Miniature rail enthusiasts John Kerr and Peter Bryant have added a second seaside 'franchise' to their network.
The owners of Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway have bought Scarborough North Bay Railway in an undisclosed deal.
It is the resort’s fourth largest tourist attraction, with 120,000 passengers a year. And with a heritage taking in an incredible 90 years, they are looking forward to steaming to a centenary and beyond, having bought it from the retiring David Humphreys.
Mr Kerr said: “The railway in Scarborough is an extremely important asset to the town and wider region.
"David did a fantastic job of revitalising this much loved attraction including the addition of new rolling stock, station buildings and lakeside attractions and we are looking forward to working with his dedicated team to further this. We can’t wait to take the railway to its centenary and beyond.
“There is masses of potential to develop with the railway, sky trail and historic water chute. We want to expand its out-of-season trade and the secondary offering, and I am confident we can do that.”
The narrow-gauge system, first opened in 1931, runs for three-quarters of a mile from Peasholm Park Station to Scalby Mills, with views over North Bay.
It is home to a steam locomotive, as well as four historic diesel locomotives – Neptune, Triton, Poseidon and Robin Hood – all in service since the formative years.
Most Read
For many years the town landmark was run by Scarborough Borough Council until privatisation in 2006.
The duo acquired the mile-long Cleethorpes Boating Lake ‘set’ from former North East Lincolnshire Council leader Chris Shaw in 2014, who had taken it on in 1990, opening the following season.
It had also been in municipal hands prior, having opened as a private venture in 1948. Launched by William Botterill of Peterborough, it had been run by Arthur Clethro of Scarborough for five years in the Fifties, before the borough council took it on.
The Scarborough attraction hopes to reopen on April 12.
It comes after Mr Kerr closed a line in Arbroath in October, after numbers fell from 14,000 to 3,500 in a decade. It had been in the family for three generations. He and Mr Bryant, from Sheffield, met through a miniature rail website the latter ran.
Wake Smith of Sheffield acted for the pair.
Rebecca Robinson, director in the company commercial team, said: “John and Peter have run the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway in North East Lincolnshire since 2014, and bring their enthusiasm and expertise to the North Bay line, including all the additional attractions.
“They have made a real success of the Cleethorpes’ venture which has driven ambitious plans for Scarborough. With 海角视频 holiday resorts looking to gain market advantage this summer, we wish them the best of luck for the future.”