News from the GCR
All the latest updates from the Great Central Railway
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Read all about it in Trackside
- Reunification
Our friends at Trackside Magazine have a new issue out, including a comprehensive look at Reunification. Written over Christmas 2025 its the most up to date examination of the project in print yet. There’s plenty of archive pictures so you can compare ‘then’ with ‘now’ and look at the work...
Say Goodbye To 78018
- General
Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd February. Did you know the boiler ticket for 78018 is coming to an end? This British Railway Standard 2 locomotive famously starred in the British Transport Films documentary “Snowdrift at Bleath Gill”. It’s now been over 70 years since the dramatic events of 1955, when...
On the drawing table
- Reunification
The experts at our project partners Cass Hayward are working hard to get the designs for the Factory Flyover section of Reunification completed by the end of April 2026. This is the section across the factory car park and the crossing of Railway Terrace road. Richard Clough (above right) from...
Ellis Tea Room Closure – Visitor Information
- General
We would like to let our visitors know that Ellis Tea Room at Rothley will close permanently from 15 February. This has been a difficult decision, taken after careful consideration, as Ellis has faced ongoing challenges for some time. Ellis was originally intended to serve both the local community and...
Tim Dunn explores Reunification
- Reunification
In the Summer we were fortunate to host railway broadcaster and historian Tim Dunn at the Great Central Railway. He came to take a look at the Reunification project for himself, see the work done so far and the plans for what comes next. Enjoy the film as a curtain...
Design time
- Reunification
Our bridge specialists Cass Hayward are now hard at work, taking the Factory Flyover stage of the Reunification project to ‘final design’ stage. This is a vital bit of work which has to be completed before we can get building again. We’ve already received planning consent based on concept drawings...
GCR Steams Ahead To Victory At Leicestershire Tourism & Hospitality Awards
- General
Wednesday 3rd December 2025 saw representatives from GCR attend the Leicestershire Promotions Tourism & Hospitality Awards where the railway scooped the most prestigious award for “Best Day Out in Leicestershire” alongside silver and bronze awards in a massive four categories against some incredibly tough competition! The results for us were...
Let’s talk!
- Reunification
Booking a speaker for your group? Interested in the biggest heritage railway project in the country? We’re happy to help spread the word! The Great Central Railway Reunification project has got us all talking – literally. Our speakers travel the country from Newcastle to London and beyond, delivering high quality...
Take a tour with Tim
- Reunification
We’re delighted to team up with Tim Dunn, energetic railway historian and television presenter, to help get our epic Reunification project to more people. It’s not just one of the UKs biggest heritage railway projects, its one of the UKs biggest heritage projects full stop. We let him tour the...
Exciting elevations
- Reunification
Here’s a look at the first detailed elevation of the next section of railway we’re building. We call it, ‘The Factory Flyover’ incorporating the crossing of the factory car park and the bridge over Railway Terrace Road. In total it’s another 60 metres of line but it’s the most complicated...
