Great Central Railway

Golden Age of Mainline Rail Travel in the United kingdom

The UK’s only double track, main line heritage railway, the Great Central Railway exists today after a group of determined volunteers in 1969, saved the line following its closure by British Rail to recreate the experience of a main line steam railway for generations to come.

Today we proudly cherish and develop their legacy as a contemporary visitor attraction that’s open all year running steam and heritage diesel locomotives, as well as heritage railcars to educate and entertain our visitors whilst preserving the story of the railway.

Your Next Adventure

Explore the next Seven Days

Upcoming Seven Days

Mon 18 May

Tue 19 May

Wed 20 May

Thu 21 May

Fri 22 May

Sat 23 May

Sun 24 May

Our Monthly Calendars

Monthly Calendars

Our Family Ticket

Family Ticket

The Great Central Railway offers local families a relaxed half-day adventure where children explore a real working railway and parents enjoy quality screen-free time together.

Voted Best Day Out in the Leicestershire Travel and Tourism Awards, Great Central Railway offers steam train rides, historic stations, family activities and places to eat—all in one day out. Swap tablets and screens for steam trains, fresh air and real, quality time together as you explore a real, working railway from a bygone age.

What to Expect

You day out can be Big or Small

Whether you’re visiting for a couple of hours for a steam train ride and a sweet treat, or making a full day of it, it’s perfect for a family day out in Leicestershire—and one of the region’s most unique things to do with the kids of all ages.

Every visit Includes

The chance to ride heritage trains, discover the story of the railway as you wander through characterful stations and enjoy a treat or two along the way. There are free activity packs available for kids that are designed to take their attention away from their tech and towards the trains giving you quality time together.

Upcoming Events at the GCR

Upcoming Events

Sulzer Running Day

Sulzers Takes The Spotlight

More Information

Join us on Friday 22nd May for our Sulzer Running Day featuring our home fleet Diesel Engines, with an intensive timetable running into the evening.

Discover Your Railway

Less Screen Time and More Steam Time

More Information

Explore behind the scenes and enjoy a great day out! LE, DE, & NG postcode residents get tickets for £12 with code LOCAL50. Includes unlimited train travel — plus Kids for a Quid!

Reunification Evening

You are invited to a Reunification Fundraising Evening

More Information

Wine, dine and raise a glass while fundraising to the continued progress of Reunification Project at the GCR

Sulzer Running Day

Sulzers Takes The Spotlight

More Information

Join us on Friday 22nd May for our Sulzer Running Day featuring our home fleet Diesel Engines, with an intensive timetable running into the evening.

Discover Your Railway

Less Screen Time and More Steam Time

More Information

Explore behind the scenes and enjoy a great day out! LE, DE, & NG postcode residents get tickets for £12 with code LOCAL50. Includes unlimited train travel — plus Kids for a Quid!

Sulzer Running Day

Sulzers Takes The Spotlight

More Information

Join us on Friday 22nd May for our Sulzer Running Day featuring our home fleet Diesel Engines, with an intensive timetable running into the evening.

First-Class Dining Service at the GCR

First-Class Dining

Welcome Aboard the Great Central Railway’s First-Class Dining Service. Join us for a journey through time, savour fine dining, and immerse yourself in vintage luxury aboard our lovingly restored, first-class dining carriages.

The perfect setting for a family celebration, a catch-up with friends, or a romantic dinner, our stewards are ready to pamper you. Whether it’s a leisurely Saturday or Sunday lunch or a grand night out, relax in style on a sixteen-mile return journey.

Departing Services

The Carolean

Join us on Saturday afternoon for a delightful three-course meal

More Information

Join us on selected Saturdays throughout the year at 1:00PM as we serve you a delightful three-course meal, topped off with a serving of tea, coffee and hand finished chocolates.

The Wimbledon Experience

Crisp Cucumber Sandwiches, Strawberries and Cream, and Free-Flowing Pimms!

More Information

Get your racquets ready… Wimbledon comes to the railway!

The Rothley Rose

A Three course meal paired with award-winning wines.

More Information

Enjoy a sophisticated Friday evening aboard the Rothley Rose, combining heritage steam travel with a curated wine pairing experience featuring award-winning wines from the Rothley Wine Estate.

The Elizabethan

Sundays are for a classic British roast

More Information

You’ll enjoy a traditional British Sunday roast with all the trimmings in our beautifully restored vintage carriages, complete with a seasonal soup to start and an indulgent dessert choice.

Murder Mystery Express

Can you crack the case between courses?

More Information

Our highly sought after Murder Mystery Trains put you at the heart of a thrilling case. Enjoy a fabulous three-course meal paired together with the excitement of solving a mysterious case.

The Elizabethan

Sundays are for a classic British roast

More Information

You’ll enjoy a traditional British Sunday roast with all the trimmings in our beautifully restored vintage carriages, complete with a seasonal soup to start and an indulgent dessert choice.

After something Different? Try a GCR Experience

GCR Experiences

Sorry, nothing to see here...

Heritage Railcar Driver

Double track, signals and stations, it’s what dreams are made of

More Information

The Heritage Railcar Driver Experience offers a unique opportunity to take control and drive a historic railcar for 16 miles, surrounded by the charm of a bygone era.

The GCR Guided Tour

A behind the scenes inspection tour of the GCR

More Information

Step beyond the platform and experience the Great Central Railway like never before with our brand-new Premium Guided Package for 2026.

Heritage Railcar Driver

Double track, signals and stations, it’s what dreams are made of

More Information

The Heritage Railcar Driver Experience offers a unique opportunity to take control and drive a historic railcar for 16 miles, surrounded by the charm of a bygone era.

GCR Home Fleet

Class 37 – 37714

Power Output

Rated 1,750 bhp

Engine

English Electric 12CSVT V12 diesel,

Max Speed

90 mph (80 mph on some bogie variants)

No. 63601

Type

8K (later O4)

Designer

John G. Robinson

Configuration

2-8-0

No. 92214

Type

BR Standard 9F

Designer

R. A. Riddles

Configuration

2-10-0

Class 27 – 27056

Power Output

1,250 bhp (933 bhp at rail)

Engine

Sulzer 6LDA28 diesel-electric

Max Speed

90 mph

No. 70013

Type

BR Standard 7

Designer

R.A. Riddles

Configuration

4-6-2

Reunification Project

Reunification

Its easy to donate. Click below and make a one off donation online, or even set up a regular monthly contribution. If you prefer, download our latest appeal leaflet to donate using a cheque. Just a few pounds every month soon adds up to a generous gift. A regular income also gives other potential funders confidence in our plans.

You can also text UNIFY to 70970 to donate £5.
(For full terms see: platform.nationalfundingscheme.org/terms-and-conditions)

Thank you for your support. Every pound matters and makes a difference. Together we’re making Reunification happen.

The Great Central Railway

The GCR

Support the future of the Great Central Railway by donating today.

Your generous contribution helps safeguard this unique heritage line, not only through the landmark Reunification project—which will reconnect two separate heritage railways to create an eighteen-mile route from the north of Leicester to the south of Nottingham—but also in the vital day-to-day running of the railway.

Donations directly support the maintenance and restoration of our stations and locomotives, the preservation of historic infrastructure, and the training and development of our dedicated staff and volunteers. They ensure the railway continues to thrive as both a living museum and a community resource.

By giving, you’re helping us preserve one of Britain’s most cherished heritage railways, so that future generations can step aboard, experience authentic steam and diesel travel, and discover the stories of the past. Every contribution, large or small, makes a lasting difference in keeping the spirit of the Great Central Railway alive.

Great Central Railway

Golden Age of Mainline Rail Travel in the United kingdom​

Your Next Adventure

Upcoming GCR Event

Sulzer Running Day

GCR Fine-Dining

Pie & Mash Express

GCR Experience

Class 55 Deltic Experience

Deltic Driver

Explore the next Seven Days

Upcoming Seven Days

Mon 18 May

Tue 19 May

Wed 20 May

Thu 21 May

Fri 22 May

Sat 23 May

Sun 24 May

Our Monthly Calendars

Monthly Calendars

Our Family Ticket

Family Ticket

What to Expect

You day out can be Big or Small

Every visit Includes

Upcoming Events at the GCR

Upcoming Events

Sulzer Running Day

Discover Your Railway

Reunification Evening

Sulzer Running Day

Discover Your Railway

Sulzer Running Day

First-Class Dining Service at the GCR

First-Class Dining

Departing Services

The Carolean

The Wimbledon Experience

The Rothley Rose

The Elizabethan

Murder Mystery Express

The Elizabethan

After something Different? Try a GCR Experience

GCR Experiences

Heritage Railcar Driver

The GCR Guided Tour

Heritage Railcar Driver

GCR Home Fleet

Class 37 – 37714

No. 63601

No. 92214

Class 27 – 27056

No. 70013

Reunification Project

Reunification

The Great Central Railway

The GCR

GCR Reviews

Loughborough Central

Quorn & Woodhouse

Rothley Station

Leicester North

Golden Age of Mainline Rail Travel in the United kingdom