article_snippet.sent: While The railway line was axed during Beeching's brutal cuts 50 year ago but has now survived to become the world's busiest steam heritage route.
article_snippet.sent: However, it was one of the first to reopen, in 1973, using old steam locomotives.
article_snippet.sent: it is now the most popular heritage route in the world, ferrying passengers between Pickering, Grosmont and Whitby.
article_snippet.sent: it carries about 350,000 passengers during the 260 days of the year it is open and employs about 100 full-time, paid staff and hundreds of volunteers.