It's sixty pages, full of previously unpublished colour photographs and untold stories from the project. 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. Posted on 6th July 2020. It really counts and will help us move forward with Reunification. 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. In a detail typical of the high standards to which the London Extension was built, the abutments of the girder bridges that crossed . The bridge over the A60 is key to the project as one day it will carry two lines. Please see the details below. A purchase order has now been placed with VolkerLaser who are the preferred main contractors. Production has been sponsored by the Friends of the Great Central Main Line so every penny from the 10 cost goes to pushing Reunification forward! With grateful thanks for all your support the funds available for building phase three and four continue to climb. 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. 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. Stored with poor body and major work needed on the frames. (Operational), Mk1 RSO (Restaurant Second Open) 1012 later Cinema Coach 150353. 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. A small gift every week (say 3 - the price of a coffee) adds up to £12 a month. October News Update! The MS&LR ran passenger trains from Staveley Town to Nottingham London Road Low Level. The GCR(N) aim to re-open the former station at East Leake in the longer term. New Great Central Railway Reunification bridge visualised for the first time. 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. The appeal for phases three and four of the Reunification project has now raised a quarter of a million pounds. Cass Hayward believe this approach will be more economic, simpler to build and in the long term simpler to maintain. (Operational, painted BR Black), BR Bogie Bolster 943545 built in 1953. London Extension (Great Central Railway) Line closed from Rugby Central to Quainton Road. The MS&LR obtained parliamentary approval in 1893 for its extension to London. This is the biggest, most adventurous and most exciting project in railway preservation You can be part of this great enterprise by making a donation here To that end, the LNER GC Heritage Trust (which raises funds and organises the membership club for the northern end of the line) offered to match the first 10,000 pound for pound. The Gotham branch-line was a short, freight branch connected to the Great Central Mainline via Gotham Sidings; it was lifted in 1969. In fact, heritage passenger services last ran at Great Central Railway (Nottingham) (as it was then known) during the February 2020 half term - before all trains were cancelled and the centre closed to visitors due to the initial Coronavirus outbreak.Whilst other attractions at the Mere Way site managed to reopen in August 2020 in the wake of the first 'lockdown' - and then most of the . However it's life expired and is going to be replaced with a modern structure. the third and fourth phase which have an estimated cost of three million pounds. We hope to raise 110,000 so work on this vital bridge can proceed as promptly as possible. If you want to see this happen, now is a great time to get on board. Trains run every weekend of the year, bank holidays and selected week days through the summer. To reflect this its name was also changed to the more grandiose Great Central Railway. Broadcaster, journalist and long time GCR supporter Tom Ingall has written a book chronicling our story so far. It has period signalling, locomotives and rolling stock. And there's more good news. The new bridge is expected to be in place by late October / early November. The line through the station was closed on 7 January 1968 and . 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. 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. The Great Central Railway in Nottingham The GCR London Extension ran North to South through Nottingham centre. The coping stones were put into place on the restored brickwork and a temporary scaffold brace installed on each side panel. 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. The A60 bridge is the only part of the Reunification project which currently carries trains. We're at the stage where every pound really does help move the project forward. Contents 1 History: 1.1 New name: 1.1.1 Coat of arms: There will need to be some more road closures. Now you can also donate by text if you prefer. If Money Match March is already fully subscribed, by the start of April this year we'll have 1.7 million for the work ahead. Phases three and four, which involve crossing a road and a car park will be constructed together to save costs. 188) of Main Line magazine. We want to say a heartfelt thank you for being part of the journey with us. Donations can be made online here. British Rail decided to maintain rail connection from Loughborough to Ruddington MoD depot until closure and the GCR main line became an unsignalled BR single-track branch. New Great Central Railway Reunification bridge visualised for the first time. Reunification with Rail Riders. The line was built for . (painted BR Bauxite), BR Palvan 776155 built in 1957. The superb images show what it will look like! In due course the existing line will be relaid over the bridge. grant enough. The busy A60 road was closed so the workforce could get cracking at 5am. 43159/43044 has arrived at the newly-rebranded Nottingham Heritage Railway, having been acquired by the 125 Group. Good news everyone. If you're new to the scheme, take a look around the website and please consider a donation. The full story of Alan's inspiration for this picture is told in the Autumn 2021 edition (No. Fill it in and post it back and the David Clarke Railway Trust will do the rest. This appeal is being supported by groups north and south of 'the gap' between the two halves of the railway. blycett.gcr@gmail.com, December News Update! Remember, every pound received as a donation in March 2021 will be matched by a pound - up to one hundred thousands pounds. Get involved The Great Central Railway in England was formed when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897, anticipating the opening in 1899 of its London Extension. The more of us giving a small amount of every month, the sooner we'll build not just the 'Factory Flyover' phases but the rest of the project too. 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 Reunification project has captured imaginations. 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. Donations can be made online here. "Their generous donations helped close a funding gap between what we had available and the total cost of 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. Remove this and you cut the new tram network in half. Together, we are making great strides forward. For now, stay safe and again, thank you for your support. On behalf of everyone at the GCR, we can't thank you enough. The route consists of almost 10 miles (16km) of the former Great Central Railway Main Line be (painted BR Bauxite), BR Widefit 783447 built in 1962. The old abutments have been reduced in height. preserved part of the Great Central to create an eighteen mile heritage railway. Barnum Open Saloon No 666 built in 1910. The two original abutments will be used again for the new bridge but to accommodate a new design, are being lowered. (Awaiting resumption of overhaul), BR 20-ton Brake Van 954353 built in 1958. Bus rides are offered several times a year during vehicle rallies. The Friends of the Great Central Main Line is offering supporters of the award winning heritage line a glimpse into the future! They were taken off site to the Welsh workshop of our contractors Centregreat Engineering. Thank you for your support. 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. This isn't strictly Factory Flyover news but we know you'll be pleased to hear it anyway. We're determined to remain on the front foot and look to the future. However, the new bridge will be very slightly higher above the road surface which should reduce the number of impacts from large lorries and the disruption this causes. Not only will it help link the two halves of the Great Central but also it connects the GCR to Network Rail. Any donation you give takes us closer to the day the first train runs along the full length of the railway. How can I help? An Art Deco LNER signal box (Hotchley Hill) replaced the original GCR structure in the late 1940s when the sidings were extended. Even better is the return of Money Match March for 2023. While we're reusing as much of the original abutments as we can, the new bridge deck will be supported in a different way. Barton Transport Bedford YMT RRR 517R, built in 1976. To order the Reunification book for 10 (plus 2.50 postage and packaging) please email What a milestone! Reunification appeal film The railway continues towards Loughborough, passing close to the hamlet of Stanford-on-Soar. receive this kind and generous grant. The line travels over the River Soar at Stanford Viaduct, close to the Brush works, now part of WABTEC. They are separate to the bridge decks and being filled with concrete will no doubt deal very effectively with over height lorries. A purchase order has been placed with VolkerLaser, who are the preferred contractors. 1 - album of photographs showing the construction of the first stage of the GCR's extension into London, from the Kirkby Tunnel through Nottingham to the Leake Tunnel, where contract no. 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. 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 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. To set up a regular donation, please fill in this standing order form, send it to us and we'll do the rest. Thank you for all your support. We're now using these plans to obtain detailed cost estimates and continue our discussion with Charnwood Borough Council as we work towards a planning application. We need to raise three million pounds to build the factory flyover section. Give ten and it becomes twenty. It's going to take a few more days to process the latest figures and bring you right up to date. The invaluable record of the line was shot by a supporter of the Great Central Railway when the line was operated. While we have commissioned consulting engineers to help guide us towards spades going back into the ground, we will not build until we have the majority of the funds in place. You can make donations via this website by clicking here, FIRST 10,000 RECEIVED FOR A60 BRIDGE APPEAL. Barnstone Tunnel (which is 98 yards long) is the only tunnel on the preserved line. From 2003, regular services to Rushcliffe Halt resumed. 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 really hopeful you'll chose to set up a standing order donation. The Great Central Railway is creating a 18 mile steam operated heritage Intercity Main Line from the outskirts of Leicester to the outskirts of Nottingham! The existing 120 year old structure has been struck many times by over height lorries. We're deeply humbled that our friends are still supporting the appeal even when priorities are changing on a daily basis. Posted on 4th December 2020. If you're new to the idea, find out more about the ambitious scheme here. On weekdays, trainloads of gypsum would be delivered to the works and unloaded on the concrete pad visible from the station platforms. As you know, we need to wait until we have most of the money in place before engaging contractors. 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. This piece of the Reunification jigsaw is unique in that its the only one to already have track on it. The transfer of former BR property to Railtrack and then Network Rail hindered attempts to purchase the line. Posted on 4th December 2020, 'The ideal Christmas present' say fundraisers. At East Leake station, houses were built on the former goods yard in the 1980s and some were built only yards from the remaining track. Every pound will make a difference. VolkerLaser are the lead contractor for the construction. place for the next two phases before we can appoint contractors. We can also accept donations online if you're staying inside. Posted on 1st March 2021. BR Bogie Rail Sturgeon A 994271 built in 1956. [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. (painted army green), BR Widefit 783257 built in 1962. We said 2022 would see another piece of the jigsaw in place. To everyone who rattled buckets, manned stands, presented talks, funded and distributed flyers, banked the donations and sent out the 'Thank You' letters to donors, an enormous 'congratulations and thank you'! In Leicester, almost all of the trackbed has been built on; in Nottingham, it's been taken over by trams. (Operational, painted BR Black), BR Dogfish ballast hopper wagon 993597 built in 1959. 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. Donations can be made online here. This will reconnect two halves of the GCR to create an eighteen mile heritage line for steam and diesel tourist trains with far reaching benefits for the East Midlands economy. Want to get another piece of the Reunification jigsaw in place in 2022?So do we! And you can download the latest project brochure here. 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. It's a critical bridge. 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. Likewise to everyone who was able to support the campaign, another heartfelt thank you. We can go Forward only because you support us. The loco sheds of the Great Central Railway at Loughborough are just visible across the MML, about one mile (1.6km) away. Exciting enough but we've even more good news. It all takes us ever closer to constructing the next phases and ultimately to trains running on an eighteen mile heritage line." 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. Rugby Central to Nottingham Victoria remains open for local service. Thank you for your generous support. Barton Transport Leyland BTS1 VVO 735, built in 1957. 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. An appeal, launched by Friends at the start of the year raised 220,000 towards the A60 bridge replacement, with more donations still being received from well-wishers all over the world. History [ edit] New name [ edit] pounds have been raised and spent delivering two phases of the project. We had hoped to be there in person at their recent AGM to collect a donation of £650, which they had raised during this year for Reunification. Even though we can't meet our supporters face to face we're doing our best to keep in touch on social media, including premiering a brand new film all about the Reunification project on YouTube. Dates. 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! A brand new book detailing the progress so far on the Reunification project has sold hundreds of copies MATCH FUNDING MAKES IT 20,000! You may be interested in an online talk later in July which gives more details on the project. It was built by the Victorian navvies and was dug out by hand. Most trains are steam-hauled, but the resident classic heritage diesel collection is extensive. If Money Match March is fully subscribed we'll have another two hundred thousand pounds in the pot. 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. us all!" 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. If you're considering donating, (or if you'd like to pass some time!) 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 scaffold team on the pontoon will help install the bolts which secure the panel. We've new plans to share with you for phases three and four of Reunification - the Factory Flyover. 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. Railfreight Pressed Steel Box Van 201055. We're really pleased to be able to say our fundraising has continued at a great pace. We'll bring you up to date totals for the A60 bridge and the Factory Flyover sections as we move forward. While we aren't currently running passenger services, you're invited to visit Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre, our base. Your gift means the A60 bridge can be completed without dipping into the other funds saved for future phases of the project. The History of the Great Central Railway On this website references to the "old" or "original" Great Central Railway refer, in the main, to the London Extension of the GCR which ran from Annesley, just north of Nottingham, through Nottingham Victoria, Leicester and Rugby to London Marylebone. Even though Money Match March is behind us, we have someway to go before we can begin building the Factory Flyover. Both sides of this bridge carry trains in the future. In the meantime, a special thank you to the Burton Railway Society. 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. 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 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'. ChrisB Advanced Nottstalgian Members 150 334 posts Gender:Male Location:derby Make your gift go further and we'll be getting closer to building and through trains between Leicester North and Ruddington. To everyone who has supported the appeals and got involved, a heartfelt thank you. 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