Tag: locomotive

Key Bridge Repair Should Get ‘Big Trains’ Back Soon!

Graham Wright

It’s now over four years since full-sized trains carried passengers on our once popular heritage railway line south of Ruddington. The tough restrictions at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 brought a halt to all activities at Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre on Mere Way, including the weekend steam and diesel services operated by the volunteers at Great Central Railway (Nottingham) (GCRN). Other setbacks since have meant these trains still haven’t restarted. One of these setbacks is a small bridge on the Nottinghamshire section of the railway which…

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Ruddington’s ‘Big Trains’ Could Restart Soon!

Graham Wright

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…

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Heritage Centre Reopens – But Without Trains

Graham Wright

Directors at Great Central Railway (Nottingham) have announced that no vintage steam or diesel trains will be running from Ruddington until Easter 2021 at the earliest. Passenger services last ran from our heritage site during the February half-term before all trains were cancelled and the centre closed to visitors due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak. The charity reveals that, over the last couple of months, The Office of Road & Rail and The Heritage Railways Association have been working with heritage railway groups up and down the country to determine ways…

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Is This The Paddington Train?

Graham Wright

Yes it is! 60163 “Tornado” will be blowing into Ruddington next month – and that’s the locomotive featured in the film “Paddington 2”! It’s coming here as the star attraction during the second weekend in February at Ruddington’s Great Central Railway. You may or may not know that this A1 Peppercorn Class is Britain’s newest steam train, built only in 2008. As part of the celebrations for her 10th year in service she will be appearing in our village for the first time. Despite her young age, Tornado is already iconic as…

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