Great Central Railway (heritage railway)

The MLPG received a lease on the station, buildings and most of the trackbed at Loughborough Central in 1970; this would become its base of operations. By the following year, negotiations into purchasing the rest of the remaining railway had proven successful and the group was able to buy it for a mere £75,000 (£956,041 in 2015),[3]. The rest of the Loughborough yard complex was secured in 1972. In the same year, the first coaching stock arrived on site. The first open day occurred in 1973, shortly after the arrival of working motive power. Passengers were offered simple wagon or coach rides run by small industrial locomotives. On 30 September 1973, LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 No. 5231 hauled the first passenger train since the railway's commercial closure, to Quorn and back, but at the same time the down line was being lifted between Birstall and Quorn because of BR's increasing demands.

To purchase what was left of the track, the MLPG was re-merged into a supporting charity, the Main Line Steam Trust (MLST). The entire value of the eight miles (13 km) of up line was re-assessed by BR at £279,000 (£3,042,895 in 2015),[3] and the MLST was now paying £3,300 a month (£32,719 in 2015),[3] just to keep it. A deal was struck on 1 April 1976 that would see the remainder of the down line lifted if BR's cash demand was not raised. At that time, passenger trains were still running as far as Rothley, but, without an adequate supply of working mainline locomotives, the trust had to resort to using industrial tank engines working single track - some way short of the original vision of the MLPG seven years previously.

To purchase the land and track, Great Central Railway (1976) PLC issued shares, and the MLPG was transformed into the MLST, a charitable body, to support the company.

Charnwood Borough Council agreed to purchase the land from BR and lease it to the railway for 99 years. However, this still left GCR (1976) PLC the task of raising over £150,000 (£973,644 in 2015),[3] to purchase the track. Ultimately, the target was not met and only a single track between Loughborough and Quorn could be afforded (BR allowed more time to raise funds to purchase Quorn to Rothley). The double track from Rothley to Belgrave & Birstall was lifted, along with the 'down' line from Loughborough to Rothley.

In the late 1980s, the intention was announced to extend the line back to Belgrave & Birstall. The former station had been vandalised and the Railway had no choice but to demolish the buildings. In 1990, a station called Leicester North was opened a hundred metres to the south of Belgrave & Birstall. This shift in location placed the new station inside Leicester's city boundary, allowing the 'Leicester' tag to be included in the name, along with unlocking extra funds to assist in the construction.

In the 1990s, David Clarke, who setup the Gray Paul Ferrari dealerships in Loughborough and Nottingham, and went on to become president of the GCR, approached the railway about the possibility of double-tracking the line.[4] As a signalling enthusiast, Clarke aspired to operate a signal box on a double track main line, and so the campaign to raise funds to double the section between Quorn and Rothley was launched, with Clarke himself providing a large amount of the capital.

After reaching Quorn, work moved ahead to extend the second track to Loughborough. The double track between Loughborough and Rothley opened on 1 June 2000. This gave additional capacity, which is especially useful at galas, where up to six trains may be in operation at any one time. This enables the running of non-passenger-carrying trains (freights, TPO set) during galas to a greater extent than any other heritage railway. It also means that the timetable can be generally adhered to, as delays do not cascade, as they do on single track lines.

Her Majesty's Rail Inspectorate has granted powers to run private test trains at up to 60 mph. Other special trains at public events run at up to 45 miles per hour (72.4 km/h). Typically, UK heritage railways are limited to a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour (40.2 km/h).[5]

In 2004, a new signal box at Quorn opened, at that time the only preserved box in the UK with a double track on either side. With this new signal box, a train can, in theory, be dispatched from Loughborough every 10 minutes. A further signal box at Swithland Sidings has been fitted with Great Western Railway style signals, in the style of the GCR/GWR joint line via High Wycombe, allowing for a further capacity increase on the preserved GCR. The full Swithland project was completed in May 2012.[6] On 5 December 2012, the GCR was awarded the NRHA Signalling Award for this long-running and complicated project.[7]

Abutment for the missing bridge over Railway Terrace. This bridge needs to be replaced if the gap is to be bridged.

Between the A60 and Loughborough locomotive shed is "The Gap", a section of embankment and bridges (including a large single span over the Midland Main Line) that need to be reinstated to join the two concerns together. That is a long term, expensive project and, in the meantime, there are plans to construct a new 'Loughborough Midland High Level' station on the embankment near the A60 road bridge. This would allow easy interchange between Midland Main Line trains and trains from the GCR(N) (and, if 'the Gap' is bridged, the Greater Great Central Railway (GGCR), as it is known almost universally by Great Central staff). On 12 February 2009, it was announced that the project would receive £350,000 for a feasibility study, Charnwood Borough Council having won a grant from the East Midlands Development Agency. The GCR is to contribute £100,000 to the study (combined cost of £450,000). If completed, the GCRN would merge with the GCR to create a single 18-mile (29 km) track[8] which would also be rebuilt as a double-track line for most, if not the whole, of its length.

Latest engineering studies of 'the Gap' have produced a design for a single-track link (difficult to justify the additional cost for double-track) - previously proposing to utilize two, ex-Network Rail, single-track bridges (removed as part of the Reading Station upgrade), now to be utilized to bridge the Preci-Spark Car Park and Railway Terrace. The latest design proposes to re-instate the bridge over the Midland Main Line utilizing a new-build single span bridge, complying with electrification clearances for the recently announced electrification project. This will cost significantly more than the original proposal, but has the benefits of reduced future maintenance and access charges for the previously proposed central pillar. The additional cost is somewhat offset by the use of the 'Reading Bridges' at the locations mentioned. The replacement embankments to the north of the Canal bridge are proposed to use the latest construction techniques to provide a higher but narrower structure. Funding options are currently being reviewed for what may be the 'Greatest Heritage Railway Project' in the UK. Canal bridge structure refurbishment completed July 2020.[9]

The Line and Wagons at Swithland Junction in November 2010

This is a project devised and financed by Railway Vehicle Preservations Limited.[10] The projects aim is the rebuilding of the Mountsorrel branch off the Great Central railway at Swithland sidings to the working Mountsorrel quarry.

The branch is essentially intact but the track was lifted in the mid 1960s. The original purpose of the reinstatement was to provide a carriage shed to house the restored carriages of Railway Vehicle Preservations Ltd and shelter them from the elements. In 2006 they applied for planning permission for the shed; this was rejected due to badger setts discovered on site. The reinstatement of the line is going ahead with ballast being donated from the quarry it served. The total length being reinstated is 1.25 miles (2 km). It is intended a halt will be built at the quarry end, offering train rides up the line to add an extra attraction to the Great Central Railway, with services either run by a DMU or else a push-pull fitted steam/diesel locomotive. The line is now fully ballasted for half of its length with tracklaying well underway.[11] Tracklaying has recently passed through the Wood Lane bridge and officially entered Mountsorrel Parish. The plans for the shed are being re-evaluated and a NEW Planning Application has been entered for a four road shed at the back of Swithland sidings[12] On 4 February 2013 the ambitious plans were given conditional approval.[13]

Recently Lafarge, (operators of the Mountsorrel Quarry) revealed a proposal for a stone loading terminal at the end of the Mountsorrel Railway.[14] This was in response to a planning submission[15] to build 300+ Houses near to the proposed Bond Lane Station, and was clearly aimed at Lafarge protecting the mineral extraction rights. The proposal would be dependent on the GCR 'Bridging the Gap' to GCRN. GCR then would build a north chord from the southern end of Swithland Viaduct to meet the existing track just at the end of the straight section of the Mountsorrel Railway.[16] The proposal estimates that 3 loaded trains of 1000 tonnes would leave the proposed terminal every weekday and travel via the GCR to the Midland Main Line Connection.

• Buster (1988)
• Shadowlands (1993)
• The Secret Agent (1996)
• The Navigators (2001)
• Enigma (2001)
• The Hours (2002)
• Control (2007)
• A Boy Called Dad (2009)
• Cemetery Junction (2010)
• Stan & Ollie (2018)

• She's Out (1995)
• Woof! (1995)
• Goodnight Mr. Tom (1998)
• Take a Girl Like You (2000)
• The Cazalet Chronicles (2001)
• Casualty (2001, 2014)
• Hawking (2004)
• The 4:50 from Paddington (2004)
• E=MC2 (2005)
• The 39 Steps (2008)
• Central Steam (TV Series) (2010)
• South Riding (TV miniseries) (2011)
• Top Gear (2011)[26]
• Ripper Street (2012)
• Heston's Fantastical Food (2012)[27]
• Our Story (2013)[28] - To be Screened on ITV in 2014
• Great British Railway Journeys (2013) - First Screened on BBC TV in January 2014

• Stereophonics - Indian Summer (2013)[29]
• Louise Steel - Take Off And Busk (2015)[30]

Main Line Steam Trust was established in 1969 as the Main Line Preservation Group, with the intention of preserving one of two potential sections of the line, one based at Lutterworth, running from Leicester to Rugby Central, and one based at Loughborough, running between Leicester and Nottingham. The Loughborough base was chosen and work began on restoring the station, an office was rented at street level at Loughborough Central station, and in 1971 Charitable Status was granted to MLPG, who changed their name to Main Line Steam Trust Limited.

Substantial monthly payments were required to keep the formation intact between Loughborough and Belgrave & Birstall, with steam hauled services operating from Loughborough Central to Quorn & Woodhouse Station, and eventually Rothley station. The money required to purchase the line south of Rothley was not available and only the Loughborough to Rothley section of line was preserved, with the aid of Charnwood Borough Council.

The operation and the assets were transferred to the Great Central Railway (1976) Ltd. and MLST took on the role of the charitable volunteer-run support body for the railway. MLST has continued to support the Great Central Railway PLC (the 1976 was eventually dropped from the title), and the various organisations around the railway. It also supports the Great Central Railway (Nottingham).

MLST have funded a great deal at the Great Central Railway, including assistance in funding the double track, Leicester Station, Quorn & Woodhouse Signalling, Swithland Signalling, Loughborough South Remodelling, and has assisted in bringing in visiting locomotives for gala events on numerous occasions.

MLST has now been incorporated into The Friends of the Great Central Main Line (FoGCML), this with the David Clarke Railway Trust (DCRT) provide the volunteers and the funding. Outside commercial interests and individuals are able to donate toward various projects (Loughborough's 'Crystal Palace', Mountsorrel Railway, RVPS restorations etc.) to the DCRT, gaining valuable tax advantages.

A small group based at Loughborough who are devoted to LNER Chief Mechanical Engineer, Sir Nigel Gresley. They also own large suburban tank locomotive GNR Class N2 No. 1744.

Renaissance Railcars own the six Class 101 vehicles, and the sole surviving Class 111 vehicle at the Great Central Railway, two sets are currently in regular passenger use consisting of a green three car set, and a blue two car set. A driving trailer vehicle is currently under restoration and a driving motor vehicle is stored. Recently arrived Class 122 "Bubble Car" is in the custodianship of this group for its private owner.

Owners and carers of Bulleid Pacific locomotive 34039 Boscastle, which is undergoing a protracted overhaul due to take 3 years and £200,000+ of donated money.

Formed in 1985, the group owns BR Standard Class 5 73156, which underwent an extensive restoration at the railway and numerous storage vans.

Loughborough Standard Locomotive Group, or LSLG, look after and part-own a number of locomotives. These are BR Standard 2MTs Nos.78018 & 78019, BR Standard 5MT No.73156, BR Standard Class 7 70013 Oliver Cromwell and LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0 No.46521

No.70013 "Oliver Cromwell" is part of the national collection, owned by the National Railway Museum, and has been restored by both LSLG and the 5305 Locomotive Association. 'Cromwell' is running on both the GCR and Network Rail. LSLG also have in their care a Directors Saloon, coach no. M999504, which is on loan from EWS.

The 5305 Locomotive Association have a number of locomotives in their care, these are LMS Black Five No.45305 "Alderman A.E. Draper", SR King Arthur No.777 "Sir Lamiel", British Rail Class 33 D6535 "Hertfordshire Railtours", BR Standard 7 No.70013 "Oliver Cromwell", and British Rail Class 45 "Leicestershire And Derbyshire Yeomanry" Peak D123.

Nos.777, D6535 and 70013 are all part of the National Collection and are owned by the National Railway Museum. No.777 emerged from a lengthy overhaul in British Railways Brunswick green livery, under the BR number 30777 and has just been refinished in Southern Malachite Green with running number 777.

A diesel group who own and care for Class 20 D8098, Class 31 D5380 and Class 47 D1705.

Railway Vehicle Preservations Ltd, and their members, own the second largest collection of LNER coaches in preservation today. These include the famous LNER Travelling Post Office set, two LNER Beavertail observation saloon (including one in its rebuilt condition), and a number of "Gresley" teak-panel passenger coaches.

A group dedicated to the restoration of steam era goods rolling stock. Responsible for over 75 privately owned vehicles which make up the majority of the boxvan, mixed freight and permanent way trains, as well as 4 of the brake vans in operation on the railway. Restoration activity is centered around the southern section of Quorn and Woodhouse station yard.[31]