September on the Great Central Railway

September is a very busy time on the GCR with many events during the month to interest everyone, from railway enthusiasts to beer drinkers!

Work continues on the Lougborough Canopy and staff have started to move into the new offices in Lovatt House, an official opening date has been set for Friday, September 3. The Pullman Dining Train is coming along with four coaches now complete. Plans are well advanced for a forty-six seater tea room at Quorn, planning permission was granted by Charnwod Borough Council recently, all it needs then is the passing of plans under building regulations. Also work on the turntable continues.

Leicester North is now looking splendid with its new canopy, you can now sit outside and enjoy tea and cakes from the buffet between trains.

Rothley Station’s new addition next to the Signalbox is an original GCR lamp hut from Whetstone this is being restored and painted for future use. It had been used as a garden shed since the line closed in 1966.

Dining Trains run every weekend: Saturday Lunch, Saturday Evening and Sunday Lunch, also Friday Murder Mystery Dining Trains run on selected dates. On Thursday, September 30 The Deltic Pullman will depart Loughborough at 7.30 There are also special dining trains on selected dates check the web site for details

Loughborough Canopy

Work continues on restoring the canopy at the Grade Two Listed Loughborough Central, Phase 1a of the work at the north end of the station is almost complete, plans are in place to start phase 1b in the autumn, during the work trains will continue to run normally. Contractors and materials are being sourced locally to help the local economy.  For this work to continue fund raising continues, forms are available when visiting the railway or the web site. Head to www.gcrailway.co.uk and click on the canopy appeal logo on the front page.

Mountsorrel Branch Line

Track laying begins with point work now installed at Swithland giving access to the branch, also four track panels have been laid, and ballast is almost complete on the branch thanks to the kind donation from Lafarge  Aggregates Mountsorrel Quarry community fund. The three wagons restored in Mountsorrel Granite livery were parked on the new track during July.

Ellis’s Tea Room, Rothley

The excellent tea room is open every day between 10am and 4pm except Friday

Guided Walk from Rothley

Following the popular event in May another Guided Walk takes place on Saturday, September 4 in conjunction  with Charnwood Borough Council and led by Natalie Warrrington. Meet at Rothley Station at 10am to catch the 10.35 train to Leicester North then walk 8 or 5 miles back to Rothley. Tickets are £5 Adult £3 Children. After the walk ramblers are welcome to ride the trains for the rest of the day. Also available is a booklet detailing other walks along the line, Walk the Line at £2.99.

Diesel Gala

Starting on Friday, September 10 is the three day Diesel Gala with guest locomotive Deltic D9009 Alycidon owned by The Deltic Preservation Society Ltd., these diesels replaced the Gresley A4 Pacifics on the East Coast Main Line, the Deltics were then replaced by the High Speed Train.

‘Get Some In’ Recalling National Service

It is Fifty years since National Service ended and during the weekend of September 18 and 19  the GCR is  holding a National Service and Veterans ‘Salute’ Weekend. With free travel for veterans and special fares for accompanying party members. National Service started on January 1, 1949 and finished on December 31, 1960. An RAF Chinook and its crew will be landing at Quorn and will be open for tours all weekend.

Beer Festival

Friday the 24th to Sunday the 26th is the annual Beer Festival at Loughborough featuring ‘Beers of the Great Central’. More than 30 guest beers picked from the London Marylebone to Sheffield Victoria route.

For the latest information visit the web site at www.gcrailway.co.uk or phone Loughborough 01509 230726.