Tucked away in the countryside near Fimber is a small heritage railway with a big ambition: to bring part of the historic railway between Driffield and Malton back to life.

Yorkshire Wolds Railway is East Yorkshire’s only heritage railway and is entirely volunteer-led. From its base at Fimber Halt, visitors can ride behind the railway’s locomotive, discover the history of the former Malton and Driffield Junction Railway, see restoration work taking place and learn more about a railway line that once connected communities across the Yorkshire Wolds.

It may be smaller than some of Britain’s better-known heritage railways, but that is part of its appeal. A visit feels personal, relaxed and very much connected to the local landscape and the people working to preserve its railway history.

At a glance

Attraction: Yorkshire Wolds Railway
Location: Fimber Halt, B1248, Fimber, Driffield, YO25 3HG
Type: Heritage railway / family attraction / local history
Site entry: Free
Train rides: Available on operating days
Parking: Free on-site parking
Dogs: Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome
Accessibility: Wheelchair access available via ramp
Best for: Families, railway enthusiasts, local-history fans and visitors exploring the Yorkshire Wolds.

What is Yorkshire Wolds Railway?

Yorkshire Wolds Railway was established with the aim of restoring part of the former Malton and Driffield Junction Railway as a heritage attraction.

The restoration project began in 2008. After several years of planning, feasibility work and discussions with landowners, access to the Fimber site was secured in 2012. The railway’s first rolling stock arrived the following year, and its locomotive Sir Tatton Sykes followed in April 2013.

The railway first opened to the public in May 2015, welcoming more than 600 visitors during its opening weekend.

Since then, volunteers have continued developing the site, restoring equipment, laying track and building the facilities needed to create a growing heritage railway in the heart of the Yorkshire Wolds.

The railway that once linked Driffield and Malton

The story behind the attraction stretches much further back.

The Malton and Driffield Junction Railway officially opened in 1853, with passenger services beginning on 1 June that year.

The line ran between Malton and Driffield, with intermediate stations including Settrington, North Grimston, Wharram, Fimber, Wetwang and Garton. At its busiest in the early 20th century, the railway carried both passengers and substantial amounts of agricultural and other freight across the Wolds.

Passenger services ended in June 1950, with the railway finally closing completely on 20 October 1958.

For decades afterwards, much of the old railway disappeared back into farmland and countryside.

Yorkshire Wolds Railway is now preserving part of that history for future generations.

What can you do at Fimber Halt?

The main attraction is, of course, taking a train ride.

On operating days, visitors can ride behind Sir Tatton Sykes, the railway’s working locomotive, along the restored section of track at Fimber Halt.

The journey is relatively short compared with a full-scale heritage railway, but visitors are getting to experience a railway that is still being actively rebuilt.

That makes it interesting to return over time, because the project visitors see today is not intended to be the finished railway.

The volunteers have plans to extend the line further through the Yorkshire Wolds.

Visit the railway’s unusual visitor centre

One of the most distinctive features at Fimber is the visitor centre itself.

Rather than being housed in a conventional building, the main visitor centre is located inside a genuine British Railways Mk1 railway coach.

Inside, displays tell the story of the Malton and Driffield line and the railway’s history across the Yorkshire Wolds.

It is a nice touch because almost the entire visit remains connected to railway heritage.

Even the shop and refreshment area is railway-based, occupying part of a BR Mk2 coach where visitors can sit down with tea, coffee or a light refreshment.

See restoration work taking place

Yorkshire Wolds Railway is not simply displaying completed exhibits.

Restoration and railway construction are ongoing parts of the project.

A major recent development has been the creation of a new Visitor Centre and Working Facility, designed to provide volunteers with somewhere suitable to restore rolling stock and railway equipment throughout the year.

Until now, much of this work has had to take place outside, leaving volunteers exposed to the East Yorkshire weather.

Funding from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund helped build the outer shell, while the railway is continuing to raise funds to fit out the facility with track, heating, lighting, flooring and other infrastructure.

For visitors, the aim is that restoration work will become something they can actually see taking place rather than something hidden behind the scenes.

Plans to extend the railway

The railway’s long-term ambitions go beyond its current track.

One of its major projects is Tracks to Green Lane, which aims to extend the railway from Fimber towards Green Lane and, eventually, in the direction of Wetwang.

The project has already acquired around 1,200 feet of plain track, together with points and other railway equipment, as the volunteers work towards the next stage of the extension.

This gives visitors an opportunity to watch a heritage railway develop almost from the ground up.

Rather than preserving a railway that was handed to them intact, Yorkshire Wolds Railway is rebuilding a railway that disappeared decades ago.

A railway with royal history

The original station serving the area was known as Sledmere and Fimber.

It once had close connections with the nearby Sykes estate at Sledmere, and Sir Tatton Sykes even had his own private waiting room at the station.

The station also welcomed some particularly notable passengers.

Queen Victoria used the station during the 1880s, while on 6 July 1948 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth arrived by train while staying at Sledmere House. The royal train was kept safely in a siding overnight while the Royal Family stayed nearby.

Very little of the original station remains today, but the story adds another fascinating layer to the railway history surrounding Fimber.

Is Yorkshire Wolds Railway good for families?

Yes.

The site is small enough to explore without becoming overwhelming, making it a manageable attraction for families with younger children.

There is the excitement of the train ride, railway carriages to explore, historic displays and the opportunity to watch a real heritage railway being developed.

Because entry to the site itself is free, families can also visit the visitor centre and railway site without necessarily having to purchase train tickets.

That makes it particularly useful as part of a wider day exploring the Yorkshire Wolds.

Can you take dogs?

Well-behaved dogs are welcome at Yorkshire Wolds Railway provided they are kept on a lead.

Dogs can enter the visitor centre and can travel in the brake van when trains are operating, although they cannot travel inside the locomotive cab because of the limited space.

Accessibility and facilities

The site currently provides free parking, toilets and wheelchair access via a ramp.

As with many heritage attractions involving old railway vehicles, individual areas may vary in accessibility, so anyone with specific requirements may wish to contact the railway before travelling.

2026 opening times and train fares

Yorkshire Wolds Railway’s 2026 operating season runs until the end of October.

The railway is open every Sunday, selected Wednesdays, Bank Holidays and a small number of special Saturdays.

On normal Sunday operating days the site is open from 10:00 until 16:00, with the first train departing at 10:00 and the last scheduled departure at 15:30. Trains generally depart every 30 minutes, although all services remain subject to availability.

Current 2026 train fares are:

• Adult: £7.50
• Child aged 4–17: £3.75
• Family: £17 for up to two adults and three children
• Members: one free ride per visit.

Entry to the visitor centre and parking remain free, with donations welcomed.

Because timetables and fares can change, we recommend checking directly with Yorkshire Wolds Railway before making a special journey.

Special events

The railway runs additional events throughout the year alongside its normal operating days.

The programme can include railway-themed events, model railway activities, special operating days and seasonal family events.

Upcoming 2026 dates currently include Railways on the Air on 26 and 27 September, a static-engine event on 18 October, Halloween events later in October and Father Christmas visits during November and December.

Check the official railway events calendar for the latest programme before travelling.

Where is Yorkshire Wolds Railway?

Yorkshire Wolds Railway is based at:

Fimber Halt
B1248 off the A166
Fimber
Driffield
YO25 3HG

The railway is situated between the villages and countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds, making it easy to combine with other attractions or walking routes in the area.

How long should you allow?

For most visitors, I would allow around one to two hours to enjoy a train ride, look around the visitor centre, have a drink and spend some time exploring the railway.

Railway enthusiasts or visitors particularly interested in the restoration project could easily spend longer speaking to volunteers and looking around the site.

Because the railway sits in the middle of the Yorkshire Wolds, it also works particularly well as one stop on a longer day out.

Make a day of it

Fimber Halt is close to several other places worth exploring.

Walkers may already know Fimber from the Wold Rangers Way, which passes through this part of the Yorkshire Wolds.

Nearby villages, countryside routes, heritage sites and attractions around Sledmere, Wetwang, Rudston and Driffield also make it easy to turn a railway visit into a wider Wolds day out.

As the Driffield Is Great Things to Do section grows, we’ll link these attractions together so visitors can build their own day around the area.

Why we think it is worth visiting

Yorkshire Wolds Railway is perhaps most interesting because it is still a story being written.

This isn’t simply a preserved railway frozen at one point in history.

Volunteers are rebuilding part of a railway that disappeared from the Yorkshire Wolds more than half a century ago.

Every section of track laid, vehicle restored and facility built takes the project another step forward.

For railway enthusiasts, that makes it fascinating.

For families, it provides an unusual and affordable local attraction.

And for anyone interested in the history of Driffield and the Yorkshire Wolds, it brings to life a transport link that once connected the communities and farms of this landscape.

It is also a great example of what volunteers can achieve when they decide that an important piece of local history is worth saving.

Plan your visit

For the latest operating dates, fares, special events and project updates, visit the official Yorkshire Wolds Railway website.

Because this is an active heritage railway run by volunteers, operating arrangements can occasionally change, so checking the latest information before setting off is always recommended.

And if you’re exploring more of the Yorkshire Wolds, browse Driffield Is Great for more local walks, heritage attractions and places to visit around Driffield.