it will go on to Carlisle before coming back to Yorkshire when it reaches Leeds on Sunday 24 June. After Leeds, the Torch travels to Sheffield (25 June) and it leaves Yorkshire again on the 26^th as it travels from Sheffield to Cleethorpes in Lincolnshire.

You can find out more details of the Olympic Torch route through Yorkshire by checking out our earlier blog on the subject. Passengers on the NYMR can buy a day-rover ticket, which gives unlimited travel between Whitby and Pickering. Ticket prices are: adults £22.50, seniors £19.50, children of five and over £11.30 (under-fives are free). Even better value is a family ticket at just £45.00 for two adults and up to four kids.

For further info you can ring the NYMR on 01751 472508 or visit www.nymr.co.uk, and you can follow the
NYMR on Facebook @ North Yorkshire Moors Railway or on Twitter @NYMR.

The Olympic Torch route through Yorkshire was announced in November last year.

From left to right: Philip Benham (General Manager, NYMR), Councillor Joan Lovejoy (Mayor of Pickering), Councillor James Fraser (Ryedale District Council), Hannah Cockcroft (Paralympic athlete – double world champion wheelchair racer), Gary Verity (Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire and Chair of Yorkshire Gold) – photo courtesy of NYMR