GCR bridge fund hits £130,000

A successful ‘Money Match March’ appeal has pushed the Great Central Railway’s ‘Crossing the Canal’ appeal to £130,000. The David Clarke Railway Trust’s ‘Money Match March’ initiative was launched with an anonymous donor matchfunding all donations during March up to £25,000, and was over-subscribed. The railway needs £475,000 to repair the steel bridge over the Grand Union Canal north of Loughborough, before reconstructing 550 yards of missing embankment, to link the Loughborough-based GCR operation with the GCR (Nottingham) via the newly installed bridge over the Midland Main Line (SR472). GCR Managing Director Michael Gough said: “This enables us to make a start in the autumn, provided the site has been cleared in readiness and subject to planning permission.” Donations can be made online at www.gcrailway. co.uk/unify