Visit GCR’s ‘odd station out’ where no trains run
A SPECIAL open day is being held at the Nottingham Heritage Railway’s Rushcliffe Halt – even through no services will be running.
The event at the under-restoration halt on the heritage line formerly known as the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) will take place on July 31, featuring exhibitions and tours.
The simple concrete halt was opened in 1911 to serve the neighbouring golf club. Built to a traditional station layout rather than the typical GCR island platform style and still remarkably intact, it has been described as the ‘odd station out’ on the heritage line.
Phil Sharpe, a member of the volunteer team restoring the station, said: “Rushcliffe Halt is a wonderfully atmospheric railway location even though it was never a grand station.
“Platforms and buildings have seen comings and goings that include the whole railway closing and being revived. Somehow it’s survived and has quite a story to tell.
“Its rural location meant it stood and watched while famous Great Central express trains roared past but was never bothered with a frequent service!”
As parking is very limited at the halt and trains are not currently running to the station, a vintage bus service will connect it with the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre three miles away. Refreshments will be available.
Phil added: “This could be the busiest the station has ever been in its life.
“We are looking forward to introducing ourselves to enthusiasts and the nearby and ever expanding community of East Leake. We may be a small station but we’ve got big ideas.”
The station is also home to 1947-built Hotchley Hill signalbox, the brick and concrete ‘postwar austerity’ design of which has become iconic for railway modellers.
Volunteers have begun to equip the box with vintage signalling equipment and it is hoped that visits will be allowed during the open day.
Find out more about the railway online at www.gcrn.co.uk