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…
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…
For almost three years now, a previously familiar weekend sound drifting across Ruddington has been sadly missing – that of the distant whistles and gentle chugging of steam trains making their way in and out of Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre. Since RUDDINGTON.info published the news piece ‘What’s Happening at our Heritage Railway’, back in January 2022, it’s continued to be one of our most searched for items – as villagers and visitors alike seek the elusive answer! In particular, the legendary ‘Santa Specials’ in the run-up to Christmas have been…
After the ‘lockdown’ Christmas of 2020, and the rather restrained festive season of 2021, Ruddington’s celebrations in 2022 look as if they might just be the biggest and best ever! That’s certainly the case for this weekend’s ‘Ruddington Christmas Market’ (on Saturday December 3rd) which, as previously reported, will comprise over a hundred indoor and outdoor stalls of food, drink and gifts, two covered pop-up bars and stages of live music, and children’s activities. Now organised by Ruddington Village Community Partnership (RVCP) it will take place along both High Street and Church Street (road closures…
Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre (NTHC) is inviting you to ‘Christmas in Ruddington 2022’ from 10am to 4pm each Saturday and Sunday between December 3rd & 18th. Unfortunately Nottingham Heritage Railway still can’t offer its usual ‘Santa Special’ train rides this year. However, you’ll find a ‘Winter Wonderland’ instead, and Father Christmas waiting in his grotto at the end (top) with a present for all the kids. You can get tickets for this event from The Heritage Cafe – in person or by sending a text to Karen on 07450 285 202 and you’ll get a call…
For almost two years now a most familiar weekend sound drifting across Ruddington has been sadly missing – that of the distant whistles and gentle chugging of steam trains making their way in and out of Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre. Please find our January 2023 update >>HERE<<. In fact, heritage passenger services last ran at Great Central Railway (Nottingham) (as it was then known) during the February 2020 half term – before all trains were cancelled and the centre closed to visitors due to the initial Coronavirus outbreak. Whilst other attractions at…
Just as everything seemed to be moving forward very nicely at Ruddington’s transport heritage centre, it’s emerged that the two groups responsible for running the site – and the services from it – are at loggerheads over a section of track. After the Board at GCRN decided to rebrand its railway as NHR – Nottingham Heritage Railway “with immediate effect” just a week ago, this morning it has issued a terse public statement saying it will not “surrender running rights” to East Midlands Railway Trust (EMRT) from a point just north of Rushcliffe Halt…
A brand new fund to develop one of Nottinghamshire’s leading heritage attractions has been launched in our village today (Friday 9th July). ‘The Forward Fund’ aims to provide new visitor facilities, including a new station building at ‘The Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre’ in Ruddington. It will also raise money to upgrade tracks and bridges on the nine mile section of the historic Great Central Railway through the county. Guest of honour for the launch was Rushcliffe MP, Ruth Edwards – who is a patron of The East Midlands Railway Trust (EMRT), the…
Whilst villagers and visitors eagerly await the reopening of Ruddington’s Great Central Railway (Nottingham) attractions post ‘lockdown’, which is due to start on April 12th, there’s a major fundraising drive this month to rejoin the tracks between Ruddington and Leicester North. As the Reunification Appeal continues, during March, every pound you give, either online, by existing or newly established standing order – or by cheque through the post – will be matched pound for pound, up to £100,000, by a mystery donor. Railway volunteers are reporting that already tens of…
From Loughborough comes news that a major two-day operation at the start of this month has ‘all but’ finished the overhaul of the elegant Victorian railway bridge which spans the Grand Union Canal in the town. The relevance of this restoration for our village is that it marks another step forward for the eighteen mile heritage line vision between Ruddington and Leicester North by reconnecting the currently separate sections of tracks operated by volunteers from our own Great Central Railway – Nottingham (GCRN) and Loughborough’s Great Central Railway (GCR). Built in the…
