Thank you very much for your support. The Great Northern Railway VolkerLaser are the lead contractor for the construction. To order the Reunification book for 10 (plus 2.50 postage and packaging) please email We would like to thank each and every one of you who has contributed for your generosity. We'd like to thank everyone who has contributed so far to the next phase of the Reunification appeal. (Operational, painted BR Black), BR Dogfish ballast hopper wagon 993230 built in 1957. It's stood the test of time, and more than a few strikes from over height lorries, for 125 years. It really is making a difference. We start just south of the city centre at Arkwright Street, and travel North, above ground where possible. Thank you for your support. Not only will it help link the two halves of the Great Central but also it connects the GCR to Network Rail. Barton Transport Leyland PD1 KNN 254, built in 1949. [10][11] The GCR is currently seeking donations for the next two stages the "Factory Flyover" to which over 1.25 million has been raised by donors so far. There were pre-Christmas celebrations at the Great Central Railway when a fifty thousand pound grant arrived for the line's ambitious Reunification project. We began with one hundred thousand pounds and thanks to the incredible generosity of supporters around the country we've reached one hundred and fifty thousand pounds." October News Update! 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 railway is currently not connected to Great Central Railway (at Loughborough Central in Leicestershire), although there are plans well underway and work has started to reunite the two preserved lines by bridging the Loughborough Gap. Meanwhile we can't thank the people who have given us this If you want to donate, please consider a small monthly standing order.If you'd like to donate, please see the details below. The bus collection is available to view during the railway's open days. (Operational, painted BR Black), BR Shark ballast plough 993874 built in 1959. Great Central Railway leading the fundraising effort said "At the start of December we had raised Any donation you give takes us closer to the day the first train runs along the full length of the railway. There are 7 steam locomotives permanently based at the railway, 6 of them being of industrial origin, 4 of these being locomotives which once worked at Stewarts & Lloyds at Corby, Northamptonshire. The GCML was the last main line railway to be built in Britain during the Victorian period. Give as little as twelve pounds a month and it adds up to a significant donation over a year. We hope to raise 110,000 so work on this vital bridge can proceed as promptly as possible. Reunificaction appeal tops a quarter of a million! As you know, we need to wait until we have most of the money in place before engaging contractors. New Great Central Railway Reunification bridge visualised for the first time. The chairman of The Friends of The Great Central Main Line Andy Fillingham explained, "Our Reunification project is one of the biggest schemes on any heritage railway in the UK. 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. We had 1.4m before we started the promotion. It's estimated three million pounds will be needed to complete them. Andy Fillingham, Chairman of the Friends of the Great Central Main Line said, "Raising one million pounds is an incredible achievement by everyone involved. ", 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. 05/09/1966. One will carry this connecting line to the Midland Main Line, the other will carry the through line for heritage steam and diesel trains. To reflect this its name was also changed to the more grandiose Great Central Railway. Building the railway link requires new bridges and the rebuilding of an embankment. The Great Central Railway (GCR) is a heritage railway in Leicestershire, England, named after the company that originally built this stretch of railway. 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. The future, now with pictures! Please consider a donation. We want to protect the Factory Flyover funds we've raised, so we're asking now for a one-off donation / new Standing Order for the A60 bridge work. Download an appeal leaflet here. This will be removed in due course. If you're considering donating, (or if you'd like to pass some time!) Awaiting restoration. 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. This work was required to allow the machinery to reach the site. Two new specially designed and manufactured preformed concrete pieces (each requiring 44 tons of concrete) have been lowered into place, one on the northern abutment and one for the southern abutment. This major project will cost in excess of 1 million in total and is projected to complete at the end of October this year. If Money Match March is fully subscribed we'll have another two hundred thousand pounds in the pot. If our fundraising goes well, we'll build the bridge over Railway Terrace road at the same time - it will save on construction costs to do both together. A quick and simple way to do this is by Texting the word UNIFY to 70970 to give 5. 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. You can also donate online by clicking here. In the 1990s, work on what had become the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) Ltd was concentrated mainly at Ruddington. 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. New Great Central Railway Reunification bridge visualised for the first time. On Sunday morning the second deck which carries the line to and from the national rail network was installed. If we pull together, the A60 bridge will be REUNIFICATION READY in a few short months. This is a real people power project, putting back a railway which so many didn't want closing in the first place. (Operational). Even better, the estimated cost of building the bridge across Railway Terrace road and then cross-ing the factory car park has actually fallen slightly - down from three million pounds to two and a half million pounds! Even better is the return of Money Match March for 2023. As you know at the start of October the old bridge was removed but most of the original abutments have been retained and repaired. (Stored), BR Mk1 GUV (General Utility Van) 86565. Two tracks over the bridge are essential to secure a future connection with the mainline. Once lifted upright and moved into place the crane then held them while they were bolted onto the east and west side beams. (Operational, painted BR Black), BR Grampus open wagon 991831 built in 1958. Another moment when the railway landscape of Loughborough changes.Over a two day operation the new bridge decks and collision protection beams for the A60 road crossing were craned into place. We've already raised millions of pounds towards it which delivered one brand new bridge and paid for another to be fully overhauled. In 2021, the "Great Central Railway (Nottingham)" was renamed as the "Nottingham Heritage Railway". 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. Whatever you give, can be matched. And there's more good news. Your gift means the A60 bridge can be completed without dipping into the other funds saved for future phases of the project. Pre planning application discussions have begun with landlord Charnwood Borough Council which will lead to the planning application itself in due course. There remain tunnels, bridges and viaducts for much of the way. The route. The project - particularly the construction of the brand new bridge - has captured the imagination the world over and drawn plenty of support from local stakeholders. Donations can be made online here. While the event was postponed, they've still been able to make the very generous donation. It features a road transport building, locomotive sheds, GCR signal box (ex Neasden), miniature and model railways, cafe, visitor centre, toilets and car park. The bridge over the A60 is key to the project as one day it will carry two lines. "With costs of raw materials rising, we were delighted to receive such strong and timely support from so many people," continued Andy. With your generous support we're now up to an incredible nine hundred and five thousand pounds - so the next million is tantalisingly close. The handrails were then fitted and two large crash protection beams were craned in. already, including to America and Australia. (Awaiting resumption of overhaul), BR 20-ton Brake Van 954353 built in 1958. How can I help? Every pound will make a difference. "Their generous donations helped close a funding gap between what we had available and the total cost of the new structure. 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. If you want to see this happen, now is a great time to get on board. A brand new book detailing the progress so far on the Reunification project has sold hundreds of copies Posted on 6th July 2020. However, it's in a very poor state, not only due to its age but because it is frequently struck by lorries. However, when the GCR(N) applied for a Transport and Works Act 1992 Order to purchase and operate the line, objections from local residents resulted in a permanent limit on hours of passenger train operation through the former East Leake Station and the station remaining closed. We've called the book 'volume one' and if we sell enough we can be writing volume two all the sooner! However, because of the 'rail break', the GCR(N) were unable to access Rushcliffe Halt. The route consists of almost 10 miles (16km)[2] of the former Great Central Railway Main Line from Loughborough South Junction (with the Midland Main Line) to Fifty Steps Bridge and the site of Ruddington's former GCR station, plus a branch line from Fifty Steps Bridge to Ruddington Fields station which is located on a former Ministry of Defence site next to Rushcliffe Country Park. Trains run every weekend of the year, bank holidays and selected week days through the summer. Posted on 7th September 2020. Once again, we deeply appreciate your support for the project. We've new plans to share with you for phases three and four of Reunification - the Factory Flyover. BR Bogie Rail Sturgeon A 994271 built in 1956. The GNR viaduct heads off from Weekday Cross Junction towards the right background and to London Road High-level station and Colwick. The gated Asher Lane Crossing is on a private road which was formerly the MOD depot perimeter road. We're based at Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre, next to Rushcliffe Country Park. With grateful thanks for all your support the funds available for building phase three and four continue to climb. In 2009, a new platform was opened and a second platform is currently part way through construction. A purchase order has been placed with VolkerLaser, who are the preferred contractors. 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. There was a set of sidings here, called Asher Lane Exchange Sidings, but they have since been removed. Two have been completed including a new bridge has to carry trains over the Midland Main Line at Loughborough and the full refurbishment of an existing bridge over a canal. Commenting on the announcement, the Railway's Managing Director, Michael Gough said; "This project represents another major step in the drive for reunification of the two GCR sections and in the return of the currently-disused northern section of line back to traffic. 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. The Friends of the Great Central Main Line is offering supporters of the award winning heritage line a glimpse into the future! We've got great news to share. The line was opened in 1899 and built by the Great Central Railway running from Sheffield in the North of England, southwards through Nottingham and Leicester to Marylebone in London. 188) of Main Line magazine. Once the two preserved sections are re-connected (with the bridging of the Loughborough Gap of 500metres, three bridges and a 400m embankment), this would extend to a total of over 18 miles (29km) in length. 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. A new 2.5m bridge, in Loughborough, is the first . (Operational), Mk1 CK (Composite Corridor) 16190 in lined maroon livery. BR Dogfish ballast hopper wagon 983586 built in 1960. There's lots of good news. Donations can be made online here. One plea from the appeal team; we can't easily get to the post box or the bank at the moment. We hope to outline plans for the next phases in early 2023. Text UNIFY to 70970 to give 5 There will need to be some more road closures. The appeal for phases three and four of the Reunification project has now raised a quarter of a million pounds. We've now finished two sections of the Reunification project, creating an eighteen mile heritage railway across the East Midlands. (Undergoing overhaul). London Extension (Great Central Railway) Nottingham Victoria closed and Rugby Central service cut back to Arkwright Street. So what's the new total? 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. Overall though, the impression is of a wonderful GCR bridge restored to 'as built' appearance. (The trust are managing the finances for Reunification). You can make an online donation here. It shows the new tram route crossing over the centre of the remaining Nottingham station. It's going to take a few more days to process the latest figures and bring you right up to date. blycett.gcr@gmail.com, December News Update! If you have donated by cheque in the post please bear with us while we process your donation and write a thank you letter. New update video published. The new height restriction signs have also been installed on the bridge confirming there is now an extra three inches of headroom over the tarmac. It all takes us ever closer to constructing the next phases and ultimately to trains running on an eighteen mile heritage line." This piece of the Reunification jigsaw is unique in that its the only one to already have track on it. Both sides of this bridge carry trains in the future. 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. The Great Central would also still require expensive tunnelling beneath Nottingham and Leicester. Price. The west side panel lies in the down formation waiting for its turn. the third and fourth phase which have an estimated cost of three million pounds. We'll try and publish that as soon as we can at the end of the campaign. There are seven phases of work to complete the link. 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. Mk2a BSK 35512 (Stored - overhaul abandoned), GCR Barnum Dining coach 666. As always, we want to have the money in place to show we're serious. They will be used in the construction of the Reunification scheme, giving the new project a real connection to the past. In due course the existing line will be relaid over the bridge. Thank you again and we look forward to seeing you back at the railway and bringing you up to date in person. 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. Crucially we are now in formal pre planning application consultation with our landlords Charnwood Borough Council - a step we need to take before we move forward with an application for planning permission to build the factory flyover section. Thank you so much for your support. It was in tunnel for much of the way as the city was built up. 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'. You can make a single donation by downloading and completing this form. Posted on 10th February 2021. Visit us While we aren't currently running passenger services, you're invited to visit Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre, our base. With a smooth process and provided the fundraising can keep up its current pace, we could be on course to build The Factory Flyover in Summer 2023 which gives us a clear target to focus on. History [ edit] New name [ edit] The Great Central Railway Reunification project took a step forward earlier this month when the original bridge over the A60 road has been demolished to make way for its replacement. Thank you for your superb support! Every donation you give us helps on the way. The Great Central Railway in Nottingham The GCR London Extension ran North to South through Nottingham centre. Some 5.5 miles (8.9km) of the line was used by gypsum trains serving the British Gypsum works at East Leake until early 2020. It's sixty pages, full of previously unpublished colour photographs and untold stories from the project. Canal Bridge parapets return! Get involved The railway crossed built-up Leicester on a Staffordshire blue brick viaduct, incorporating a series of fine girder bridges. Now you can also donate by text if you prefer. We're really hopeful you'll chose to set up a standing order donation. Located close to the tunnel was another set of sidings, which although removed could be reinstated in the future for extra storage. The Great Central was the last Victorian Main Line railway to reach London. Plans are well under way to reconnect the two halves of the preserved GCR with the new bridge across the MML, the refurbishment of the Grand Union Canal bridge, and more recently, the replacement of the A60 Bridge all completed and fundraising for the next stage underway. The generous grant came from a charitable trust based in the Midlands. pounds have been raised and spent delivering two phases of the project. (The trust are managing the finances for Reunification). 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 a detail typical of the high standards to which the London Extension was built, the abutments of the girder bridges that crossed . Between the Tunnel and Loughborough the line follows the ridge forming the Eastern side of the Soar Valley. Six Wheeler GCR No 946. A contractor has been approached and as soon as we have the money we'll make a start. The busy A60 road was closed so the workforce could get cracking at 5am. This isn't strictly Factory Flyover news but we know you'll be pleased to hear it anyway. Exciting enough but we've even more good news. Excavators on top of the embankment removed the bricks and ballast while the bridge was being demolished. All of those bring a more secure future for the railway, all the better to withstand tough economic shocks like the one that has been thrown at us this year. Over a year that's a very special contribution.You can download a standing order form here. It's heartening to know we're in your minds even as ordinary life is turned upside down as we've had new standing order commitments and one off donations both through the post and online. Text UNIFY to 70970 to give 5 "We want to carry on building as soon as we can," continued Andy "but we must have most of the money in Grouping to Closure - 1923 to 1969. We'd like to thank our main contractor VolkerLaser for their hard work delivering this latest piece of the Reunification jigsaw. They were taken off site to the Welsh workshop of our contractors Centregreat Engineering. We'll bring you up to date totals for the A60 bridge and the Factory Flyover sections as we move forward. The recent magazine articles and appeal leaflets in the national press have brought in brand new donations and new supporters giving by standing order. planned fundraising work, this is a most welcome Christmas gift which has surprised In May 1969, the remaining stub of the Great Central's London extension between Rugby Central and Nottingham Arkwright Street succumbed to closure. 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. 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. grant enough. Excitingly, more standing orders have been set up too. We'll also reschedule all our talks. 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. Six Wheeler No 373 GCR. GCR suburban 1905 No.793, not part of the RST collection but under the wing of the GCR 567 Group is currently stored at Swithland Sidings just been examined and found to be in very poor condition. Cheques for the appeal can be made payable to The David Clarke Railway Trust (with the work REUNIFICATION written on the back) and posted to DCRT, Lovatt House, 3 Wharncliffe Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 1SL. 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. Fundraising is continuing for the Reunification programme which will create an eighteen mile heritage railway. 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. Reunification with Rail Riders. The third picture shows the moment the east side panel was offered up. Thank you for every donation you make. In the meantime our focus remains on fundraising and after the very successful talk about the locomotive Boscastle, as they say, it's time for something completely different FIFTY THOUSAND POUND GRANT FOR
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