Photos

This is the very traditional waiting room at Loughborough Great Central Railway station.

Wishing everyone on Trek Earth Seasons Greetings and bon chance for 2012.


Built by Edward Watkin
Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway
Original gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Operated by Great Central Railway Plc
Stations 6 (in operation), 3 others
Length 8.25 miles (13.28 km) (Leicester)
10 miles (16 km) (Nottingham)
Preserved gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Opened 1897
Closed 17 March 1969

1970 Reopened
1976 GCR Plc formed
2000 Double track opened

The Great Central Railway is Britain's only double track main line heritage railway. The stations of this railway are restored to different periods of the main line's history.

Loughborough reflects the end of the era, in the 1960s. Quorn & Woodhouse played a significant part in the embarkation of troops for the D-Day campaign of the Second World War, and so reflects the 1940s. Rothley is the oldest period, restored to the gas lit Edwardian era of the turn of the last century.

Reconstruction events, complete with costumed actors, vintage cars and buses bring to life the days when the railway was the heart of the community.

Period and Themed Galas reflect the different eras of the 100-year history of the Great Central Railway.

Santa always takes some time out of his busy Christmas schedule to visit the Great Central Railway. Children always enjoy an early present and the adults rarely turn down a Christmas drink and a mince pie.

There can be only one greater thrill than riding behind a steam engine. That's actually driving it yourself! Just imagine stepping onto the footplate and travelling down the line - fulfilling all those childhood dreams. Why imagine? At the Great Central Railway those dreams can become a reality. As the only place in the country where you can drive a steam locomotive (under expert supervision) on a main line, this is truly the experience of a lifetime.