THE North Yorkshire Moors Railway has launched a “Cash for Coal” fundraising appeal to help with a doubling of coal costs over the last year.

The railway, which is a registered charity, uses about 2,500 tonnes of coal each year to fuel its steam engines, which run on the 24-mile stretch between Pickering and Whitby.

It is hoped that the campaign will raise £350,000 towards the railway’s fuel costs over the course of the year.

Philip Benham, the railways’ general manager, said: “We’ve all seen the cost of operating a car increase. In the last five years, an average litre of diesel has risen from 97p in 2007 to £1.43 per litre today, which affects the diesel engines that we operate, but the difference in coal has been even more pronounced, doubling in price which massively increases our running costs. “We’re reluctant to put up fares to help cover these costs, so instead decided to ask for contributions to our “Cash For Coal” appeal.”

Donations can be made on the trains or at any of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway stations, or by texting COAL12 £1 to 70070 or online at http://www.justgiving.com/nymc