News from the GCR
All the latest updates from the Great Central Railway
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DESIGN DONE!
- Reunification
The detailed design of the Factory Flyover is complete. The hard work of leading bridge specialists Cass Hayward has taken the concept and turned it into construction ready design drawings in the space of a few weeks. Fifty two drawings, twenty five schedules for the reinforcement metal bending and one...
Road Rail Steam Event – Update
- General
Due to a number of operational and event management challenges, we have taken the difficult decision to pause this year’s Road, Rail & Steam event. As a volunteer-led, not-for-profit organisation, taking a year out will allow us the time and resources to review and strengthen this much-loved event and we...
Turn up the volume, raise some funds
- Reunification
Can’t wait to experience the full reunified Great Central? Now you can step back to the 1960s and enjoy a journey along the main line on the 3rd and 4th of September 1966. Just before the line was closed as a through route and the tracks ripped up south of...
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...
Uncover More at the GCR
Uncover More
Remembrance Sunday
The Carolean
The Midlander
The GCR Guided Tour
Goods Experiences
Bahamas Farewell Weekend
The Master Cutler
The Charnwood Forester
Railwayana Swapmeet
