Scenes from the English 'MIDLANDS'

 MIDLANDS INDEX

20a. From Leicester to Loughborough on the Great Central Railway Line - Trip 1 - lots of steam train photos of engines in action

The Great Central Railway, in conjunction with other companies, had lines from Manchester - Sheffield - Nottingham - Leicester and onto London Marylebone Station. After incorporation into the Midland Railway and ultimately British Railways the line terminated in the 'Midland Region' St Pancras Station London. However much of the original Great Central Railway doesn't exist, but fortunately due to a great bunch of enthusiasts, the section from Loughborough to Leicester is preserved as a fully working mainline steam railway.

See also 20b. Trip 2 on the GCR - The Winter Gala January 2009 and the visit of 70013 Oliver Cromwell * 20c. More GCR - Loughborough Workshop & Shed Scenes * 20d. Diesels on the GCR * 20e. The GR8 Escape April 2011 and other railway links at bottom of page.

From the Great Central Railway (GCR) to British Railways (BR).

A return trip from Leicester North Station to Loughborough Central Station and back.

(A grey day for photography but, never-the-less, a great day out!)

From Leicester North Station to Loughborough Central station

Great Central Railway: Diesel multiple unit (DMU E50321/E51427, Class 101 built 1957) coming into Leicester North Station. This 2 car DMU was built by Metro-Cammell in 1957-1958. Not the steam start I wanted, but no matter! Plenty of steam action followed later!

Great Central Railway: Heading north coming into Rothley Station platform. Note the tracks pass either side of the central platform and the characteristic GCR 'little house' of the station entrance on the bridge.

Great Central Railway: Passing over the viaduct at Swithland Reservoir.

Great Central Railway: Heading north coming into Quorn and Woodhouse Station and note in distance the tracks pass either side of the central platform and the characteristic GCR 'little house' of the station entrance on the bridge.

Great Central Railway: 30777 SIR LAMIEL heading south at speed approaching Quorn and Woodhouse Station and passing fields of poppies.

Locomotives at Loughborough Central Locomotive Depot

Great Central Railway: Ex Great Western Railway and British Railways 4953 PITCHFORD HALL, an ex GWR/BR 4-6-0 4900 Hall Class locomotive. Power Class D 5MT Mixed Traffic loco, built at Swindon Works in 1929 to a design by Collett.

Great Central Railway: Ex Great Western Railway and British Railways 4953 "PITCHFORD HALL" (GWR 4-6-0 Hall Class locomotive).

Great Central Railway: Ex Great Western Railway and British Railways 4953 "PITCHFORD HALL" (GWR 4-6-0 Hall Class locomotive).

Great Central Railway: Ex GWR 5100/5101 Class 2-6-2T Prairie large tank engine 4141 and British Railways, ex GWR/BR built at Swindon Works 1946 to a post Churchwood 3100 Class design by Collett.

Great Central Railway: Ex British Railways BR standard class 2MT 2-6-0 78019 (built at Darlington Works in 1954 to a design by Robert Riddles) standing outside the locomotive depot shed at Loughborough Central.

From Loughborough Central station to Leicester North Station

Great Central Railway: The Station entrance at Loughbrough.

Great Central Railway: Ex GWR 4141 waiting to depart from Loughborough Central Station on the train for Leicester North Station.

Great Central Railway: The Great Central Railway Museum at Loughborough Central Station.

Great Central Railway: Ex GWR 4141 still waiting to depart from Loughborough Central Station on the train for Leicester North Station! I think there was a delay due to a wedding party!

Great Central Railway: The entrance to Loughborough Central station (built 1898), with a vintage car waiting for some newly weds of on a train trip.

Great Central Railway: Ex SR/BR Class N15 4-6-0 locomotive 777/30777 "SIR LAMIEL", bringing empty coaching stock into Loughborough Central Station.

Great Central Railway: Ex GWR 2-6-2 prairie tank engine 4141 finally departing from Loughborough Central station with a train bound for Leicester North Station.

Great Central Railway: 30777 SIR LAMIEL, waiting to depart from Loughborough Central Station. 30777 is an ex Southern Railway and British Railways locomotive. Locomotive 30777 is an SR 4-6-0 designed by R.E.L Maunsell from an earlier Urie LSWR design, N15 King Arthur Class locomotive and was built by the North British Locomotive Co. Glasgow in 1925.

Great Central Railway: An old coal tender (minus locomotive!) and the goods depot shed from the Great Central days at Quorn and Woodhouse Station.

Great Central Railway: Heading south stopping at Rothley Station.

Great Central Railway: A fine old LMS coach.

See also 20b. Trip 2 on the GCR - The Winter Gala January 2009 and the visit of 70013 Oliver Cromwell * 20c. More GCR - Loughborough Workshop & Shed Scenes * 20d. Diesels on the GCR * 20e. The GR8 Escape April 2011

OTHER RAILWAY CONNECTIONS

 

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