New Rail ‘Reunification’ Bridge Arrives!

Reaching the stage when trains will once again be able to run all the way from Ruddington to Leicester has got another step closer this week – with the lowering into place of a replacement Great Central Railway (GCR) bridge over the A60. As RUDDINGTON.info reported last month, this brand new structure was needed to replace the old bridge (number 326) near the Brush factory, on the outskirts of Loughborough, which was in such poor condition that the line over it needed to be closed on safety grounds back in September…

Goodbye Bridge As Rail ‘Reunification’ Gets Closer

A future era when trains will once again be able to run all the way from Ruddington to Leicester has got another step nearer this month – with the removal of an unsafe railway bridge over the A60. The old bridge near the Brush factory, on the outskirts of Loughborough, has been a landmark for road users visiting the town during the last 125 years. Originally it was not anticipated having to replace this historic structure as part of Great Central Railway’s ‘Reunification’ plans – an ambitious railway reconnection project to…

‘Factory Flyover’ Continues Railway ‘Reunification’

Volunteers from Ruddington’s heritage railway are celebrating reaching another milestone in its ‘reunification’ project to create an 18 mile train line all the way between our village and Birstall on the outskirts of Leicester. The tracks comprising Ruddington’s Great Central Railway – Nottingham (GCRN) and Loughborough’s Great Central Railway (GCR) are set to be rejoined once the 500 metre gap in the middle is bridged – meaning services will then be able to run between the two for the first time since 1969. So far RUDDINGTON.info has told you about the installation…

Great Central Railway Weekend Event

This weekend Great Central Railway (Nottingham) and Great Central Railway (Loughborough) are holding a joint celebration for the first time at their sites on both Saturday (16th March) and Sunday (17th March) … … as a Rail Replacement Bus Service will reunify the two halves of the historic railway via a service between Ruddington Station (at the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre) and Quorn & Woodhouse Station to allow transport enthusiasts to explore all of their attractions with one inclusive ticket – which will be valid for entry to all sites and…

Great Central Railway Weekend Event

This weekend Great Central Railway (Nottingham) and Great Central Railway (Loughborough) are holding a joint celebration for the first time at their sites on both Saturday (16th March) and Sunday (17th March) … … as a Rail Replacement Bus Service will reunify the two halves of the historic railway via a service between Ruddington Station (at the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre) and Quorn & Woodhouse Station to allow transport enthusiasts to explore all of their attractions with one inclusive ticket – which will be valid for entry to all sites and…

Ruddington’s Railway Celebrates 125 Years

Did you realise that 2024 marks 125 years since the opening of the Great Central Railway ‘London Extension’? That included the two sections of line now preserved by heritage railway groups between Ruddington and Birstall in Leicester – which are soon to be reconnected in Loughborough, if all goes to plan. Meantime this weekend those two groups, Great Central Railway (Nottingham) and Great Central Railway (Loughborough), are holding a joint celebration for the first time, and encouraging visitors to enjoy what’s on offer at their sites. On both Saturday 16th March…

Twixmas Roundup from our Railway

With Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre now closed until 2024 (3rd January) here’s a quick progress report as we reach the end of another busy year at Ruddington’s popular railway. Firstly, Great Central Railway (Nottingham) (GCRN) reports that all the main building work on its new carriage shed here in Ruddington is now complete. Not only will this substantial new structure protect four, 1950s-built carriages from the elements and damage, but also the planned flat floor means it will be suitable for indoor events, and there is also a small workshop.…

Cash Boost for Ruddington’s Railway

The carriage shed interior as it looks now

Volunteers at Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre on Mere Way have revealed one of their projects has been awarded significant grant funding by Rushcliffe Borough Council to help them complete it. The £40,000 being given to the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) Ltd (GCRN) ‘Carriage Shed Project’ comes from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) – part of the UK Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ agenda providing funding for local investment. The money, combined with match funding from East Midlands Railway Trust and LNER (GC) Heritage Trust will allow the already…

Rushcliffe Halt ‘Station Open Day’

It’s sixty years since the loss of a full passenger service on the Great Central Railway Main Line, but continued expansion of Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre (NTHC) on Mere Way, along with improvements elsewhere down the track, are continuing – in readiness for the day when trains can once again run all the way to Leicester. A key part of these plans is the upgrade and maintenance of Rushcliffe Halt and Hotchley Hill signalbox, which are hosting a third (and final) summer ‘Station Open Day’ this Sunday 18th June from 10am until 4pm, to…

Rushcliffe Halt ‘Station Open Day’

It’s sixty years since the loss of a full passenger service on the Great Central Railway Main Line, but continued expansion of Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre (NTHC) on Mere Way, along with improvements elsewhere down the track, are continuing – in readiness for the day when trains can once again run all the way to Leicester. A key part of these plans is the upgrade and maintenance of Rushcliffe Halt and Hotchley Hill signalbox near East Leake, which is hosting another ‘Station Open Day’ this Sunday 11th June from 10am until 4pm*. Organisers promise…