Steam, Smoke and the Sound of the Moors: Tornado Returns to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Today, Alastair took a short drive out from Cliff House Holiday Cottages to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway to try and catch a glimpse of one of the UK’s most beloved modern steam engines — Tornado. And in classic North Yorkshire fashion, it didn’t disappoint.

The valley was cloaked in a faint smokiness, the result of recent moorland wildfires.. But it only added to the atmosphere. As Tornado came powering around the bend, its distinctive livery cutting through the haze, it felt like something out of a film set.

And if we weren’t mistaken, Paul “Piglet” Middleton — a well-known figure from Channel 5’s The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard — may have been onboard too. For those of us who’ve followed the stories of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway through the series, spotting Piglet is a bit like bumping into a local legend.

Watching the steam engine in action is more than nostalgia — it’s a reminder of Yorkshire’s proud industrial heritage and the volunteers who keep it alive. It’s one of many reasons our guests at Cliff House often include the railway on their must-see list. Whether you’re travelling from Pickering to Goathland (or even all the way to Whitby), the North Yorkshire Moors Railway is a moving experience in every sense.

And that’s what we keep coming back to — North Yorkshire isn’t just for walkers. It’s not just remote. It’s rich with history, stories, steam and soul.

If you’re staying with us at Cliff House, ask us the best spots to catch the trains. And if you’re lucky, you might even hear the faint echo of a whistle drifting across the valley.

Fancy a front-row seat to this kind of day out?
Take a look at our availability and plan your escape to somewhere with a little more steam in its soul.