Double track returns to the GC in Rugby as part of arts trail
A SECTION of the formation of the Great Central Railway's London extension through Rugby is set to be turned into an arts trail, with track relaid on one part after half a century.
Rugby Rotary Club has unveiled plans for a Railway Art Heritage Trail on a three-quarters-of-a mile section of the Great Central Way, a footpath and cycleway created on the trackbed after Rugby Borough Council bought it in 1970.
Working with the council and leaseholder Warwickshire Wildlife Trust to upgrade the section between Hillmorton Road and Abbey Street, the club has asked for £15,000 of Arts Council funding for the trail, which will see commissioned local artists in areas such as metalwork, woodwork, sculptors and graffiti collaborating with schools in a competition to produce unique artwork, interpretation boards and murals, some of which may be painted on the bridge walls.
In September, panels of double track was laid under Hillmorton Road bridge after Network Rail donated 200ft of redundant sleepers and rail.
The Rugby Group Benevolent Fund is set to install three benches funded and designed by Cawston artist and former Rotarian Eric Gaskell.
The bench design features trains, pedestrians, a cyclist and wildlife on the back.
Interpretation boards will be designed by local blacksmiths to a traditional BR-like, outlining the history of the Great Central Way.
The section of the original Great Central Railway between Rugby Central and Nottingham (Arkwright Street), used only by local DMU services in its latter days, closed on May 5, 1969.
The club has been undertaking improvements to the Great Central Way, including the removal of vegetation in a four-year project in advance of its centenary in 2020.
In late January, members installed 20 bird boxes made from scrap wood.