Joint GC gala event promises non-stop action

MORE details about the groundbreaking Great Central joint gala on March 16/17 to mark the 125th anniversary of the London Extension in 1899 have been released.

As highlighted in issue 315, for the first time in more than 50 years, the Great Central Railway will be reunified with Great Central Railway (Nottingham) for a major weekend of events

History will be made as the Leicestershire line is reunified once again with the GCR(N) at the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre in Ruddington, offering visitors a glimpse into the future when reunification will be permanent, an ongoing project and part of GCR’s fundraising campaign.

For the event, the two halves will be joined by a speciallycommissioned 125th anniversary rail replacement bus service using vintage Routemaster buses.

Footplate visits and more

All stations along both lines will be open, and there will be opportunities to visit the footplates of some of the steam and diesel locomotives at both lines. There will also be expertled behind-the-scenes tours of the Loughborough locomotive sheds and exclusive access to some of the buildings to which access is usually restricted access.

Both Loughborough and Ruddington stations will be running their popular miniature ride-on trains; great fun for all the family. Visitors to Ruddington will also have the chance to drive a train on the model railway or visit the collection of heritage vehicles from the Nottingham Area Bus Society.

Steam trains will be making regular journeys between Loughborough and Leicester North, and refreshments will be available at every GCR and GCR(N) station.

‘Perfect opportunity’

Day tickets allow full access to all attractions across both lines and include both the train travel and reunification bus service. For children aged three to 15, tickets cost just £1 (under-13s must be accompanied by an adult).

GCR’s head of marketing and communications, Simon Bracewell, said: “Whether you’ve been to the GCR or the GCR(N) before or visiting us for the first time, this is the perfect opportunity to experience our historic railways in a way that has never been seen before!”

➜ For more information, visit www. gcrailway.co.uk/whatson20