A NORTH YORKSHIRE heritage railway will celebrate the importance of the rail industry.
North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) has joined with railways across the UK to raise awareness of heritage railway's tourism appeal through their ‘Love Your Railway’ campaign.
The campaign is returning for its second year and brings together 70 organisations from Scotland, Snowdonia, Leighton Buzzard and the Lake District.
It aims to ‘shine a spotlight’ on heritage railways and encourage tourists to visit.
The six-week Love Your Railway campaign is spearheaded by NYMR and runs from July 25 to September 4.
It will have different weekly themes including history, conservation, partnerships, family, volunteers, and education.
Throughout the campaign heritage railways are encouraging visitors and supporters to get involved and share photos and memories of their visits on social media using #LoveYourRailway.
Chris Price, general manager at NYMR, said: “Last year we were completely blown away by the response to Love Your Railway - to have over 50 heritage railways taking part in the campaign’s first year shows the incredible support and solidarity running through the sector.
“We have some exciting new ideas and elements planned for the 2022 campaign, and love that even more organisations have come together this year to help us spread the word.
“The aim is simple - there are more than 150 operational heritage railways, which protect, conserve and bring to life part of the nation’s rich cultural heritage - giving enjoyment and learning to thousands of people every year and we want to do all we can to raise awareness of every heritage railway across the country.”
Stephen Oates, chief executive at The Heritage Railway Association, said: “In 2021 Love Your Railway secured collaborations from as far afield as Cornwall, Suffolk, North Wales, North East Scotland and Northern Ireland, with over 50 heritage railway organisations taking part.
“We’re really proud to back this campaign and look forward to seeing many more rail organisations get involved in the inaugural campaign.”
As reported by the Gazette and Herald, NYMR has partnered with the magazine Steam Railway to create a series of themed videos called ‘Just The Ticket’ to launch alongside their Love Your Railway campaign.
Included in the series are six videos, covering each of the Love Your Railway’s six weekly themes.
Chris Gilson, Steam Railway editor, said: “We’re really pleased to be helping our friends at the NYMR and working with lots of other heritage lines for these Just The Ticket videos.
“I’d love to hear from anyone else who wants to take part – there’s always room!”
The series will be hosted by the magazine, with featured guest contributions from heritage railways across the UK.
More information about the Love Your Railways campaign can be found on NYMR’s website: https://www.nymr.co.uk/pages/category/love-your-railway
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