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The Great Central North information and future plans.

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Cowley

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I’ve started this as a separate thread to the existing GCR threads.
If anyone has anything interesting to add please do.
From my own point of view I’ve had a few trips on the line and could really see the progress that’s been made on the track and linesides when I visited recently.
 
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Flying Phil

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I have visited a couple of times for the 567 Locomotive AGMs and have been impressed by the variety of activities "on Site" at Ruddington. The model engineers tracks are well used and there are a large number of vintage buses being worked on.
I would like to see some activity about getting the rail connection to the "Gap" sorted out.....but perhaps that is happening behind the scenes?
 

43096

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I have visited a couple of times for the 567 Locomotive AGMs and have been impressed by the variety of activities "on Site" at Ruddington. The model engineers tracks are well used and there are a large number of vintage buses being worked on.
I would like to see some activity about getting the rail connection to the "Gap" sorted out.....but perhaps that is happening behind the scenes?
Bridging the gap probably isn't of as great importance for the north end as the south end. Whilst access to a station in Loughborough would be useful from the north, for the south it is all about access to that prized Network Rail connection. There really isn't any other justification for it.
 

Flying Phil

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Hi 43096
I'm really surprised that you think that it is only the connection to NR that is of value. I believe that having the choice of going South or North from Loughborough makes it a better attraction. Having Loughborough and Leicester North (plus an eventual museum) makes Ruddington a better start point. Being able to go to Loughborough and Ruddington (plus Quorn, Rothley and Mountsorrel) makes Leicester (N) a better start point so I am sure that the passenger and general visitor numbers, will be greater for the whole than for the two parts at present.
Obviously the link to NR is important and could lead to more testing contracts....but so would the greater length anyway, also some stock will still be moved by road even after the link.
 
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Bridging the gap probably isn't of as great importance for the north end as the south end. Whilst access to a station in Loughborough would be useful from the north, for the south it is all about access to that prized Network Rail connection. There really isn't any other justification for it.

Personally I think the Northern End needs the link far more than the South. I don't drive, so the I generally get to the GCR from the Midland main line & stay in Loughborough for the weekend. I have visited Ruddington, by bus & by a very long walk from East Midlands Parkway, but it is very much the poor relation to the Southern line. What the various groups are doing within the heritage centre is very good & it does have a decent length of track, but I can't see myself visiting again until I can get there by train from Leicester North. The Ruddington end simply isn't a sufficient attraction on it's own.
 

AndyY1951

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I am also amazed that anyone could seriously doubt the value that bridging the gap will bring to both the Northern and Southern parts of the GCR. One reunified railway will be far better than the sum of the two parts in my view.
 

Yorkshire222

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Interesting though that while the GCR website has had information about the joinup project on the home page of it's website ever since work was proposed, the GCRN website has no information and the only mention of it I could find was a 2017 news article buried within the website. Are GCRN contributing towards the link or just letting GCR fund it all?
 

Flying Phil

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I have just received the latest "Main Line" (GCR magazine #181) and there is an interesting article from the East Midlands Railway Trust, which highlights their and the GCR(N) roles. They state that the A60 bridge is a vital component of the gap project which will need "recovery and refurbishment" and that will be their first priority. The chord line between Asher Lane and the GC main line is also a critical component to be achieved.
 

43096

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Hi 43096
I'm really surprised that you think that it is only the connection to NR that is of value. I believe that having the choice of going South or North from Loughborough makes it a better attraction. Having Loughborough and Leicester North (plus an eventual museum) makes Ruddington a better start point. Being able to go to Loughborough and Ruddington (plus Quorn, Rothley and Mountsorrel) makes Leicester (N) a better start point so I am sure that the passenger and general visitor numbers, will be greater for the whole than for the two parts at present.
Obviously the link to NR is important and could lead to more testing contracts....but so would the greater length anyway, also some stock will still be moved by road even after the link.
I'm not seeing what the market is for a train from a station on the edge of Nottingham to a station on the edge of Leicester that will take the best part of 90mins one way. Given that the bulk of the market is going to be people on day trips, a round trip of 3hrs, especially if they have kids with them, isn't exactly attractive.

There will probably be some benefit for the north with access to a station in Loughborough. Not seeing the big attraction for the south end.......... except that NR connection.
 

AndyY1951

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I don't see it follows that with a unified route sixteen miles long that the service will necessarily be made up of end-end trains. It may well be that most trains will be Loughborough-Ruddington and Loughborough-Leicester, with 'specials' end-end. The options are flexible and will doubtless evolve over time.
 

Flying Phil

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I agree with AndyY, many "casual" visitors and families will do "A steam engine ride" so Lbro - Rudd or Lbro - LNorth and return. Day visitors will do the whole line and intermediate stations....Galas will be even better!.....the prospect of some charters arriving from elsewhere just adds to the mix....
 

AndyY1951

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I would have thought that would come down to somebody paying for it, in much the same way that the southern half was funded by the generosity of one man, David Clarke.
 

wagwan my g

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I would have thought that would come down to somebody paying for it, in much the same way that the southern half was funded by the generosity of one man, David Clarke.

It could always be fundraised I suppose as well, I imagine it would cost a lot but it could be doable and really impressive if done (particularly for galas), the likelihood of finding someone able and willing to fund it all is pretty low I imagine.
 

Monty

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The northern end needs an awful lot of work before it's suitable for regular service trains from Loughborough. It's almost completely devoid of signalling, passing loops (yes there is Rushcliffe Halt, but the station itself is very isolated and there is not much there of interest) and other railway infrastructure especially for steam locomotives. The fact that the Ruddington museum's awkward location means a shunt is required to get trains into the platform doesn't help.

Long long term, they need to think about some major signalling work, a new platform/station on the main running line at Ruddington and possibly looking at rebuilding East Leake station, but it will be many many years after the two lines are 'unified' before that happens.
 

wagwan my g

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Skymonster

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Long long term, they need to think about some major signalling work, a new platform/station on the main running line at Ruddington and possibly looking at rebuilding East Leake station, but it will be many many years after the two lines are 'unified' before that happens.
The plan is to build a southern curve so northbound trains on the line can directly access the station at Ruddington and vice versa.
 

gc4946

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How far is it possible for GCRN to reach Nottingham from Ruddington?
Would it be feasible to reopen the line on the original trackbed to a point due south of A52 Clifton Boulevard in order to meet the trams there?
 

duffield

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How far is it possible for GCRN to reach Nottingham from Ruddington?
Would it be feasible to reopen the line on the original trackbed to a point due south of A52 Clifton Boulevard in order to meet the trams there?
This has been discussed before, the original route near the A52 is now an SSSI (protected nature reserve), but a deviation into the fields to the West would be *possible* - however, it's not a priority and very unlikely to happen in either the short or medium term.

Meanwhile, Ruddington station has some buses into Nottingham, and a large car park for the adjacent country park, and will almost certainly still be the Northern terminus for many years to come.

The big infrastructure priority at Ruddington is a South Curve to allow trains to run directly into the station without reversing (with the bonus of providing a turning triangle for locos), but as far as I know there isn't yet any real timescale or funding for even this.

NB: I'm not a GCR(N) insider, this is my best summary of the info provided by those apparently 'in the know' on this and other forums. If it's inaccurate in any way apologies, and please correct me!
 

gc4946

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If there's no prospect of reaching Clifton Boulevard then building a south curve at Ruddington (which I've not been aware of before) would be my next best option.
 

tnxrail

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I remember reading that a big problem with a South Curve is an uncooperative landowner?
Ive heard from people in the past that they could buy it but he wanted a million pound's may just be a rumour, also a new station at Ruddington would be good but not likely. I was on a train that stopped at East Leake to drop off a works team so seems platforms seem in okay condition, but the entrance is blocked off so they have to clear it.
 

duffield

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I remember reading that a big problem with a South Curve is an uncooperative landowner?
I remember someone who seemed to be in the know stated that they thought they could just about squeeze a curve in without the land purchase. But I don't know if this is definitely true, it was a while ago and maybe I misunderstood or mis-remembered.
 
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