If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Bridge that Gap: Great Central Railway News

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Gav106, May 8, 2010.

  1. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2018
    Messages:
    2,696
    Likes Received:
    5,501
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Leicestershire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    It is surprising that there is no recent update to the appeal total on the GCR website. The last entry was June 1st.
    At the recent "Railway at Work " gala, the people on the "Friends" stand thought that the £1m had been reached....and yet no announcement??
     
  2. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2018
    Messages:
    2,696
    Likes Received:
    5,501
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Leicestershire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Confirmation in the latest issue of "Main Line" no 188 that "Fundraising for the Factory Flyover section of Reunification has reached the magic seven figure sum".
    I must say that I am surprised that it is such a low key announcement.......£1,000,000+ raised - despite a pandemic, in just over 18 months!!!
     
  3. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2014
    Messages:
    15,328
    Likes Received:
    11,666
    Occupation:
    Nosy aren’t you?
    Location:
    Nowhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Fantastic news! Maybe it’s rather low key at the mo to let those who’ve supported know first, then the rest of the world know after?
    Well done to all those who’ve made it happen, I wonder if those in charge of a certain railway in the South West are taking notes?
     
    Hirn and The Dainton Banker like this.
  4. J Rob't Harrison

    J Rob't Harrison Member

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2016
    Messages:
    222
    Likes Received:
    316
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Stafford
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    At that rate a Summer 2023 start looks like it might be achievable. Looking forward to getting my copy of Mainline.
     
  5. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2018
    Messages:
    2,696
    Likes Received:
    5,501
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Leicestershire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Another feature of the fundraising is that, at the beginning of March - this year, the total was £500,000........So in 6 months another £500,000 has been raised. A fantastic achievement by all involved.
     
  6. Johann Marsbar

    Johann Marsbar Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2016
    Messages:
    1,588
    Likes Received:
    1,998
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Suffolk
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The 2022 FoGCML calendar has been available for the last week or so and it's raising money for the Reunification Project. Good selection of photos from all of the GCR, including shots at Rushcliffe Halt, Gotham Moor & Mountsorrel, as well as the Loughborough to Birstall section.
    Can't see any mention of it on the GCR website, or any info on how you get hold of one on there though, which needs addressing......
    Certainly was on sale at Loughboro' on the Diesel Gala weekend from the Friends stand and presumably will be so at the forthcoming steam gala as well.
     
  7. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2018
    Messages:
    2,696
    Likes Received:
    5,501
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Leicestershire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I was at Loughborough today and asked about website updates and they are unfortunately delayed as there are, at present, too few people doing too many jobs with the slow return of some vulnerable volunteers....So, if there are any people out there who have thought about volunteering at your local railway....ask and I'm sure you will be welcomed!!
     
    TseTT likes this.
  8. Johann Marsbar

    Johann Marsbar Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2016
    Messages:
    1,588
    Likes Received:
    1,998
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Suffolk
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I noticed this has appeared on YT.......

    Confirms the £1 million total raised so far.
     
  9. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2018
    Messages:
    2,696
    Likes Received:
    5,501
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Leicestershire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Thanks for that link Johann, it still doesn't appear on the official GCR website though - which is a surprise. What I liked about the video was the graphic showing how the funding relates to the Factory Flyover construction....nearly halfway across!
    There must be a lot of background work going into the A60 bridge project with the GCR/EMRT/NHR/British Gypsum/County Council/Highways England etc all being involved. If that gets rebuilt, in parallel to the factory flyover, then it is "Only" the embankments that will need to be built.....and tracks laid!
     
  10. Johann Marsbar

    Johann Marsbar Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2016
    Messages:
    1,588
    Likes Received:
    1,998
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Suffolk
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    One would hope that things are happening in the background re the A60 bridge (and the rest of the North saga) but nobody seems to be saying anything anywhere about that situation, as its all gone strangely quiet.
    At least the "J'accuse..!" postings seem to have stopped though......
     
    jnc likes this.
  11. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2006
    Messages:
    16,510
    Likes Received:
    7,753
    Location:
    1012 / 60158
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Is the A60 bridge the only one on the north section that needs attention?
     
  12. Johann Marsbar

    Johann Marsbar Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2016
    Messages:
    1,588
    Likes Received:
    1,998
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Suffolk
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    There is Bunny Lane at Hotchley Hill that was said to need a full inspection, but the outcome of that has never been made public. That would certainly affect the ability of freight locos to run round on the Gypsum trains once the A60 bridge was fixed and would prevent NHR trains accessing Rushcliffe Halt as well, so both operations are bu**ered if that needs work......
     
    Martin Perry likes this.
  13. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2018
    Messages:
    2,696
    Likes Received:
    5,501
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Leicestershire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Recent information from the "Friends of the GCML"......"The money continues to come in - we’re climbing above one million at a good pace. There has been no discernible slow down.".
    ...but still no GCR website update.
     
  14. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2018
    Messages:
    2,696
    Likes Received:
    5,501
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Leicestershire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The latest Rail Advent has a report of positive progress between the GCR/NHR/EMRT and good relations are apparent...at last!
     
    Hando likes this.
  15. ETR220

    ETR220 New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2006
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Croydon
    Something I've just posted elsewhere:
    "Yesterday I was looking at the Great Central Railway website (all about the Loughborough-Leicester line) - which has much about the Reunification project - but reunify with what? All it says is a 'line from Ruddington to Loughborough' and 'another heritage operation'... with - in an obscure part of their website - a broken link to the "Great Central Railway (Nottingham)".
    A quick web search did lead me to their website - which told me they were now called the Nottingham Heritage Railway; seemed to be having a dispute with 'EMRT' (whoever they are); but did not give me the impression of being a thriving organisastion (in any sense: maybe a bit unfair, but that was the impression I had)."

    Pointer to the Railadvent piece gives a glimmer of hope. But overall, I am reminded of the expression 'piss up in a brewery' and what was going on a few decades ago north west of Porthmadog. Hopefully there will be a similar happy outcome...

    Which is something I hope will come about...

    But I would agree as to the lack of website updates of on the GCR Unify webpages (what is the position regarding the canal bridge...)
     
  16. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2018
    Messages:
    2,696
    Likes Received:
    5,501
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Leicestershire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I can understand your concerns ETR220. There is in fact a lot of history involved in the present situation but, to give a brief overview, with apologies for simplifications!

    BR closed the former GCR line to London in 1966, but kept the Rugby to Nottingham section open until 1969.

    The Main Line Preservation Group set up in 1969 to preserve, as a main line, the Leicester to Nottingham section.

    In 1973 the Loughborough to Rothley section was opened as a preserved line (GCR). Only as a single track - all that could be afforded.

    The section North of Loughborough retained by BR to serve the Ruddington MoD site.

    The route severed at Loughborough with a Chord Line for the North, built to join the Midland Main Line.

    The GCR section progressed with running to Leicester North, Double track, Swithland Sidings and Mountsorrel Branch. Backed by a charity, the David Clarke Railway Trust (DCRT)

    The MoD left Ruddington and the Heritage centre opened with running steadily increased down towards Loughborough, shared at the South end with commercial freight traffic to the British Gypsum site at East Leake. The Track bed owned by East Midland Railway Trust (EMRT), operated by Great Central (Nottingham)Ltd GCR(N).

    Various studies looked at re-instating the "Missing " section to fulfil that original aim of a preserved main line between Nottingham and Leicester.

    With the "Midland Main Line Electrification" due (again!) in the mid 2010s it was now or never and the new MML bridge was the first of a 7 stage Reunification project.

    The GCR(N) had a very critical ORR report and commercially there was confusion with the GCR so the GCR(N) name was changed to NHR and new directors came to try and pull the North operation round...with a degree of acrimony unfortunately.

    The bridge over the A60 road was declared "too corroded and weak" and closed to rail traffic in 2020 This was Stage 7 of the reunification project and due for refurbishment.

    Throw into this Covid, Leicester Museum project, Heritage Lottery funding, various councils etc etc the difficulties become understandable!!
     
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2021
  17. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2009
    Messages:
    8,068
    Likes Received:
    5,165
    That summary of the history may be useful for some, and the last bit "Throw into this Covid, Leicester Museum project, Heritage Lottery funding, various councils etc etc the difficulties become understandable!!" is fair up to a point, but none of that really excuses the deficiencies on the GCR website reported in post #1655.
     
  18. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2018
    Messages:
    2,696
    Likes Received:
    5,501
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Leicestershire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    .....I totally agree about the lack of reunification updates.....and I have made that point to various people at the GCR..... but it is in fact covid related in that too few people are trying to do many different jobs......more help needed!
     
    Hando and jnc like this.
  19. Johann Marsbar

    Johann Marsbar Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2016
    Messages:
    1,588
    Likes Received:
    1,998
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Suffolk
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    They were short of volunteers for various tasks on Saturday at the Gala weekend and that would appear to be a significant problem across the Preservation/Heritage field at the moment, not just the GCR.
    One restoration group have commented to me in the past few days that their pool of available volunteer workers has declined by 50% over the past 18 months.
     
  20. Belgarath001

    Belgarath001 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2012
    Messages:
    93
    Likes Received:
    239
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I actually submitted my interest in volunteering at the GCR Steam Department back in June....and here we are at the start of October I've yet to do a single second's work as the volunteer on-boarding process does not appear to exist, and there seems to be no interest in engagement. If I hadn't of chased, my initial interest wouldn't have been responded to, if I hadn't chased again after that I would never have had the "induction" such as it was - and at the end of that, the inductor couldn't give any information on where to buy appropriate PPE (or the exact list), nor what the next steps were around actually turning up and starting. Gave it a month then chased that, still haven't heard anything and I'm now debating if I want to try again. It was mentioned to me both times I went up there, that they were aware they needed better volunteer engagement, and that they had dedicated a couple of people to the task, but from my experience they won't have a single new person starting anytime soon unless I'm an exception in being forgotten and ignored! My main interest is getting onto the footplate obviously, but end of the day I want(ed) to give my time for the benefit of the railway and so would have been happy to help anywhere needed this weekend (and others)....
     
    Sunnieboy and jnc like this.

Share This Page