commission consultant engineers to help design the rest of the scheme for us. Barton Transport Bedford YMT RRR 517R, built in 1976. Thank you as ever for your incredible support and we hope you're as inspired as we are to see orange jackets back at work on the biggest heritage railway project in the UK. Thank you for your support. The "London Extension" of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway opened in 1899, by which time the company had changed its name to the Great Central Railway. In 2009, a new platform was opened and a second platform is currently part way through construction. site - ERIH Home I want to go there! (Operational, painted BR Black), BR Grampus open wagon 991831 built in 1958. BR Bogie Rail Sturgeon A 994770 built in 1953. Our team is made up of all sorts of people, each with a pair of boots and the enthusiasm to build something remarkable. The Great Central Railway (GCR) was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 on the completion of its London Extension. The GCR Northern Development Association was formed with the aim of reconnecting the then two GCR sections once again. To support the appeal and make a donation online here. If you're new to the idea, find out more about the ambitious scheme here. BR Weltrol 900937 built in 1960, a standard gauge well wagon for carrying narrow gauge rolling stock; built 1960. A short branch line, once used by the MoD, leads over a level crossing to Fifty Steps . This allows freight movements from the adjacent Midland Main Line to join the northern half of the GCR. (Stored), BR Mk1 GUV (General Utility Van) 86129 in lined maroon livery. To set up a regular donation, please fill in this standing order form, send it to us and we'll do the rest. Any support you give can really make a difference. Fresh out of the works is our new Reunification promotional film.To be honest we'd hoped to share this with you in person at our programme of talks and events - we had planned a UK tour in 2020!At some point it will get shown on the wonderful Friends of the Great Central Main Line stand which is often seen at GCR galas. It runs for 8.25 miles (13.28 km) [citation needed] between the town of Loughborough and a new terminus in the north of Leicester. Our fundraising has now passed the half a million pounds mark, towards our estimated three million pound cost for these next two phases. Both sides of this bridge carry trains in the future. Good news everyone. The branch originally served a gypsum mine which was located on the north-western side of the village of Gotham. With your generous support we're now up to an incredible nine hundred and five thousand pounds - so the next million is tantalisingly close. It's going to take a few more days to process the latest figures and bring you right up to date. Price. Thank you again and we look forward to seeing you back at the railway and bringing you up to date in person. In the meantime a new Ruddington Station has been built within the NTHC. The good news is, a substantial sum of money is now available for the job - but we need to raise 110,000 towards the cost of the work. We hope to incorporate the two bridge decks recovered from Reading into this phase.Far from being impossible, Reunification is a developing reality. pounds have been raised and spent delivering two phases of the project. Dates. three hundred and seventy five thousand pounds towards the appeal total. (Operational), Mk1 TSO (Tourist Standard Open) 4207 in plain maroon livery. You can make an online donation here. As a thank you to everyone who has donated money for the work to replace the A60 bridge, we're delighted to have these images produced. Every pound will make a difference. We want to start building again as soon as possible so your money goes into bricks, metal and concrete, rather than just fighting inflation. The Great Central would also still require expensive tunnelling beneath Nottingham and Leicester. The first picture shows the east side panel in place and being bolted down. Just two weeks after we launched the A60 appeal its incredible to be able to report back ten thousand pounds has already arrived through online, postal and text donations. In the meantime, a special thank you to the Burton Railway Society. It's built on the course of the Great Central, which crossed the station in exactly the same spot, only that was demolished years ago. "Their generous donations helped close a funding gap between what we had available and the total cost of the new structure. This is a major engineering project that is expected to be completed during 2024 - 2028. The original GCR structure hasn't seen a train since 1972 but has now been fully overhauled ready to play its part in relinking the two halves of the Great Central Railway. We've already raised millions of pounds towards it which delivered one brand new bridge and paid for another to be fully overhauled. The money raised by the appeal so far will be used to complete planning work and obtain permissions so construction crews can begin immediately when the fundraising target is reached. It's not too late to make a difference with a donation. If you'd like to help we would ask you to consider donating by standing order. Great Central Main Line The Nottingham Heritage Railway[1](formerly known as Great Central Railway (Nottingham)and Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre) is a heritage railwayand transport museumon the south side of the village of Ruddingtonin Nottinghamshire. You may be interested in an online talk later in July which gives more details on the project. They have been shot blasted, repaired and repainted. For your support, best wishes and donations, a heartfelt thank you. They were taken off site to the Welsh workshop of our contractors Centregreat Engineering. Barnum Open Saloon No 666 built in 1910. It was built by the Victorian navvies and was dug out by hand. These are very difficult and uncertain times. Andy Fillingham, Chairman of the Friends of the Great Central Main Line - the membership club of the Beyond that is the connection to Network Rail and the Midland Main Line (MML) at Loughborough South Junction. The first job has been to remove the original Great Central Railway bridge. Every donation helps. The poor condition of the bridge has meant halting that traffic.When the two halves of GCR are finally reconnected, both bridge decks will be in use. (Awaiting resumption of overhaul), BR 20-ton Brake Van 954353 built in 1958. During the work, some masonry has been recovered, including eight handsome Victorian bridge coping stones. A purchase order has been placed with VolkerLaser, who are the preferred contractors. We want to say a heartfelt thank you for being part of the journey with us. This isn't strictly Factory Flyover news but we know you'll be pleased to hear it anyway. The full story of Alan's inspiration for this picture is told in the Autumn 2021 edition (No. Fabrication of the two new steel and concrete U decks will commence as soon as the final design work is completed by HBPW Consulting of Retford and the steel (which has already been design-specified) arrives at the fabricators, Carver Steel in Harworth, Doncaster. (painted army green), BR Palvan 782111 built in 1960. We hope that will inspire others to support this part of the project, or find out more the rest of the Reunification scheme and contribute. In Sheffield, things are simpler, but the route is also safeguarded for potential tram extensions. There's lots of good news. Great Central Railway REUNIFICATION LATEST - Summer 2021 GCRofficial 11.8K subscribers Subscribe 60K views 1 year ago Over one million pounds raised for the two Factory Flyover elements. This is a 120-year old structure which is certainly life-expired and cannot be repaired and we are pleased once again to be able to work with the team at Volker who have proven to be trusted partners on two previous bridge projects for the Railway that have both gone incredibly well. Under the dynamic leadership of Edward Watkin it built a "London Extension" from Annesley, north of Nottingham, to a terminus at Marylebone in London, which was opened in 1899. (Stored). If we pull together, the A60 bridge will be REUNIFICATION READY in a few short months. Despite the full line between Loughborough South Jn and Ruddington being owned by the GCN(N), when the GCR(N) require to operate trains into East Leake or through to Loughborough, possession of the line is taken from Network Rail. Fifty Steps Bridge is the end of the spur from Ruddington Fields, known as Ruddington South Junction, where trains reverse for the onward journey to Loughborough. We'd like to thank you for your continued generous belief in the project. We had 1.4m before we started the promotion. Our depot at Ruddington Fields is home to numerous heritage vehicles, some ready for action, some ready for restoration. The Great Northern Railway It all takes us ever closer to constructing the next phases and ultimately to trains running on an eighteen mile heritage line." If you are giving to the Bridge to the Future or Crossing the Canal campaign your standing order will now go towards the Factory Flyover. We start just south of the city centre at Arkwright Street, and travel North, above ground where possible. The brand new bridge over the A60 road - essential for Reunification - is making good progress.As you know, the old bridge has been removed and will be replaced by a brand new structure. We're determined to remain on the front foot and look to the future. The Great Central Railway is in the foreground with Weekday Cross Junction on the far left, beyond which a tunnel leads to the site of Victoria station, and a girder bridge on the right, heading south. As soon as we have the majority of funds for the next phase of the project to hand, we'll resume construction." Between the Tunnel and Loughborough the line follows the ridge forming the Eastern side of the Soar Valley. For full terms see http://platform.nationalfundingscheme.org/terms-and-conditions Building the railway link requires new bridges and the rebuilding of an embankment. BR Dogfish ballast hopper wagon 983586 built in 1960. In the early 1990's a group of transport enthusiasts set up the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) Ltd with the aim of redeveloping the derelict Ruddington Ordnance depot as part of a country park project. Posted on 4th June 2020. Exciting enough but we've even more good news. Ironically, it was British Gypsum's intention to renew rail freight traffic that was the catalyst that allowed the GCR(N) to buy the line and restore it initially for freight use. Make your gift go further and we'll be getting closer to building and through trains between Leicester North and Ruddington. The bridge over the A60 is key to the project as one day it will carry two lines. We placed the order for the bridge in April to beat inflation but still need to raise a few thousand pounds more to complete the work. (Stored) (NOTE: Is the only original GCR coach owned by the National collection), GCR Barnum bar coach 228. VolkerLaser are the lead contractor for the construction. Thank you for all of your support.You are making this happen! Our match funding was fully subscribed, so now we have a jaw dropping 1.78m banked and ready to spend on building the next phases of the project. It was also considered that British Gypsum was unlikely to bring in any more bulk materials from coal-fired power stations by rail. Contents 1 History: 1.1 New name: 1.1.1 Coat of arms: Railfreight Pressed Steel Box Van 201055. The tunnel was much in use before the GNR needed it and before the line through the Vic was built. Thank you so much for your support. Great Central Railway leading the fundraising effort said "At the start of December we had raised Fundraising is continuing for the Reunification programme which will create an eighteen mile heritage railway. After alighting at Rugby Central Station the empty train travelled south for a few hundred yards before returning and crossing over into the northbound platform. (Undergoing restoration, originally of Tyne Valley with the identity of VTY 543J). This page was last edited on 2 February 2023, at 20:59. The Great Central Railway is the UK's only double track, main line heritage railway. Barnum Brake Coach No 695 built in 1910. In early March we set out to fundraise for the next stage which will see another two new bridges built. On 1 January 1923, the company was grouped into the London and North Eastern Railway . The railway fraternity at the time greatly mourned these closures and made attempts to privately operate them in some form. This project represents the next major step in the reunification of the Great Central Railway Loughborough with the northern section which leads to Ruddington in Nottinghamshire. We've reached 375,000!Your donations are making such a difference as we move towards the estimated total of 3,000,000 for the next two phases of Reunification. Your incredible generosity has seen tens of thousands of pounds arrive in the Reunification fund in the last two weeks.That will all be matched and added to the new appeal total. Every time a new standing order donation is established, the pace of the project picks up. (Operational), Mk1 RSO (Restaurant Second Open) 1012 later Cinema Coach 150353. Having come so far we thought the time was write to look back and celebrate what we've done. We'll bring you up to date totals for the A60 bridge and the Factory Flyover sections as we move forward. The former Ruddington station is further north and, following the reunification of the two halves of the preserved GCR, could see improvements made to aid towards eventual reopening, the trackbed being owned by the charity, East Midlands Railway Trust, to support the eventual extension of the line. The money being raised will go towards completing two more - the crossing of a road called Railway Terrace and a factory car park. The appeal for phases three and four of the Reunification project has now raised a quarter of a million pounds. They're already at work and Your gift means the A60 bridge can be completed without dipping into the other funds saved for future phases of the project. The loco sheds of the Great Central Railway at Loughborough are just visible across the MML, about one mile (1.6km) away. Friends of the Great Central Main Line from the southern end of the line has offered a further 10,000 - bringing the total up to 30,000 and the amount we still need to raise to 80,000. Then we were amazed to While we aren't currently running passenger services, you're invited to visit Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre, our base. Thanks to sponsorship from the Friends group, high quality computer visualisations of the new bridge have now been produced, by HBPW of Retford, the consulting engineers for the scheme. In 2021, the "Great Central Railway (Nottingham)" was renamed as the "Nottingham Heritage Railway". Today, the Great Central Railway PLC's board has given approval for the replacement work on Bridge 326, which crosses the A60 next to the Brush Works in Loughborough. The line through the station was closed on 7 January 1968 and . The award winning Leicestershire heritage line is raising millions of pounds to re-connect with its sister railway in Nottinghamshire and create an eighteen mile route across the East Midlands. The coping stones were put into place on the restored brickwork and a temporary scaffold brace installed on each side panel. "With costs of raw materials rising, we were delighted to receive such strong and timely support from so many people," continued Andy. That means these two phases are now more than a third funded. Two bits are now finished and hundreds of thousands of pounds have been raised for the next section. GCRN operaions terminate at a Stop Board close to the A60 road. The invaluable record of the line was shot by a supporter of the Great Central Railway when the line was operated. Naturally, we've stood down all activity for now and we look forward to getting back on the road again when we can. We can only say, thank you very much indeed for supporting this latest step forward in the Reunification campaign. How it started If everyone who reads this news item was able to set up a standing order for a few pounds every month, we'd race forward. We're going to concentrate on the Factory Flyover this year. It's about fifty metres of new railway in total but a vital part of connecting the two halves of the Great Central Railway. In the meantime, if you need to sort a Christmas present out, allow us to recommend our Reunification book which is selling really well. "We want to carry on building as soon as we can," continued Andy "but we must have most of the money in 2022 is the year of the A60 bridge and after your magnificent response to our appeal, on the 1st of October 2022 the heavy plant was on site. It even includes a foreword by Sir Peter Hendy, the Chairman of Network Rail. Please bear with us while we get to and from the bank, get standing orders in the post and complete our tallying up. Work on the canal bridge has all but drawn to a close with contractors laying water proof coverings on the decks and completing repairs to the brick work. We're based at Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre, next to Rushcliffe Country Park. It also helps us budget our cash flow and get building sooner bringing forward the day we have an 18 mile heritage railway stretching across the East Midlands. BR Bogie Rail Sturgeon A 994271 built in 1956. The actual criss cross elements themselves required relatively little work, the main repairs being carried out to the bottom flange where the panels attach to the bridge beams themselves. We hope to outline plans for the next phases in early 2023. Great news on the appeal front! Download an appeal leaflet here. As you know at the start of October the old bridge was removed but most of the original abutments have been retained and repaired. Once again thank you. [1] On 1 January 1923, the company was grouped into the London and North Eastern Railway . We said 2022 would see another piece of the jigsaw in place. New update video published. We'd like to thank everyone who has donated so far. [7][8] The line remained closed for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.[9]. If you want to donate, please consider a small monthly standing order.If you'd like to donate, please see the details below. Next, as our fundraising campaign for the A60 bridge replacement last year went so well, we didn't need to dip into any funds we'd already raised. The funds available climb all the time. The station was also operated by the Great Central Railway and became part of the LNER in 1923 and then British Railways in 1948. While the event was postponed, they've still been able to make the very generous donation. This is an appeal specifically for the A60 bridge. Factory Flyover - New promotional film. You can also donate online by clicking here. (Originally a single-decker, re-bodied as a double-decker when sold to Barton in 1957). When we planned the appeal launch many months ago we were also preparing to deliver a number of talks for societies across the country - and of course we were hoping to see you in person at the GCR gala events. Crack express trains with restaurant cars ran between Sheffield and London Marylebone over impressive viaducts, calling at large stations. (Operational), LMS 20-ton Brake Van 357771 built in 1927. Not only does Reunification unlock an eighteen mile railway just as importantly for the Great Central Railway in the south it allows access to the Midland Main Line, opening up the possibility of incoming charter trains, more frequently visiting large locomotives and easy access for companies who want to test vehicles and train staff. And you can download the latest project brochure here. Awaiting restoration. The second picture shows the new ballast retention plates installed on the west (down) side of the bridge to keep the formation in place and stop debris falling onto the beams or into the canal. There is also a small amount of painting to do, plus the small matter of all the paperwork, so it can be signed off for use. All that in a fortnight! Two tracks over the bridge are essential to secure a future connection with the mainline. As always, your donations count. (Operational, painted BR Black), BR Dogfish ballast hopper wagon 993230 built in 1957. For now, stay safe and again, thank you for your support. After the major part of the GCR main line was closed by British Rail in 1966, a section from Nottingham to Rugby was retained until 1969. The Nottingham Heritage Railway[1] (formerly known as Great Central Railway (Nottingham) and Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre) is a heritage railway and transport museum on the south side of the village of Ruddington in Nottinghamshire. You don't have to be a railway professional to be part of it. ", Money continues to flow into the A60 bridge appeal at a substantial rate, so we're really grateful for everyone's contribution.We're well over the seventy thousand pounds mark now. In due course the main road signs will need to be replaced as they have the measurements for the old bridge. There are long-term aspirations to reopen the station but this would require the Transport and Works Order under which the railway powers were transferred to the present company to be amended. A small gift every week (say 3 - the price of a coffee) adds up to £12 a month. We appreciate your generosity, patience and understanding. A brand new book detailing the progress so far on the Reunification project has sold hundreds of copies What a great way to start the year! We had half a million pounds banked before the fund-raising drive - and now we have seven hundred and fifty five thousand pounds in the fund!It's a massive leap forward - we now have 25% of the amount needed to build phase three and four of Reunification, 'The Factory Flyover'. Barnstone Tunnel (which is 98 yards long) is the only tunnel on the preserved line. Great Central Railway (Nottingham) - ERIH During the 1890s the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway built its 'London Extension', more than 140 km long, from Annesley in Nottinghamshire through the centre of Nottingham, Loughborough and Leicester to Quainton Road in Buckinghamshi. Once lifted upright and moved into place the crane then held them while they were bolted onto the east and west side beams. This is a real people power project, putting back a railway which so many didn't want closing in the first place. Here's our latest film about our Reunification project, with the latest information on this exciting appeal February 2021 update 43159/43044 has arrived at the newly-rebranded Nottingham Heritage Railway, having been acquired by the 125 Group. (Stored), BR Mk1 GUV (General Utility Van) 86565. Coming on the 1st of March we'll have some major news about the fundraising total so far and plans for the future of the Reunification project and a remixed project film to enjoy! We've called the book 'volume one' and if we sell enough we can be writing volume two all the sooner! In early July the elegant metal lattice sides were lifted into place, 20 months after they were removed at the very start of works. Over a year that's a very special contribution.You can download a standing order form here. Barnum's travelling circus) and some items that even herald from the days of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railwaythe GCR's title before completing the London extension. The Gotham branch-line was a short, freight branch connected to the Great Central Mainline via Gotham Sidings; it was lifted in 1969. Rushcliffe Halt railway station is named after the nearby "Rushcliffe Golf Club". The GCML was the last main line railway to be built in Britain during the Victorian period. In a two day operation at the start of July, the two elegant side panels of the canal bridge were first lifted and then bolted into place. Give ten and it becomes twenty. There remain tunnels, bridges and viaducts for much of the way. Network Rail then lock the line out of use from their end allowing GCR(N) operation through to Loughborough. The superb images show what it will look like! (Operational). Even though Money Match March is behind us, we have someway to go before we can begin building the Factory Flyover. The route. Donations for the A60 bridge replacement can be made online here or via cheque through the post made payable to the 'David Clarke Railway Trust', to DCRT, Lovatt House, 3 Wharncliffe Road, Loughborough, LE11 1SL. The Great Central was the last Victorian Main Line railway to reach London. Thank you for all your support. Cass Hayward believe this approach will be more economic, simpler to build and in the long term simpler to maintain. This major project will cost in excess of 1 million in total and is projected to complete at the end of October this year. A quick and simple way to do this is by Texting the word UNIFY to 70970 to give 5. Donations can be made online here. Our exciting project appeal We're really pleased to be able to say our fundraising has continued at a great pace. As this year has shown life can move quickly. Grouping to Closure - 1923 to 1969. The latest phase of the Great Central Railway's Reunification appeal has reached one hundred and fifty thousand pounds. Station development is ongoing with a new footbridge being prepared to replace the original which was dismantled. Trains run every weekend of the year, bank holidays and selected week days through the summer. The work will continue through October. already, including to America and Australia. The transfer of former BR property to Railtrack and then Network Rail hindered attempts to purchase the line. Get involved (painted army green), BR Palvan 778771 built in 1959. The sidings will be reinstated along with a short section of the branch line following reunification as part of a project to double-track the Nottingham section of the GCR. One will carry this connecting line to the Midland Main Line, the other will carry the through line for heritage steam and diesel trains. Order them now via email to blycett.gcr@gmail.com Volker will be ready to demolish the old bridge deck and install the new twin decks from the 1st October, as well as making good the existing bridge abutments. grant enough. A new Reunification update film, including details of the weekend works, has also been released We're delighted to report, some two years after the last work to the canal bridge we're back building again! If Money Match March is fully subscribed we'll have another two hundred thousand pounds in the pot. up donations continue to arrive from around the world, boosting the amount raised even further. This will enable both the track to the midland mainline chord and the future line from GCR south to pass over the newly-constructed bridge. With only 4.3 metres from the underside of the deck to the road, the old bridge has frequently "seen action" in terms of bridge strikes from high-sided vehicles trying to pass underneath and we are designing the new structure to achieve maximum additional headroom as well as building collision protection measures into the new structure. The money has come from the local community and rail enthusiasts acrossthe country who want to see the two separate halves of the award winning East Midlands heritage line reconnected. The Friends of the Great Central Main Line is offering supporters of the award winning heritage line a glimpse into the future! Text UNIFY to 70191 to give 10 Please help us seize this opportunity. Appeal reaches 150,000. Most trains are steam-hauled, but the resident classic heritage diesel collection is extensive. The Rushcliffe Country Park, created over the balance of the ex MoD site, surrounds the GCRN facilities here. We are a volunteer-run company, responsible for the preserved Great Central Main Line north of Loughborough, including Rushcliffe Halt and the branch to Ruddington Fields, our base. Six Wheeler No 373 GCR. MATCH FUNDING MAKES IT 20,000! Replacing it with a twin track structure, will allow freight trains from the national rail network to use the line again as well as paving the way for heritage trains to run between Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire as part of the Reunification project. Save for some finishing off work the new A60 bridge is all but ready to play its part in bringing two halves of the Great Central together. Donations can be made online here. We're really hopeful you'll chose to set up a standing order donation. phase of our Reunification appeal began in March, so to have already reached more than ten percent of the funding required is extraordinary. Great Central Railway Extension to London Contract No. It's right next to the new bridge over the Midland Main Line bridge we've already built. (Operational, painted BR Black), BR Dogfish ballast hopper wagon 993597 built in 1959. Awaiting restoration. The bridge itself originally had 'Fifty Steps' but subsequent modifications have increased that number. The existing 120 year old structure has been struck many times by over height lorries. This has now been updated with an alternative system of work. You can also give online using a credit card or debit card here, or you can make a one off donation cheque through the post, using this form. Every pound donated in March (online, via cheque, standing order, by text of at a Friends of the GCR stand) will be matched by a donor up to an incredible 150,000. There was a set of sidings here, called Asher Lane Exchange Sidings, but they have since been removed. In the 1990s, work on what had become the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) Ltd was concentrated mainly at Ruddington.