The Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre is a heritage centre based at Ruddington

Ruddington

Ruddington is an English village situated five miles south of Nottingham in the Borough of Rushcliffe. It had a population of 6,441 at the 2001 UK census....

, Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...

, the terminus of the northern section of the Great Central Railway

Great Central Railway (preserved)

The Great Central Railway is a heritage railway split into two adjacent sections, one in Leicestershire and the other Nottinghamshire.The Leicestershire section is currently Britain's only double track mainline heritage railway, with of working double track, period signalling, locomotives and...

 (GCRN). The site includes locomotive and rolling stock workshops (accessible to the public), as well as cafeteria and shops. Also on-site is a miniature railway operated by the Nottingham Society of Model and Experimental Engineers (NSMEE). The site also has a Model Railway club and building housing local historic buses. Leaving Ruddington Fields station, the railway links Ruddington with East Leake and Loughborough. The Ruddington-Loughborough railway comprises 10 miles.

Railway collection

The railway operates classic steam / diesel hauled services to Rushcliffe Halt and Loughborough. Most trains are steam-hauled, but our classic heritage diesel collection is one of the best in the midlands. GC Railway Nottingham operate regularly from Easter through to October, and during the winter period ("Santa Specials" before Christmas, and our Winter Gala event post-Christmas).
Our train services and Ruddington facilities operate every weekend during all School holidays.
As well as regular services, GCRN also operate a host of Special Events and "Gala" days.

Locomotives

• Operational Steam Locomotives
• LNER Class J72
  NER Class E1
  The North Eastern Railway Class E1, classified as Class J72 by the London and North Eastern Railway is a class of small 0-6-0T steam locomotives designed by Wilson Worsdell for shunting. They had inside cylinders and Stephenson valve gear....
  
   0-6-0T No. 69023 "Joem". (Visiting for the Christmas season)

• Steam locomotives undergoing overhaul, restoration or repair
• Hudswell Clarke
  Hudswell Clarke
  Hudswell, Clarke and Company Limited was an engineering and locomotive building company in Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-History:...
  
   0-6-0ST No. 54 "Julia". (Undergoing restoration. The Boiler has now been moved to No.1 Shed pending work)
• Manning Wardle
  Manning Wardle
  Manning Wardle was a steam locomotive manufacturer based in Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.- Precursor companies :The city of Leeds was one of the earliest centres of locomotive building; Matthew Murray built the first commercially successful steam locomotive, Salamanca, in Holbeck, Leeds,...
  
   0-6-0ST No. 1762 "Dolobran". (Undergoing restoration. The Locomotive Chassis is facing chimney first into Ruddington)
• Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST No. 2009 "Rhyl". (Undergoing Restoration. Recently moved in doors where work has recommenced in earnest)
• RSH
  Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns
  Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns Ltd was a locomotive builder with works in North East England.-History:The company was formed in September 1937 when Robert Stephenson and Company, which was based in Darlington took over the locomotive building department of Hawthorn Leslie and Company, based in...
  
   (Ugly Class) 0-6-0ST No. 63 "Corby". (Undergoing overhaul)

• Unrestored and stored steam locomotives
• RSH
  Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns
  Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns Ltd was a locomotive builder with works in North East England.-History:The company was formed in September 1937 when Robert Stephenson and Company, which was based in Darlington took over the locomotive building department of Hawthorn Leslie and Company, based in...
  
   (Ugly Class) 0-6-0ST No. 56 (Awaiting repairs)
• Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST No. 2015 "Arthur". (Awaiting restoration)
• S160
  USATC S160 Class
  The United States Army Transportation Corps S160 Class is a class of 2-8-0 Consolidation steam locomotive designed for use in Europe during World War II for heavy freight work...
  
   2-8-0 No. 1631. (unrestored, in kit form)

• Main line diesel locomotives
• Class 20
  British Rail Class 20
  The British Rail Class 20, otherwise known as an English Electric Type 1, is a class of diesel-electric locomotive. In total, 228 locomotives in the class were built by English Electric between 1957 and 1968, the large number being in part because of the failure of other early designs in the same...
  
   Bo-Bo No. D8007. (BR Green, small yellow ends)
• Class 20
  British Rail Class 20
  The British Rail Class 20, otherwise known as an English Electric Type 1, is a class of diesel-electric locomotive. In total, 228 locomotives in the class were built by English Electric between 1957 and 1968, the large number being in part because of the failure of other early designs in the same...
  
   Bo-Bo No. 20154. (BR Green, full yellow ends)
• Class 25
  British Rail Class 25
  The British Rail Class 25 diesel locomotives were also known as Sulzer Type 2 and nicknamed Rats, as it was alleged they could be seen everywhere in Britain, and hence were "as common as rats"...
  
   Bo-Bo No. D7629. (Two Tone Green)
• Class 37
  British Rail Class 37
  The British Rail Class 37 is a diesel-electric locomotive. Also known as the English Electric Type 3, the Class was ordered as part of the British Rail modernisation plan....
  
   Co-Co No. 37340 (37009). (Undergoing restoration to BR Green with full yellow ends)
• Class 47
  British Rail Class 47
  The British Rail Class 47, is a class of British railway diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in the 1960s by Brush Traction. A total of 512 Class 47s were built at Crewe Works and Brush's Falcon Works, Loughborough between 1962 and 1968, which made them the most numerous class of British...
  
   Co-Co No. 47292. (Variation of large Logo Blue)
• Class 47
  British Rail Class 47
  The British Rail Class 47, is a class of British railway diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in the 1960s by Brush Traction. A total of 512 Class 47s were built at Crewe Works and Brush's Falcon Works, Loughborough between 1962 and 1968, which made them the most numerous class of British...
  
   Co-Co No. 47765. (RES livery)
• Class 56
  British Rail Class 56
  The British Rail Class 56 is a type of diesel locomotive designed for heavy freight work. It is a Type 5 locomotive, with a Ruston-Paxman power unit developing 3,250 bhp , and has a Co-Co wheel arrangement...
  
   Co-Co No. 56097. (BR Trainload Coal)
• Class 73
  British Rail Class 73
  The British Rail Class 73 is a United Kingdom model of electro-diesel locomotive. The type is unusual in that it can operate from a 750 V DC third-rail or an on-board diesel engine to allow it to operate on non-electrified routes...
  
   Bo-Bo No. E6016. (BR(S) Electric Blue)
• Class 46
  British Rail Class 46
  The British Rail Class 46 is a class of diesel locomotive. They were built from 1961-1963 at British Railways' Derby Works and were initially numbered D138-D193. With the arrival of TOPS they were renumbered to Class 46. Fifty-six locomotives were built...
  
   1Co-Co1 No. 46010. (BR Rail Blue)

• Operational Diesel Shunters
• Class 08
  British Rail Class 08
  The British Rail Class 08 is a class of diesel-electric shunting locomotive. From 1953 to 1962, 996 locomotives were produced, making it the most numerous of all British locomotive classes....
  
   0-6-0 No. 13180. (BR Green)
• Class 08
  British Rail Class 08
  The British Rail Class 08 is a class of diesel-electric shunting locomotive. From 1953 to 1962, 996 locomotives were produced, making it the most numerous of all British locomotive classes....
  
   0-6-0 No. 08220. (BR Blue)
• Ruston and Hornsby
  Ruston (engine builder)
  Ruston & Hornsby, later known as Ruston, was an industrial equipment manufacturer in Lincoln, England, the company's history going back to 1840. The company is best known as a manufacturer of narrow and standard gauge diesel locomotives and also of steam shovels. Other products included cars, steam...
  
   165 0-4-0DE No. D2959 (BR Green)
• Ruston 88DS 4w "Marblaegis". (Ruston Green Livery)
• Simplex
  Motor Rail
  Motor Rail was a British locomotive-building company, based in Bedford. Formed in 1911 as The Motor Rail & Tramcar Co Ltd, they built petrol and diesel engined locomotives, mainly narrow gauge. During World War I over 900 locos were supplied for use on temporary military supply railways...
  
   4wd No. 2028 "Morris". (BR Black)
• Ruston 4w No. 371971 "Qwag". (Ruston Green Livery)

• Diesel Shunters undergoing overhaul, restoration or repair
• Class 03
  British Rail Class 03
  The British Rail Class 03 locomotive is, together with Class 04, one of BR's most successful smaller 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters. The class, numbering 230 examples, was built by British Railways' Swindon and Doncaster works in 1957-1962 and numbered D2000-D2199 and D2370-D2399...
  
   0-6-0 No. D2118. (Undergoing overhaul)

• Diesel multiple units
• BR Class 116
  British Rail Class 116
  The British Rail Class 116 diesel multiple units were built by BR Derby from 1957 to 1961.-Regular use:These units stayed in regular service until 1990, when they began to be withdrawn from traffic. They were replaced on regional services by the new "Sprinter" derivative units, or by Class 323...
  
   hybrid unit 51138+59501+51151 running with Class 117
  British Rail Class 117
  The British Rail Class 117 diesel multiple units were built by Pressed Steel from 1959 to 1961.When first introduced, these three-car units were all based with the similar Class 121 single carriage units on British Railway's Western Region for suburban work out of London Paddington, as well as...
  
  (BR Mid-Brunswick DMU Green)
• BR Class 108
  British Rail Class 108
  The British Rail Class 108 diesel multiple units were built by BR Derby from 1958 to 1961, with a final production quantity of 333 vehicles....
  
   unit 53645+53926. (Under Restoration) (Blue and Grey)

Carriages

• BR Mk1 carriages
• Mk1 RMB
  Restaurant Miniature Buffet
  The Restaurant Miniature Buffet is a British Railways Mark 1 railway coach. It is a Tourist Standard Open coach with two full seating bays next to the centre transverse vestibule removed and replaced with a buffet counter and customers standing space, and one bay on one side removed and replaced...
  
   (Restaurant Miniature Buffet) 1811 in lined maroon. (Operational)
• Mk1 CK (Composite Corridor) 16168 in unlined maroon livery. (Operational)
• Mk1 CK (Composite Corridor) 16190 in lined maroon livery. (Operational, one side is unlined)
• MK1 BFK (Brake First Corridor)17023 in lined maroon livery (Operational)
• MK1 BSK (Brake Corridor Second)34249 later Derby RTC Laboratory Coach 975046. (now Sold)
• Mk1 TSO (Tourist Standard Open) 4207 in lined maroon livery. (Undergoing overhaul)
• Mk1 RSO (Restaurant Second Open) 1012 later Cinema Coach 150353. (Stored awaiting restoration)

• BR Mk2 carriages
• Mk2
  British Rail Mark 2
  The Mark 2 family of railway carriages were British Rail's second design of carriages. They were built by British Rail workshops between 1964 and 1975...
  
   BSO (Brake Standard Open) 9389 ( Operational, lined maroon livery)
• Mk2b TSO 5497 (Operational, painted BR blue and grey)
• Mk2a BSK 35512 (Operational, painted BR blue and grey)

• BR Mk3 carriages
• Mk3
  British Rail Mark 3
  British Rail's third design of standard carriage was designated 'Mark 3' , and was developed primarily for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train...
  
   SLEP (Sleeper Coach) 10602.

• Six wheelers
• MSLR 6 wheeler 946. (Undergoing restoration in No.1 shed.)
• MSLR 6 wheeler 373. (Stored)

• GCR Barnum carriages
• GCR Barnum dining coach 664. (Stored)
• GCR Barnum brake coach 695. (Stored)
• GCR Barnum Dining coach 666. (Stored)
• GCR Barnum bar coach 228. (Stored)

• Other carriages
• GCR Clerestory brake coach 1663. (Stored)
• GCR Suburban brake coach 555. (Stored)
• GCR Suburban composite coach 799. (Stored)

• Non-passenger carrying stock
• BR Mk1 GUV (General Utility Van) 86565.
• BR Mk1 GUV (General Utility Van) 86129.

Wagons

• Brake vans
• GWR
  Great Western Railway
  The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
  
   20-ton Toad Brake Van 68500 built in 1947. (Part way through overhaul, painted GWR Grey)
• LMS 20-ton Brake Van 357488 built in 1926. (painted BR Bauxite with LMS lettering)
• BR
  British Rail
  British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
  
   20-ton Brake Van 952282 built in 1954. (Operational, painted BR Bauxite)
• LMS 20-ton Brake Van 357771 built in 1927. (Awaiting resumption of overhaul)
• BR 20-ton Brake Van 954353 built in 1958. (Operational, painted in BR Bauxite)

• Vans
• BR Palvan 779761 built in 1958. (painted army green)
• BR Widefit 784455 built in 1962. (painted BR Bauxite)
• BR 29-ton VAA 200631 built in 1976.
• BR Widefit 783447 built in 1962. (painted army green)
• BR Palvan 778771 built in 1959. (painted BR Bauxite)
• BR Palvan 776155 built in 1957. (painted army green)
• BR Palvan 782111 built in 1960. (painted army green)
• BR Widefit 783257 built in 1962. (painted army green)
• Railfreight
  Railfreight
  Railfreight was a sector of British Rail responsible for all freight operations on the British network. The division was created in 1982 when BR sought to assign particular stock and management to the evolving requirements of freight traffic...
  
   Pressed Steel Box Van 786902.
• Railfreight Pressed Steel Box Van 201055.
• BR Ferry Van 786902 built in 1962.

• Ballast wagons
• BR
  British Rail
  British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
  
   Dogfish ballast hopper wagon 993039 built in 1959. (Operational, painted BR Black)
• BR Dogfish ballast hopper wagon 983586 built in 1960. (Operational, painted BR Black)
• BR Dogfish ballast hopper wagon 993597 built in 1959. (Operational, painted BR Black)
• BR Dogfish ballast hopper wagon 993230 built in 1957. (Operational, painted BR Black)
• BR Grampus open wagon 991831 built in 1958. (Operational, painted BR Black)
• BR Shark ballast plough 993874 built in 1959. (Operational, painted BR Black)

• Open wagons
• LMS 12-ton open wagon 411453 built in 1937. (painted BR Bauxite)

• Flat wagons
• LMS 50-ton Warwell 721218 built in 1949. (Operational, painted Brown)
• BR
  British Rail
  British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
  
   Weltrol 900936 built in 1960. (Operational)
• LNER
  London and North Eastern Railway
  The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
  
   22 ton Lowmac wagon 230964 (Operational, painted BR Grey)
• BR Bogie Bolster 943545 built in 1953. (pained brown)
• BR Bogie Rail Sturgeon A 994271 built in 1956.
• BR Bogie Rail Sturgeon A 994770 built in 1953.
• BR Weltrol 900937 built in 1960.

• Rail cranes
• LNER Cowans Sheldon
  Steam crane
  A steam crane is a crane powered by a steam engine. It may be fixed or mobile and, if mobile, it may run on rail tracks, caterpillar tracks, road wheels, or be mounted on a barge...
  
   45-tonne Steam Rail Crane 941602 (9017). (painted Lined BR Black with early crest)

Road transport collection

Operational vehicles

• Leyland Atlantean
  Leyland Atlantean
  The Leyland Atlantean is a model of double-decker bus built by Leyland in the United Kingdom from 1958 to 1986....
  
   Nottingham City Transport
  Nottingham City Transport
  Nottingham City Transport is the major bus operator of the English city of Nottingham, running a comprehensive network of services in the Greater Nottingham area, with some services continuing to Southwell, Loughborough, and East Midlands Airport. There are over 80 routes across the City, giving...
  
   ARC 666T "Andrew Pickering" built in 1978 (numerous experimental features made this vehicle unique amongst NCT's Atlanteans,)
• AEC Regent III
  AEC Regent III
  The AEC Regent III was a type of double-decker bus chassis manufactured by AEC.It was mainly built for operation outside London and overseas. It could be fitted with AEC's 9.6-litre diesel engine , 'Wilson' preselective epicyclic gearbox The AEC Regent III (also known as Regent 3 or Regent Mark...
  
   Nottingham City Transport
  Nottingham City Transport
  Nottingham City Transport is the major bus operator of the English city of Nottingham, running a comprehensive network of services in the Greater Nottingham area, with some services continuing to Southwell, Loughborough, and East Midlands Airport. There are over 80 routes across the City, giving...
  
   OTV 161 built in 1954.

Vehicles undergoing light work

• Routemaster
  Routemaster
  The AEC Routemaster is a model of double-decker bus that was built by Associated Equipment Company in 1954 and produced until 1968. Primarily front-engined, rear open-platform buses, a small number of variants were produced with doors and/or front entrances...
  
   RCL London Transport
  London Transport Board
  The London Transport Board was the organisation responsible for public transport in London, UK, and its environs from 1963-1969. In common with all London transport authorities from 1933 to 2000, the public name and operational brand of the organisation was London Transport.-History:The...
  
   CUV 218C built in 1965. (Notable for being the first RCL Routemaster to be built)
• Leyland Atlantean
  Leyland Atlantean
  The Leyland Atlantean is a model of double-decker bus built by Leyland in the United Kingdom from 1958 to 1986....
  
   open-top ex Northern General and Trent ORC 545P built in 1976. (Was also registered MPT 299P and YRC 194 before receiving its present registration)
• Leyland PD1 Barton Transport
  Barton Transport
  Barton Transport plc was a British bus and coach operator based in Chilwell, Nottinghamshire. It commenced its first service in 1908. Its fleet and operations were sold to Wellglade in 1989, and the combined operations later became Trent Barton...
  
   JVO 230 built in 1948.

Vehicles undergoing overhaul or restoration

• Barton Transport
  Barton Transport
  Barton Transport plc was a British bus and coach operator based in Chilwell, Nottinghamshire. It commenced its first service in 1908. Its fleet and operations were sold to Wellglade in 1989, and the combined operations later became Trent Barton...
  
   AEC Reliance
  AEC Reliance
  The AEC Reliance was a single-deck bus or coach chassis with a mid-underfloor-mounted engine, built by AEC in Southall, west London, England between 1953 and 1979. The name had previously been used between 1928 and 1931 for another single-deck bus chassis....
  
  /Plaxton Panorama coach 866 HAL built in 1960. (Undergoing restoration)
• Leyland PD1 ex Leicester
  Leicester
  Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
  
   and Barton
  Barton Transport
  Barton Transport plc was a British bus and coach operator based in Chilwell, Nottinghamshire. It commenced its first service in 1908. Its fleet and operations were sold to Wellglade in 1989, and the combined operations later became Trent Barton...
  
   DJF 349 built in 1947. (Undergoing restoration)

Stored vehicles

• Leyland Lion LT5 South Notts
  South Notts Bus Company
  The South Notts Bus Company Ltd was a British bus operator based in Gotham, Nottinghamshire. It commenced service in 1926 and became a limited company in 1929...
  
   VO 8846 built in 1933. (Stored awaiting a major restoration)
• Leyland National
  Leyland National
  The Leyland National is a British single-deck bus built in large quantities between 1972 and 1985. It was developed as a joint project between two UK nationalised industries - the National Bus Company and British Leyland. Buses were constructed at a specially built factory at the Lillyhall...
  
   Mk.1 Trent Buses
  Trent Barton
  Trent Barton is one of the very small number of significant independent bus operators in the United Kingdom. It was formed as the result of merging Derbyshire's Trent Buses with Nottinghamshire's Barton Transport....
  
   KVO 429P built in 1975.
• Leyland Royal Tiger/Duple Roadmaster South Notts
  South Notts Bus Company
  The South Notts Bus Company Ltd was a British bus operator based in Gotham, Nottinghamshire. It commenced service in 1926 and became a limited company in 1929...
  
   MAL 310 built in 1951. (Stored awaiting restoration)

Miniature railway

The centre is home to a miniature railway, run by the Nottingham Society of Model and Experimental Engineers, which works on the operating days. The line is one mile long and has two running lines, both going through different tunnels. They usually have a miniature railway gala and a miniature traction engine rally during the year.

Model railway

The centre also has three model railway layouts in a portacabin next to the miniature railway. There are two OO gauge

OO gauge

OO gauge or OO scale model railways are the most popular standard-gauge model railway tracks in the U.K. This track gauge is one of several 4mm-scale standards used, but it is the only one to be served by the major manufacturers...

 layouts; the first is a Thomas the Tank Engine

Thomas the Tank Engine

Thomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue...

 layout and the second is a model of the old Ruddington Station. The third feature, an O gauge layout is a model of a station with a goods and locomotive shed with a Church, woodworking centre and a factory. There is usually a model railway gala each year.

Visitor centre

The visitor centre contains displays about the centre's railway locomotives and vehicles in the road transport collection, the history of freight trains, locomotives and historic bus operators in Nottingham. There are plans to shortly put up displays on the centre's previous life as the Ruddington MOD Depot.

The railway route

Ruddington is the main station on the line, and the home of the GC Railway Nottingham. It features a road transport building, locomotive sheds, signal box, miniature and model railways, cafe, visitor centre, toilets and car park. The Rushcliffe Country park surrounds the GCRN facilities here. In 2009 the new platform was opened. There is talk of a possible extension from Ruddington towards the River Trent on the outskirts of Nottingham called Nottingham Greenwood.
The gated Asher Lane Crossing is on a private road which was formerly the MOD depot perimeter road. It is a short walk from the country park to the crossing, where it is possible to see trains passing and the crossing keeper at work. There was a set of Sidings here called Asher Lane Sidings, since removed. It is hoped that these could one day be reinstated.

Fifty Steps Bridge is the end of the spur from Ruddington Fields, where trains reverse for the onward journey to Loughborough. The bridge itself originally had "Fifty Steps" but subsequent modifications have increased that number. The former Ruddington station is further north, the trackbed now being owned by the supporting Charity (East Midlands Railway Trust), to support eventual extension of services.

The Gotham Branchline was a short freight branch connected to the Great Central Mainline via Gotham Sidings; it was lifted in the 1960s. The branch originally served a Gypsum Mine which was located on the north-western side of the village of Gotham. The sidings may one day be reinstated as part of a possible project to double-track the Nottingham side of the GCHR. Trains pass through pleasant countryside at Gotham Moor, teeming with wildlife along with passing under a few bridges.

Rushcliffe Halt station is named after the nearby "Rushcliffe Golf Club". Station development is ongoing. Just next to the station is the British Gypsum works. On weekdays, trainloads of gypsum are delivered to the works and unloaded on the concrete pad visible from the station platforms.

The original station near the centre of the village of East Leake

East Leake

East Leake is a large village and civil parish in the Rushcliffe district of Nottinghamshire, England, although its closest town and postal address is Loughborough across the border in Leicestershire. It has a population of around 7,000. The original village was located on the Sheepwash Brook. ...

 is currently disused, but is proposed for reopening (for pedestrians only). This will provide the community with a station once again (and ties-in with the local Parish Plan in that respect), as well as a potential home for the thriving East Leake Historical Society. Visitors to the area arriving on the railway will also be able to visit the local pubs and restaurants, which both offer a range of dining options.

Barnstone Tunnel is the only tunnel on line. It was built by the Victorian navvies and was dug out by hand. Located close to Barnstone tunnel was another set of sidings, which although removed could be reinstated in the future for extra storage. Between Barnstone Tunnel and Stanford Viaduct the line follows the ridge forming the Eastern side of the Soar Valley. The railway continues towards Loughborough, passing close to the hamlet of Stanford-on-Soar. The line travels over the River Soar

River Soar

The River Soar is a tributary of the River Trent in the English East Midlands.-Description:It rises near Hinckley in Leicestershire and is joined by the River Sence near Enderby before flowing through Leicester , Barrow-on-Soar, beside Loughborough and Kegworth, before joining the Trent near...

 at Stanford Viaduct, built in 1895. The viaduct is completely original and GCRN "Heritage" passenger trains first travelled across it in 2000.

Loughborough High Level station is currently the end of the line on the Nottingham side, just after passing the FKI/Brush works. GCRN services terminate at a Stop Board close to a road. Beyond that is the connection to Network Rail and the Midland Main Line

Midland Main Line

The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St...

 (MML). There are plans for a station to be built here. The loco shed of the Great Central Railway at Loughborough are just visible, across the MML. There are also plans to reinstate a double-track bridge across the MML and to join up with the GCR at Loughborough on the Leicester side.

External links

• GC Railway Nottingham Website
• The English Electric Preservation Group Website who own 08220, D8007, 20154, 37009, E6016
• The GCRN Website
• The GCR Rolling Stock Trust website, owners of six-wheelers 373 and 946, Barnum carriages 228,664,666 and 695, Suburbans 799 and 555 and Clerestory 1663
• The Western Class 46 Group The owners of class 46 46010