Great Central Railway (Nottingham)

Great Central Railway
Legend
Great Central Main Line

 A52 road

Nottingham Express Transit
Line 2

 Ruddington
 Limit of current operations
 Ruddington North Junction

Nottingham Transport
Heritage Centre

 Gotham Sidings
Gotham Branchline
 Rushcliffe Halt
 East Leake
 Barnstone Tunnel
 Barnstone Sidings
Stanford Viaduct
over River Soar

Brush Traction

Midland High-Level

Loughborough
Midland Main Line

 Loughborough Gap
Loughborough TMD (proposed)
 Grand Union Canal
 Loughborough TMD
 Loughborough Central
 Quorn and Woodhouse
Swithland Viaduct over
Swithland Reservoir
Mountsorrel Railway
 Swithland Sidings
 Rothley
 Belgrave and Birstall
 Leicester North
 Leicester Central
 Great Central Main Line

The Great Central Railway (Nottingham) is a heritage railway in Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. The route consists of approximately 10 miles of the former Great Central Main Line between Loughborough South Junction with the Midland Main Line and Fifty Steps Bridge, and a branch line from Fifty Steps Bridge to the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre built on a former Ministry of Defence site.

There are stations at Ruddington Fields (within the Heritage Centre), and at Rushcliffe Halt; However the GCR(N) aims to reopen the former station at East Leake in the future, and there are plans to build a high-level (interchange) station at Loughborough, (as there's currently no platform here).

The railway is currently not connected to Great Central Railway (at Loughborough Central in Leicestershire), although there are plans to reunite the two preserved lines, this is a major engineering project that is expected to be completed in 2015. The line is used by gypsum trains to British Gypsum's gypsum works at East Leake.

Preservation history

At the same time as the Leicester extension, the Ministry of Defence depot at Ruddington closed, and the four miles of track from East Leake to Ruddington were no longer needed by BR. It was also clear that British Gypsum were unlikely to bring in any more materials by rail. The GCR Northern Development Association was formed. Work initially concentrated on restoring Rushcliffe Halt, however when Rushcliffe Borough Council agreed to lease part of the former MOD site to the association, the grand scheme of the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre was devised to encompass not only railway preservation, but any transport heritage relevant to the area.

In the 1990s, work on what had become the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) Ltd was concentrated mainly at Ruddington. The transfer of BR into Railtrack and then Network Rail hindered attempts to purchase the line. Ironically, it was British Gypsum's intentions to renew rail freight traffic that formed the catalyst that allowed the GCR(N) to buy the line and restore it initially for freight use.

At East Leake station, houses were built on the former goods yard in the 1980s, and some were built only yards from the remaining track. The disused nature of the line combined with a solicitor's error led the new occupants to believe that the line was closed (BR never listed the line as closed and could have resumed operations at any time). However, when the GCR(N) applied for a Transport and Works Act 1992 Order to purchase and operate the line, objections from local residents resulted in a permanent speed restriction of 5 mph through East Leake and the station remaining closed.

For Network Rail to route freight trains onto the line during the week and GCR(N) to operate heritage trains at the weekend, a length of rail north of East Leake was removed to create two separate railways. With this 'rail break' the GCR(N) were unable to access Rushcliffe Halt. A more convenient solution was found in the form of a clip on double-sided wheel scotch padlocked to the line at the site of the rail break. At weekends, the GCR(N) phone Network Rail to take possession of the line. Network Rail then lock the line out of use from their end and allow the GCR(N) to unlock the rail break and access the track to Loughborough.

In 2003 regular services to Rushcliffe Halt resumed. Passenger trains further south now run on a regular basis to the site of a proposed Loughborough High Level station.

The railway route

Ruddington Fields is the main station on the line, and the home of the GC Railway Nottingham. It features a road transport building, locomotive sheds, signal box, miniature and model railways, cafe, visitor centre, toilets and car park. The Rushcliffe Country park surrounds the GCRN facilities here. In 2009 the new platform was opened. There is talk of a possible extension from Ruddington towards the River Trent on the outskirts of Nottingham called Nottingham Greenwood, this would expand to a total of 24 miles in length.

9389 is pushed past Asher Lane crossing by 56

The gated Asher Lane Crossing is on a private road which was formerly the MOD depot perimeter road. It is a short walk from the country park to the crossing, where it is possible to see trains passing and the crossing keeper at work. There was a set of Sidings here called Asher Lane Sidings, since removed.

Fifty Steps Bridge is the end of the spur from Ruddington Fields, where trains reverse for the onward journey to Loughborough. The bridge itself originally had "Fifty Steps" but subsequent modifications have increased that number. The former Ruddington station is further north, the trackbed now being owned by the supporting Charity (East Midlands Railway Trust), to support eventual extension of services.

The Gotham branchline was a short freight branch connected to the Great Central Mainline via Gotham Sidings; it was lifted in the 1969. The branch originally served a Gypsum Mine which was located on the north-western side of the village of Gotham. The sidings may one day be reinstated as part of a possible project to double-track the Nottingham side of the GCHR. Trains pass through pleasant countryside at Gotham Moor, teeming with wildlife along with passing under a few bridges.

Rushcliffe Halt Station looking north towards Ruddington

Rushcliffe Halt railway station is named after the nearby "Rushcliffe Golf Club". Station development is ongoing. Just next to the station is the British Gypsum works. On weekdays, trainloads of gypsum are delivered to the works and unloaded on the concrete pad visible from the station platforms.

The original station near the centre of the village of East Leake is currently disused, but is proposed for reopening (for pedestrians only). This will provide the community with a station once again (and ties-in with the local Parish Plan in that respect), as well as a potential home for the thriving East Leake Historical Society. Visitors to the area arriving on the railway will also be able to visit the local pubs and restaurants, which both offer a range of dining options.

Stanford Viaduct

Barnstone Tunnel (which is 98 yards long) is the only tunnel on the preserved line. It was built by the Victorian navvies and was dug out by hand. Located close to the "98 yard" Barnstone tunnel was another set of sidings, which although removed could be reinstated in the future for extra storage. Between Barnstone Tunnel and Stanford Viaduct the line follows the ridge forming the Eastern side of the Soar Valley. The railway continues towards Loughborough, passing close to the hamlet of Stanford-on-Soar. The line travels over the River Soar at Stanford Viaduct. GCRN passenger trains first travelled across it in 2000.

GCRN services terminate at a Stop Board close to the A60 road. Beyond that is the connection to Network Rail and the Midland Main Line (MML). There are plans for a high-level station to be built here. The loco shed of the Great Central Railway at Loughborough are just visible, across the MML at least just 1.1 mile across. There are also plans to reinstate a bridge across the MML and to join up with the GCR at Loughborough on the Leicester side.

Once both preserved sections are re-connected (with the bridging of the Loughborough Gap within full completion) this would extend to a total of over 18 miles in length.[1][2]

Railway collection

City of Truro, the first steam locomotive in the world to top 100mph, leaves 50 steps junction with a December 2010 Santa Special Service

The railway operates classic steam / diesel hauled services to Rushcliffe Halt and Loughborough. Most trains are steam-hauled, but the resident classic heritage diesel collection is one of the best in the Midlands. GC Railway Nottingham operate every Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays from Easter through to October, and also Saturdays during school holidays, and during December ("Santa Specials" during weekends before Christmas and on Christmas Eve, and post Christmas services on 27/28 December). As well as regular services, GCRN also operate a host of Special Events and "Gala" days. There are 7 steam locomotives permanently based at the railway, 6 of them being of Industrial Origin, 4 of these being locomotives which once worked at Stewarts & Lloyds at Corby, Northamptonshire. The line has also hosted locomotives of BR/Big 4 pedigree, notable examples in recent years being GWR 3700 Class 3440 City of Truro, LBSCR Terrier 662 "Martello" and LNER O4 63601.

Locomotives

Resident RSH 'Ugly' 0-6-0ST 63 'Corby' stands at Ruddington Fields station in December 2011
RSH Ugly class 0-6-0ST No. 56 preparing to depart Ruddington with a passenger train in May 2009
13180 has been in use at the railway since 1997

Carriages

56 propels the Maroon rake (16168, 16190 and 9389) on the last Santa Special of 2008
Mk1 BSK (will be Buffet Car) 34249 undergoing restoration
GatEx rake 488310 in action departing Rushcliffe Halt

Wagons

952282 and 287664
81353 (left) and 941602 stand together at Ruddington
CUV 218C, ORC 545P, ARC 666T and GSU 841 on display
C444 KVH, D544 REM and FBC 56T in the road transport depot

GCR Rolling Stock Trust

A group called the GCR Rolling Stock Trust based at the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre owns the third largest (after the Bluebell Railway and Isle of Wight Steam Railway) collection of pre-grouping rolling stock known to exist in the UK, including the famous 'Barnum' carriages (so named as these were the type hired by P.T. Barnum's travelling circus) and some items that even herald from the days of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway—the GCR's title before completing the London extension. The details of the stock are below.

GCR suburban 1905 No.793, not part of the RST collection but under the wing of the GCR 567 Group is currently stored at Swithland Sidings - just been examined and found to be in reasonable condition. Now placed under a new tarpaulin for further weather protection.

References

  1. ↑ Steam track could run for 18 miles from Nottinghamshire to Leicestershire
  2. ↑ Central Railway link appeal raises £100,000

External links

Coordinates: 52°53′13″N 1°09′43″W / 52.887°N 1.162°W