andyram Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 (edited) Apologies if there is already a Great Central thread up and running. I have noticed a little bit of negativity towards the line recently so I thought I would balance it out a bit. Lottery grant This week the railway has announced that it has received lottery funding to the tune of £9.5 million towards the building of a new National Railway Museum out station at Leicester North. Exhibits could include Butler Henderson, the 04 and Green Arrow. The museum is set for completion in 2019. Bridge to the future The bridge connecting the two halves of the G.C will be in place this year. It will be a single span, single track over the Midland Main Line to join up with the Nottingham end. There is work to be done before trains can run through as the embankment and at least one more bridge will need putting back. This could take up to five more years. The railway is currently holding a raffle to raise the remaining funds for the bridge, with other funds going towards the overhaul of Boscastle which could haul the first train between the two halves. This weekend The 9F, 8F and Black 5 are all listed as potential motive power for this weekend. The 9F is to remain in its Evening Star disguise until after the model railway event next month. It will be joined at this event by the Ivatt 4 from the Severn Valley and former resident 9F 92212. I believe both of these will run at the Woodford Halse themed event the weekend before. The model railway event completed three successive weekends of galas with the 1940's event starting things off during the first weekend of June. Edited May 22, 2015 by andyram 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dava Posted May 22, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 22, 2015 Andy's right, the lottery success for Main Line & the progress on bridging the gap will make the GCR an amazing attraction. Whilst I was briefly back in L'bro this week the line was not running but saw the high quality of the completed Mountsorrel branch line & station which opens next year. What will this line not have? Dava 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyram Posted May 25, 2015 Author Share Posted May 25, 2015 The G.C is running weekday services on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week. There are six departures each day from Loughborough at 10.15, 11.15, 12.15, 1.15. 2.15 and 3.15. According the railway's website the locos will be 8F 48624 (now in B.R black) and Class 45 45041 "Royal Tank Regiment". The steam loco will work the 10.15, 12.15 and 2.15 with services carrying the Griddle Car, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gerbil-Fritters Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 I had a pleasant trip behind 48624 on Sunday. Especially enjoyed the musical chonking from the big-ends. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMS2968 Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 It wouldn't be an 8F without that clank! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JohnR Posted May 26, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 26, 2015 Thats certainly good news about the lottery grant. I've only been following the bridge appeal slightly, but is making it single track a bit short sighted? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Reorte Posted May 26, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 26, 2015 I've only been following the bridge appeal slightly, but is making it single track a bit short sighted?Depends on how much more it would've all been if it was double, a very likely (now certain) single bridge being preferable to an unlikely double one perhaps. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyram Posted May 26, 2015 Author Share Posted May 26, 2015 The single track decision was a necessity due to the expense. It may risk producing a bottle neck. but at present the Nottingham end operates as a single track. In time the plan is to double this section, and the section to Leicester as finance allows. When completed there will only be the bridge section that could be single so the potential delays would be minimal (unless a loco fails on the bridge of course!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dava Posted May 26, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 26, 2015 Here are a couple of shots from last week, taken on a non-running day, which show the quality of what is being done in odd corners of the GCR. There is much more. The small GCR goods shed at Quorn with the rebuilt corrugated iron shed. Great subject for a small model, charmingly restored. The new halt at the end of the relayed Mountsorrel branch, the trackwork on this line is also impressive as it snakes through the woods and it will be a great ride or location to photograph demonstration freight trains. Dava 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyram Posted May 26, 2015 Author Share Posted May 26, 2015 The Quorn goods shed is the subject of a Bachmann Scenecraft model. I am working with a group who are planning a model of Quorn station. A gentleman is converting a spare static caravan on a site local to my house into a model railway location. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyram Posted May 27, 2015 Author Share Posted May 27, 2015 A brief visit to the GCR today. As expected the 8F 48624 provided the steam motive power. A change to the expected diesel loco saw class 25 "5185" allocated the diesel turns on the day. A second main line diesel, class 20 number 8098 was involved in stock shunting at Loughborough. Other things to note. A Standard 2 tender is currently stored at Quorn. Painted in unlined black, I assume it belongs to 78018 which is under restoration, and expected back in service this year. The railway had hoped to pair it with sister engine 78019 before this loco's boiler certificate expired. Sadly this is looking less likely. One final point - this Sunday sees the traditional swapmeet at Quorn. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dava Posted May 28, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 28, 2015 48624 is looking good in BR black at last! Dava 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad_Hatter Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 Lottery grant This week the railway has announced that it has received lottery funding to the tune of £9.5 million towards the building of a new National Railway Museum out station at Leicester North. Exhibits could include Butler Henderson, the 04 and Green Arrow. The museum is set for completion in 2019. They have only received £500.000 so far of the lottery funding to pay for the last section, and if the win this they will get the rest of the money so still have another hurdle to go before they are home and dry. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyram Posted June 1, 2015 Author Share Posted June 1, 2015 You are indeed correct, the initial £500,000 is to help prepare the final plans. The railway have 2 years in which to complete this work. Further news: The railway has advertised that its modified hall 6990 "Witherslack Hall" will return to steam as part of the line up for the Woodford Halse themed event in a couple of weeks time. This coming weekend is the popular 1940's / war weekend. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyram Posted June 5, 2015 Author Share Posted June 5, 2015 This weekend is the railway's 1940's war weekend. Locks listed in service are Black 5 45305, 8F 48624, 9F currently in disguise as Evening Star and the DMU. Always a good weekend even if the BR liveries and a BR standard don't quite fit the theme. Always plenty to see and an intensive timetable too. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyram Posted June 12, 2015 Author Share Posted June 12, 2015 This weekend is the Woodford themed gala. This will feature two 9F's, the Ivatt 4 from the Severn Valley, Black 5 and 8F. Sadly Witherslack Hall is not ready to appear and the Jinty will cover its turns. 6990 will be on display outside the shed. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyram Posted July 2, 2015 Author Share Posted July 2, 2015 A couple of quick updates. The green 9F and the black Ivatt 2 are listed as being in service this weekend. However if visiting please be advised that the griddle car will not be in use on Sunday 5th July or Wednesday 8th July due to maintenance work. There is a vintage vehicle event at Quorn station on the weekend of the 18th and 19th July. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild Boar Fell Posted July 7, 2015 Share Posted July 7, 2015 More good news for the GCR announced yesterday, with the £5000 funding application being successful for part of Community Heritage Centre that is under construction on the Mountsorrel Branch. They currently need £6200 more to add the extra railway museam/ shunting demonstration area they want to install their too. Update here:http://mountsorrelrailway.blogspot.co.uk/ Regards, Wild Boar Fell 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyram Posted July 9, 2015 Author Share Posted July 9, 2015 (edited) Great Central made local news tonight. The railway has achieved 90% of the funding for the bridge which will allow work to begin later this year. Edited July 9, 2015 by andyram 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve fay Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 That's great news Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny Emily Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 The Great Central has become quite an interesting preserved line of late between the Montsorrel line and the plans to reconnect the two halves. It's really interesting to follow. Are there any plans to expand south to Abbey sidings? I read a long time ago about something, but couldn't decide whether it was some-one unconnected with the railway's personal fantasy or a realistic proposal by the railway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyram Posted July 12, 2015 Author Share Posted July 12, 2015 The railway gas no plans to extend beyond Leicester North. I believe the council suggested it at one point, but costs would have been even more than for the current bridging the gap project. I also believe that the new museum would block the route too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Richard_A Posted July 13, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 13, 2015 It's a shame that they aren't going to gp farther. I know that the problems of getting to Leicester station would possibly be insurmountable but it would be amazing if it could be done Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyram Posted July 13, 2015 Author Share Posted July 13, 2015 Personally I think an 18 mile, mainly double tracked mainline railway, with mainline connection and a National Railway Museum out station at Leicester North coupled with heritage centre and country park at the Ruddington end will make the railway a full day attraction by 2019. I can't see the point in extending any further unless you linked to the tram network at the old Ruddington G.C station. The Leicester extension is really not needed IMHO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffP Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 Not needed, no....but imagine Leicester Central open again......... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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