Scenes from the English East MIDLANDS

20a. From Leicester to Loughborough on the Great Central Railway Line - Trip 1 - lots of steam and diesel train photos of engines in action (pictures added from further trips 3 onwards!)

East MIDLANDS INDEX

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 double-tracked steam heritage railway.

See also

20b. Trip 2 GCR - The Winter Gala January 2009 and 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.

[Author and photographer © Dr Phil Brown PhD plus help from AI these days, page updated May 14th 2026]

Email: chem55555@hotmail.com

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

* *

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

Steam locomotive 46521 in BR green livery, at Loughborough station with the GCR "The South Yorkshireman" dining train (Sept. 2017)

Railway history mixed with good food on the Great Central Railway.

Full steam ahead on the Great Central Railway!

92214 painted up to look like 92220 EVENING STAR (GCR Loughborough, June 2015)

Diesel locomotives on the Grand Central Railway (See Diesels on the GCR)

Historic diesel multiple units on the Great Central Railway - good view of Loughborough station with the shed yard and workshops beyond. (See DMUs on the GCR)

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!

Leicester North Station on the Great Central Railway (June 2014) as 48624 brings in a train from Loughborough.

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 GR8 Escape GCR Steam Gala 2011: 8624 entering Quorn Station from Loughborough

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

Great Central Railway GR8 Escape GCR Steam Gala 2011: 5542 leaving Quorn for Leicester with the autocar train.

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 - a busy Quorn and Woodhouse Station!

Breakdown crane (markings: B.R. DRA 81549 YSR MATCH FOR CRANE No 8 81549 DW 107110) at Quorn and Woodhouse station yard, Great Central Railway heritage weekend 'Railways at Work' (GCR August 2023)

The turntable and signal box at Quorn and Woodhouse station yard, Great Central Railway heritage weekend 'Railways at Work' (GCR August 2023)
 

Freight train passing through Quorn and Woodhouse station on the Great Central Railway.

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

Freight train entering Quorn and Woodhouse station on the Great Central Railway.

Locomotives at Loughborough Central Locomotive Depot on the Great Central Railway

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.

Some great steam locomotives can be seen in the works yard.

From Loughborough Central station to Leicester North Station on the Great Central Railway

Great Central Railway: The Station entrance at Loughborough.

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

Ex GWR locomotives can be seen on the Great Central Railway.

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.

Lots of great steam action on the Great Central Railway

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

A history of the Great Central Heritage Railway

The Great Central Heritage Railway is unique in Britain as the only preserved double‑track main line, operating between Leicester North and Loughborough Central, with a separate preserved northern section at Ruddington (Great Central Railway – Nottingham). The long‑term goal is to reunify the two halves into an 18‑mile heritage main line—and as of 2025–2026, the project has planning consent, major bridges built, and funding in place for the next construction phases.

Below is a full, structured history and a detailed explanation of the reunification to Nottingham.

1. Origins of the Great Central Railway (1899–1969)

• The Great Central Main Line (GCML) was the last Victorian main line built into London, opening on 9 March 1899.
• Engineered to a continental loading gauge, it was intended by Sir Edward Watkin to form part of a future rail link to Europe.
• The line ran from Annesley (Nottinghamshire) to London Marylebone, via Leicester and Loughborough.
• After nationalisation, traffic declined and the line was closed in stages during the Beeching era, with the main closure in 1966–1969.

2. Birth of the Heritage Railway (1970s–1990s)

2.1 The Leicestershire section (today’s Great Central Railway)

• Volunteers preserved the section around Loughborough Central, eventually reopening a double‑track heritage line—unique in the UK.
• The line now runs from Leicester North → Rothley → Quorn & Woodhouse → Loughborough Central.
• It became one of Britain’s premier steam railways, hosting galas, mainline‑registered locomotives, and filming productions.

2.2 The Nottinghamshire section (today’s GCR – Nottingham)

• The northern section around Ruddington survived because it was repurposed as a Royal Ordnance Factory during WWII.
• After closure, volunteers formed what is now Great Central Railway (Nottingham), based at the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre.
• This preserved 8–10 miles of the former main line from Ruddington Fields to the northern edge of Loughborough.
• The route includes the impressive Stanford Viaduct over the River Soar.

3. Why the Two Halves Are Separate

When the GCML was dismantled, 500 metres of trackbed in Loughborough were destroyed, including embankments and bridges.
This created the famous “Loughborough Gap”, preventing the two preserved railways from meeting.

4. The Reunification Project (2000s–present)

Reunification aims to reconnect the Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire heritage lines into a continuous 18‑mile main line—the most ambitious project in UK railway preservation.

4.1 What has already been completed

According to the Great Central Railway and local reporting:

• Three major engineering phases completed, including:
  • A new bridge over the Midland Main Line at Loughborough
  • Restoration of an original bridge
  • Replacement of the A60 road bridge (2022)
• £5 million raised and spent so far, with £2.5 million currently in the bank for the next stages.

4.2 What still needs to be built

Planning consent (granted June 2025) allows construction of:

• A new urban viaduct
• The Railway Terrace bridge
• The Preci‑Spark car park crossing
• Rebuilt embankments north of the Midland Main Line
• Relaying the missing 500 metres of track
  These works will physically reconnect the two railways.

4.3 Funding and timeline

• The GCR states that 90% of the next funding target has been raised.
• Construction of the next two phases is hoped for in 2026, subject to fundraising.
• Full completion is expected between 2026 and 2028, depending on costs and contractor availability.

5. What the Reunified Railway Will Offer

Once complete, the line will:

• Create an 18‑mile double‑track heritage main line—the only one of its kind in the world.
• Allow charter trains to reach the GCR from the national network.
• Enable testing, training, and filming work on a main‑line‑standard preserved railway.
• Boost tourism across Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.
• Provide a seamless heritage journey from Ruddington → Loughborough → Leicester North.

6. Timeline Summary

Station‑by‑Station Historical Guide: Great Central Heritage Railway

Overview

The Great Central Railway (GCR) is the only preserved double‑track main line in Britain, running from Leicester North → Rothley → Quorn & Woodhouse → Loughborough Central.
A separate preserved section exists at Ruddington, forming the northern half of the future 18‑mile reunited route.

1. Leicester North Station (Heritage Terminus)

Historical background

• The original station here was Belgrave & Birstall, opened in 1899 with the Great Central Main Line.
• It closed to passengers in 1963 and to freight in 1964.
• The station buildings were demolished after closure.

Preservation era

• The current Leicester North station is a new-build heritage station, opened in 1991.
• It recreates the style of a typical Great Central rural station, with:
  • A period‑style booking office
  • Traditional canopy
  • Restored platform furniture

Role today

• Southern terminus of the GCR.
• Popular for dining trains and special events.
• Provides car parking and access from Leicester.

2. Rothley Station

Historical background

• Opened 1899 as part of the London Extension.
• Designed in the distinctive GCR “island platform” style, accessed via a subway.
• Served a rural community but had steady commuter traffic.

Preservation era

• One of the best‑preserved original GCR stations.
• Volunteers restored:
  • The island platform
  • The ornate canopy
  • The original brick station building
  • The signal box (fully operational)

Architectural significance

• Rothley is often described as a time capsule of Edwardian railway architecture.
• The station gardens and period signage enhance the authenticity.

Role today

• A key intermediate stop.
• Home to:
  • A restored goods yard
  • A working signal box
  • A museum of small artefacts in the waiting room

3. Quorn & Woodhouse Station

Historical background

• Opened 1899 to serve two villages: Quorn and Woodhouse.
• Built in the standard GCR country‑station style, with:
  • A main building on the down side
  • A smaller waiting room on the up side
  • A footbridge linking the two

Preservation era

• Extensively restored by volunteers.
• The station is famous for:
  • Its WWII re‑creation during 1940s events
  • A large car park used for galas
  • The Turntable Café

Operational significance

• Acts as the main event hub for large galas.
• Has a fully restored turntable, used for visiting locomotives.

4. Loughborough Central Station (Northern Terminus)

Historical background

• Opened 1899 as a major station on the GCML.
• Built to main‑line standards, with:
  • A grand island platform
  • Long canopies
  • A subway entrance
  • Extensive goods facilities

Preservation era

• The heart of the GCR since the 1970s.
• Volunteers restored:
  • The entire station building
  • The booking hall
  • The subway
  • The platform canopies
  • The signal box
• The station retains its original GCR architecture, making it one of the most complete preserved main‑line stations in Britain.

Role today

• Headquarters of the GCR.
• Home to:
  • Locomotive sheds
  • Carriage works
  • The museum rooms
  • Filming for TV and cinema

5. The “Loughborough Gap” (Future Reunification Zone)

Historical background

• After closure in the 1960s, a 500‑metre section of the GCML was destroyed:
  • Embankments removed
  • Bridges demolished
  • Trackbed sold for industrial use

Preservation significance

• This gap separates the two preserved halves.
• Major engineering works completed:
  • New bridge over the Midland Main Line
  • Replacement of the A60 bridge
  • Restoration of a surviving bridge

Next steps

• Construction of:
  • A new viaduct
  • Railway Terrace bridge
  • Embankments
  • Final tracklaying

6. Ruddington Fields Station (GCR – Nottingham)

Historical background

• The northern section survived because it served the Royal Ordnance Factory during WWII.
• After closure, the site became the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre.

Preservation era

• Ruddington Fields is the operational base of the northern GCR.
• Facilities include:
  • A museum
  • Workshops
  • Narrow‑gauge railway
  • Model railway displays

Role today

• Northern terminus of the preserved line.
• Will become the northern end of the unified 18‑mile route.

7. Rushcliffe Halt

Historical background

• Opened 1911 to serve gypsum works and local industry.
• A simple halt with minimal facilities.

Preservation era

• Restored by volunteers.
• Retains its rural, industrial character.

Role today

• A request stop on the GCR‑Nottingham section.
• Used for special events and walking routes.

8. East Leake Station

Historical background

• Opened 1899.
• Served a large village and nearby industries.
• Closed to passengers in 1963.

Preservation era

• The station building survives in private use.
• The platforms remain intact.
• Trains pass through but do not stop.

Future potential

• Could reopen as a station on the unified line.

9. Stanford‑on‑Soar / Stanford Viaduct

Historical background

• The GCML crosses the River Soar on a magnificent multi‑arch viaduct.
• One of the most iconic structures on the line.

Preservation era

• Fully intact and used by GCR‑Nottingham trains.
• Will form the northern approach to Loughborough once the gap is closed.

Summary Table

MY HERITAGE RAILWAY PAGE buttons below

Good trainspotting 'TRAINSPOTS' Good trainspotting and photographic locations  Barnetby Station, North Lincolnshire  *  Carlisle Station  *  Clapham Junction Station, London  *  Colton Junction, south of York  * Coventry *  Crewe Station  *  Doncaster Station, South Yorkshire  * Grantham * Hellifield station - Carlisle to Settle line * Lancaster station  * Leicester station * Newcastle Station  *  Northallerton Station  *  Nuneaton Station  * Peterborough *  Sheffield Station  *  Stratford Station, East London * Tamworth * Warrington Bank Quay station * Wigan North Western - WCML *  York Station

See other TOPS classes index of diesels and electrics * Class 01 * Class 02 * Class 03 * Class 04 * Class 08 * Class 09 * Class 10 * Class 11 * Class 14 * Class 20 * Class 24 * Class 25 * Class 26 * Class 27 * Class 31 * Class 33 * Class 35 * Class 37 * Class 40 * Class 43 * Class 44 * Class 45 * Class 47 * Class 50 * Class 52 * Class 55 * Class 56 * Class 57 * Class 58 *  Class 60 * Class 66 * Class 67 * Class 68 * Class 70 * Class 71 * Class 73 * Class 76 * Class 77 *  Class 84 * Class 86 * Class 87 * Class 88 * Class 90 * Class 91 * Class 92 * Derby Lightweight * Class 101 * Class 108 * Class 114 * Class 117 * Class 120 * Class 121 * Class 122 * Class 127 * Class 141 * Class 142 * Class 144 * Class 150 * Class 153 * Class 155 * Class 156 * Class 158 * Class 159 * Class 165 * Class 166 * Class 170 * Class 172 * Class 175 * Class 180 * Class 185 * Class 195  * Class 196 * Class 197 * Class 220 * Class 221 * Class 222 * Class 252 * Class 313 * Class 315 * Class 317 * Class 319 * Class 320 * Class 321 * Class 322 * Class 323 * Class 325 * Class 331 * Class 332 * Class 333 * Class 334 * Class 350 * Class 357 * Class 360 * Class 365 * Class 373 * Class 375 * Class 376 * Class 377 * Class 378 * Class 379 * Class 380 * Class 387 * Class 390 * Class 395 * Class 414 * Class 423 * Class 442 * Class 444 * Class 450 * Class 455 * Class 458 * Class 460 * Class 465 * Class 466 * Class 489 * Class 507/508 * Class 700 * Class 730  * Class 755 * Class 800 * Class 801 * Class 802 * Class 803 *  Class 805 * Class 3000 *

INDEX of My IMAGES OF PRESERVED STEAM LOCOMOTIVES

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East MIDLANDS INDEX

East Midlands * West Midlands * England

Email: chem55555@hotmail.com

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