Great Central Railway - News and "Stuff"
Discussion
I remember that, about 15 years ago, amidst much fanfare, the GCR acquired, dismantled and moved the loco shed from Workington, Cumbria, supposedly to be erected on a site off the reinstated Mountsorrel branch. The latter is now up and running, but the loco shed seems to have gone very quiet since... what happened to it?
Hi RoverP6B
Yes... the "Workington Shed" was dismantled - or at least some of the decorative stone/brick work was saved together with some steel work. In fact, not very much was re-useable and so I believe there are now only a few bits and bobs "in store" somewhere. There was a plan for a new engine shed to be built on the land by the council recycling site, but when a ground survey was done there was no way of building there.
Hence the current plan to have a brand new engine shed on the West side by the existing shed and have two running lines, on the old alignment going North, from Loughborough GCR Station.
Yes... the "Workington Shed" was dismantled - or at least some of the decorative stone/brick work was saved together with some steel work. In fact, not very much was re-useable and so I believe there are now only a few bits and bobs "in store" somewhere. There was a plan for a new engine shed to be built on the land by the council recycling site, but when a ground survey was done there was no way of building there.
Hence the current plan to have a brand new engine shed on the West side by the existing shed and have two running lines, on the old alignment going North, from Loughborough GCR Station.
Hmm, shame! Considering the shed was still standing until the GCR took it down, it must have been OK then?
Also, is there any possibility of extending further into Nottingham or Leicester? I was looking at it on Google Earth last night and it appears that the formation is intact as far as the south bank of the Trent, where a new bridge would be required, and quite a bit in Nottingham is in situ as part of a tramway network... those parts of the route that are not in use are still easily traced, it hasn't been completely obliterated like some places. Leicester Central station is still there and most of the bridges and embankments are still in place... what would it take to get into the city proper? Leicester North has always been a rather unattractive terminus and frankly I'd have preferred to keep the original Birstall station just to the north.
Also, is there any reason why the last section into Leicester North has not been doubled?
Also, is there any possibility of extending further into Nottingham or Leicester? I was looking at it on Google Earth last night and it appears that the formation is intact as far as the south bank of the Trent, where a new bridge would be required, and quite a bit in Nottingham is in situ as part of a tramway network... those parts of the route that are not in use are still easily traced, it hasn't been completely obliterated like some places. Leicester Central station is still there and most of the bridges and embankments are still in place... what would it take to get into the city proper? Leicester North has always been a rather unattractive terminus and frankly I'd have preferred to keep the original Birstall station just to the north.
Also, is there any reason why the last section into Leicester North has not been doubled?
Although the Workington Shed was standing it had been totally neglected for years and so was really about to fall down!
For the GCR(N) to go further North there would need to be a lot of money spent and an extension of the tram tracks to the South, which is not totally impossible I believe, but unlikely at this point in time.
For the GCR to go South is even less likely as there is now a major water Main underground just South of the Leicester North station. The ring road would need to be bridged and some of the route is designated/protected as a SSI. Further into Leicester, the embankments and bridges have been removed totally and much is built on...But yes - Leicester Central Station does exist - in part...and has been refurbished for retail outlets etc.
However the single track section from Rothley to Leicester could well be doubled within the next few years (5 to 10) particularly if the "Plan B" for a museum complex gets the go ahead.
The single track was built fairly quickly in the 1980's(?) to ensure that there was a bridge over the formation when that section of the Leicester "outer" ring road was built.
For the GCR(N) to go further North there would need to be a lot of money spent and an extension of the tram tracks to the South, which is not totally impossible I believe, but unlikely at this point in time.
For the GCR to go South is even less likely as there is now a major water Main underground just South of the Leicester North station. The ring road would need to be bridged and some of the route is designated/protected as a SSI. Further into Leicester, the embankments and bridges have been removed totally and much is built on...But yes - Leicester Central Station does exist - in part...and has been refurbished for retail outlets etc.
However the single track section from Rothley to Leicester could well be doubled within the next few years (5 to 10) particularly if the "Plan B" for a museum complex gets the go ahead.
The single track was built fairly quickly in the 1980's(?) to ensure that there was a bridge over the formation when that section of the Leicester "outer" ring road was built.
Edited by Flying Phil on Sunday 8th December 12:19
A 6ft 8ins-wheeled express loco is wasted on a preserved line. I also understood that JJP (and Pete Waterman before him) had all the missing parts? I guarantee that a fundraising appeal for it to go mainline would do far better than one without. As it is, I am within reach of the Castles' old stamping ground in Devon, and would gladly donate if I knew I was likely to see it at full chat at some point... but not if it's stuck in the East Midlands and/or restricted to 25mph.
dhutch said:
It is so mad that in the late 60's we created the gap, by dismantling rather than moth-balling the GCR line, and are now in a nationwide dispute as to the best way to increase capacity and create a high speed north-south line.
Madness and lack of foresight on a industrial scale!
I think you have to look at this happening when the country wasn't so wealthy and the railways were costing the treasury a fortune. Demolishing structures such as bridges on closed lines reduced the overall maintenance bill - every little helped or so the Governments of the time hoped.Madness and lack of foresight on a industrial scale!
That said, I thought at the time that the alignments should have been preserved even if goods yards etc were sold off but there wasn't the interest and roads were the Big Thing.
I have a theory that while other countries value infrastructure here it is regarded as a liability on the public purse on which as little money as possible should be spent.
davebem said:
RoverP6B said:
but not if it's stuck in the East Midlands and/or restricted to 25mph.
I could be wrong but I think the GCR is allowed to run at 45mph and in special circumstances 60mph?There is now scaffold up around the South end of the Canal Bridge and the cantilever beam is in position to lift that end of the bridge for repairs to those bearing pads. No sign of the lattice sections yet.
There were Lots of people at the GCR for the start of the Gala weekend. The trains were delayed mid afternoon and for some reason (possibly related??) an 08 shunter had gone up the Swithland branch and looked as though it was attached to the 3 car DMU set.
Watched some "life of steam railways" type program on the "Yesterday" TV channel last night, they had a section about the goods yard on the GCR, shunting all the wagons about for a freight gala event. Saw the rake of windcutter trucks and your brake van 
Think they were shunting with a J72 (or similar small 0-6-0).
Interesting thing to see when most preserved railways are completely passenger based. Still gutted I never made the time to visit when I was at uni!
Think they were shunting with a J72 (or similar small 0-6-0).Interesting thing to see when most preserved railways are completely passenger based. Still gutted I never made the time to visit when I was at uni!
lufbramatt said:
Watched some "life of steam railways" type program on the "Yesterday" TV channel last night, they had a section about the goods yard on the GCR, shunting all the wagons about for a freight gala event. Saw the rake of windcutter trucks and your brake van Think they were shunting with a J72 (or similar small 0-6-0).
Interesting thing to see when most preserved railways are completely passenger based. Still gutted I never made the time to visit when I was at uni!
I moved up here for uni and haven't left. I almost need 4 hands to count how long I've now lived in the area, but only 1 to count the times i've been on the trains. Mind you i now live closer to the GCR(N) now! Think they were shunting with a J72 (or similar small 0-6-0).Interesting thing to see when most preserved railways are completely passenger based. Still gutted I never made the time to visit when I was at uni!
lufbramatt said:
Hah! what course did you do? I did Industrial design 2003-2006. Before they knocked down the old design centre 
I've been up a couple of times since to give lectures to design students, but never had time to see the steam trains!
There was some overlap then, I was 2000-2004 as an undergrad, then i hung around for a bit longer. i was Mech Eng, but know people from your course. I've been up a couple of times since to give lectures to design students, but never had time to see the steam trains! Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff