IT may have been financial doom and gloom for many organisations last year, but one has bucked the trend.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) recorded its best year ever, with 350,000 people enjoying days out on the heritage line – beating the 2007 record of 323,000.

The figure was an 11 per cent rise on 2008, and passenger fare income also reached £3m for the first time.

Overall turnover rose by seven per cent, from £4.75m to £5.08m.

General manager Philip Benham said: “We are obviously very pleased at these record trading results at the end of a year that started with great uncertainty over how the recession might affect us.”

Factors that played a part included the “staycation”

phenomenon, with people holidaying at home because of the low value of sterling against other currencies, particularly the euro.

The growing attraction of Whitby as a destination was also important, with more visitors appreciating the chance to combine the scenery of the moors with a trip to the seaside.

The railway also worked to improve its marketing at a time when a campaign was launched to promote Yorkshire nationally and internationally.

However, the railway is facing a tough year ahead with fundraising continuing for the costly replacement of a bridge between Goathland and Grosmont ready for the start of the main season at the end of March.

Mr Benham said: “This remains one of the most complex and expensive projects NYMR has ever undertaken, with extra costs arising recently by having to recover from time inevitably lost by the worst winter weather for 30 years.

“Running a heritage railway such as ours is becoming increasingly expensive as infrastructure, not to mention our historic locomotives and rolling stock, get ever older and more costly to maintain.”

Railway bosses have also seen some of the running costs rise sharply, particularly coal, which has almost doubled in price over the past two years, and diesel.

Mr Benham said: “There is still much uncertainty about trading prospects for 2010.

“At best, the economy is barely out of recession, and with job losses threatened virtually on our doorstep in Teesside and elsewhere in the North-East, we have to be prudent and must ensure we manage the business with great care.”