Loughborough Echo

New GCR museum volunteer appeal

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THE Great Central Railway is looking to recruit a number of new volunteers as work progresses on its £18m museum.

Planning is now well underway for the new museum at Leicester North, which will be part funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and built next to the existing Great Central Railway station.

The heritage railway is now searching for volunteers to help with the following areas: research on exhibition themes; assess- ing objects to the new museum; seeking and recording people’s memories; and surveying the public and promoting the museum.

The project is a partnershi­p between the GCR, Leicester City Council and the National Railway Museum, and is planned to open to visitors in 2020/21.

A spokespers­on for the Great Central Railway said: “In 2015, the GCR secured a first round pass from the Heritage Lottery Fund as part of a £10m grant allocation to build the museum which will house locomotive­s, carriages and other significan­t items.

“The many exhibits will tell the story of how the GCR and other railways contribute­d to the social and economic history of Leicester and the county.

“The estimated cost of the museum is £18m with the HLF contributi­ng £10m.

“Architects WilkinsonE­yre were selected last autumn with a winning outline design.

“Since then there has been continual refinement of the design details, involving discussion with the in-house track and signalling volunteers.

“They have produced a series of revised proposals including an alternativ­e turntable position, a second island platform and buffer stops.

“Do you want to be part of our big project? We are currently looking for volunteers to help.”

• If you can help with any of the areas listed, or would like more informatio­n, please get in touch by emailling museum@ gcrailway.co.uk

Alternativ­ely, you can call 01509 633853.

 ??  ?? An architect’s impression of how the new museum at Birstall might look. Picture: Wilkinson Eyre.
An architect’s impression of how the new museum at Birstall might look. Picture: Wilkinson Eyre.

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