UK National Network tickets and train times can be found on Qjump
Visit our sponsored links page
The GCR have undertaken to project-manage the restoration of Oliver Cromwell, recognising the importance of ensuring that all the necessary tasks are completed on schedule. To help them do this effectively, they are using 4c project and programme management software, which 4c Systems Limited have provided to sponsor of all of the GCR's work.
Almost all preserved railways in Britain are to be found on Mark Dewell's Heritage Railway page. With the exception of the Nottingham Heritage Centre, the nearest operational standard gauge railway line to the Great Central is the Battlefield line (about 20 minutes drive south-west) where a wide range of industrial locomotives, and the occasional main line visitor, operate on their five mile line. There is also a preserved length of track at the historic site of the Swanington incline.
About 40 minutes north of the GCR is the Midland Railway Centre. A three mile line complements their large museum, and varied collection of locomotives. In the same direction from Loughborough is the ambitious Peak Rail project, who hope to one day span the Peak district, and the very smart National Tramway Museum at Crich. About 40 minutes east is the Rutland Railway Museum, a large, but cramped, collection of industrial locomotives in what was once a busy iron-stone quarrying area. Another 20 minutes east will get you to the Nene Valley Railway. This seven mile long railway is noted for it's collection of foreign locomotives, together with a number of large British steam locomotives.
NOTTINGHAM East Midlands MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBITION:
www.nbmrs.freeserve.co.uk
Nottingham(Bulwell) Model Railway Society:
www.nbmrs.freeserve.co.uk/clubinfo.htm
Birstall Parish Council - proud to be associated with the Great Central Railway.
Leicester tour bus runs on selected dates in the summer between Leicester North and Leicester main train station calling at a number of interesting sites. Free when you show your Great Central Railway all day ticket.
Stonehurst Family Farm provides fun for all the family at nearby Mountsorrel with farm animals and a fascinating museum. Discounted admission with voucher from Great Central Stations. Discounted travel at Great Central Railway with voucher from Stonehurst Family Farm.
The John Taylor bellfoundry near our Loughborough Central station has a museum and runs occasional factory tours.
The village of Quorn now has a web site, complete with some details of the railway.
Local Accommodation
The following hotels offer special deals if you mention Great Central Railway when booking:
Other local hotels can be found at:
http://www.discoverleicester.com ,
http://www.4tourism.com/uk/loughborough.html,
http://www.rothleycourt.com
http://www.quorn-lodge.co.uk/ plus caravan parking (for Caravan Club Members only) near the line.
http://www.activereservations.com/hotel/en/hotels-near-attractions/578/
http://www.woodylodge.co.uk/ - a B&B in Burton on the Wolds
http://www.mountsorrelhotel.co.uk
Or call us on 01509 230726 for a list.
Leicester Shire Promotions have a guide to Leicestershire
BBC Radio Leicester for the first stop for information about Leicestershire and Rutland :http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/
Leicestershire County Council http://www.leics.gov.uk/ have a lot of information about the county including places to visit.
A regional guide provides quite a bit of information on Nottingham. The British Tourist Authority also give details on many attractions within the region. EnjoyBritain.com - The premier British Tourism directory - thousands of things to do and places to stay.
National Railway network train times and on line ticket purchases at The TrainLine.com
Live Departure Boards for National Railway Network: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ldb/fs_departures.asp
Check RAC website for Roadworks
Waterscape.com Details of local waterways and waterside features and attractions.
VISTA is
an independent charity that is the main provider to the nearly 6000 blind and
partially sighted people of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
VISTA supports them to achieve their aspirations as valued individuals
through high quality responsive services.
Dominoes Toys of Leicester - Suppliers of Thomas items and toys, Leicesters largest independant toy shop
There are a number of other pages with details of the Great Central.
Friends of Great Central Main Line
GC - The station cat (retired)
David Clarke Railway Trust (a
registered Charity)
The David Clarke Railway Trust supports the Great Central
Railway .
Railway Vehicle Preservations http://www.rvp-ltd.co.uk/
Bridging the gap http://www.bridgingthegap.org.uk
Take a virtual tour and ride the footplate with the BBC
Three centuries of transport features the birth of the Great Central Railway and photos from the Newton Archive http://www.transportarchive.org.uk
Chris Wards recollections of working at Annesley shed near Nottingham
A selection of photo galleries of the Great Gentral Railway
Pictures
from Operation Anvil
by John East 15 June 2003
1940's weekend sideshow (web pages)
1940's
weekend slideshow (pdf 780k) 
Filming on the Great Central Railway
Join Keith Kitson on a recent visit with his series of photos http://www.keithkitson.com/Steam/Loughborough/index.htm
Nigel Tout has an excellent series on the GCR through Leicester http://freespace.virgin.net/nigel.tout/index.html
Victoria Station Site has a driving simulation for the Great Central Railway http://come.to/victoria-station
Nick Willis is developing a Great Central Route for MS Train Simulator http://homepage.ntlworld.com/nick.willis/mstrainsim.html
The Great Central Railway Society has an extensive historical archive, their web site is at http://www.gcrsociety.co.uk
John Neave has some excellent photos at http://www.goingloco.neave.com/gcr/
Mark Annard describes a walk along part of the former Great Central Railway http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/leopold/mark/gcr/
Tony Newman has an interesting selection of old photographs of the line http://communities.msn.com/tonynewman/homepage.msnw
More photos:http://www.freefoto.com/pictures/transport_rail_steam/gcr/index.asp
And more photos http://www.colinfparsons.btinternet.co.uk/twinp/colhome/gcr/default.htm
Vintage Bike? http://homepages.tesco.net/~D.A.Y/greatcentral.html
Pictures of the filming of Casualty http://homepage.ntlworld.com/david.enefer/lboro/casualty.htm amongst others http://homepage.ntlworld.com/david.enefer/standard/standard.htm#lboro
Picture of signal boxes by John Hinson can be found at http://www.signalbox.org/
The Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre now have a web site with details about the line from Ruddington to Loughborough.http://www.nthc.co.uk
The staff at Rushcliffe Halt have their own site:http://conduit.lboro.ac.uk/Railway/RushcliffeHalt/
The GCR Rolling Stock
Trust has a site:
http://www.gcr-rollingstocktrust.co.uk
LNER classification of GCR locomotives :http://www.math.iastate.edu/jdhsmith/term/slgbgc.htm
Phil Taylors class 25 page :http://www.bcvr.demon.co.uk/emg.html
Helmdon Viaduct: http://www.helmdon.com/trail/tier1/greatcentral.html
A description by Shawn Sanders, of the line as it is now, between Rugby and Leicester http://www.greatcentraltoday.com
Brian Hallett has a video and some photos of the mail exchange (taken during the Steam Railway gala July 2002) on his website at http://www.tpo.org.uk/articles/srg2002.htm
Tim Airey has a site of local interest as an expat:http://www.leicesterandleicestershire.com/
The Company's former Chief Executive has his own web page (if you are interested in narrowboats and fountain pens). There is a web page for the Type One Locomotive Association. A page has also been produced about the present state of the London Extension. Anyone interested in more recent developments on the London Extension should visit the Central Railways site. Other pages relevant to the railway include one form David Perrin who has produced paintings of the GCR. Other relevant web sites are those by Chris Tolley and a page from Japan!
Pendragon Publishing, the publishers of BackTrack and the Railways In Transition series of books.
Atoc website for 'kids who love trains' www.trakkies.co.uk
Fancy a loco name plate? - John Cowlishaw can make one for you
http://www.railway-technology.com/ We are a generic web site for the international rail transport industry receiving around 60,000 visitors each month from industry professionals all over the world. The site includes news on current projects and developments, an equipment, products and services guide, exhibition and conference listings, an industry associations directory, as well as a comprehensive links page to relevant rail transportation resources.
Barrow Hill Engine Shed Society
Stapleford
Miniature railway a privately owned miniature railway near Melton Mowbray,
open twice per year to support Loros,
a local hospice.
Guild of Railway Artists website: http://www.railart.co.uk
R.Guy Beresford-Linnell. Specialist Graphic Artist http://www.engine-art.co.uk
To join an email discussion forum about
Great Central Railway and receive reminders of special events,
Send a blank email to GreatCentral-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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