Suggestions on best way to use a ticket on the Great Central Railway Loughborough to get to have a look at the most places?

[WolvertonWorks]

I am probably going to be treated to lunch on the GCR's Elizabethan service in September

First Class Dining Trains 2025 – The Elizabethan | Great Central Railway – The UK's Only Main Line Heritage Railway

This sets off from Loughborough at 1pm but (quote) "This First Class Dining experience includes complimentary rail travel across any of our four stations for the entire day!"

We will be staying in Loughborough, walking distance from Loughborough Central, and I see that the first train leaves at 10am so we should have time to take a ride and get off at an intermediate station for a look around and back to Loughborough before we board for lunch.

We are due back at Loughborough at 14:44 after lunch, so should be able to get the 15:33 for another ride afterwards.

Timetable for September not yet on website but last weekend's here:

Timetables & Fares | Great Central Railway – The UK's Only Main Line Heritage Railway

Does anyone have any suggestions on which trips to take?

Thanks

 

[Bradford PA]

I am probably going to be treated to lunch on the GCR's Elizabethan service in September

First Class Dining Trains 2025 – The Elizabethan | Great Central Railway – The UK's Only Main Line Heritage Railway

This sets off from Loughborough at 1pm but (quote) "This First Class Dining experience includes complimentary rail travel across any of our four stations for the entire day!"

We will be staying in Loughborough, walking distance from Loughborough Central, and I see that the first train leaves at 10am so we should have time to take a ride and get off at an intermediate station for a look around and back to Loughborough before we board for lunch.

We are due back at Loughborough at 14:44 after lunch, so should be able to get the 15:33 for another ride afterwards.

Timetable for September not yet on website but last weekend's here:

Timetables & Fares | Great Central Railway – The UK's Only Main Line Heritage Railway

Does anyone have any suggestions on which trips to take?

Thanks

Several years ago, on a similar timetable, I went Loughborough to Rothley at 1000, Rothley to Quorn at 1102 and then back to Loughborough on the 1220. I had a packed lunch which I ate with a cup of tea at Loughborough station before catching their non-stop express service to Leicester North from where I walked into the city to catch a train home south from there. I think that the express may have departed from Loughborough later than 1300 on that day but that will not affect you as you will be eating your meal on that. Each of the stations has individual character and is set in a different vintage so well worth viewing.

 

[WolvertonWorks]

Thanks very much- exactly the kind of info I was looking for.

 

[ac6000cw]

If you don't have time to visit them all, I'd rate Loughborough as the most interesting and Leicester North as the least interesting (but the line between there and Rothley has the best gradients, so is a good 'loco sound' ride). The other two stations are both interesting and basically the same design but different in character, with Quorn having a large goods yard and an 'open' location, whereas Rothley is in a cutting and has the signalbox directly opposite the middle of the platform.

 

[WesternLancer]

There are things of interest to see in the buildings on the stations at both quorn and Rothley. Eg exhibit about lady who worked as a porter in ww1 at Rothley and then in later life supported the restoration project which is in the porters area under the stairs. But you could probably take it all in in 30 to 45 mins if time was short.

The ww2 themed under stairs tea counter at Quorn also worth a look. Carriage and wagon works is at Quorn but don’t think there is usually public access.

Leicester north is not an original station so less historic interest but a nice job has been done to create a small basic station there.

Loughborough inc the museum is where there is most to see. And a walk down towards the sheds is always of interest and a good second hand book shop The Emporium on the platform.

Hope this helps a bit.

 

[Bradford PA]

There are things of interest to see in the buildings on the stations at both quorn and Rothley. Eg exhibit about lady who worked as a porter in ww1 at Rothley and then in later life supported the restoration project which is in the porters area under the stairs. But you could probably take it all in in 30 to 45 mins if time was short.

The ww2 themed under stairs tea counter at Quorn also worth a look. Carriage and wagon works is at Quorn but don’t think there is usually public access.

Leicester north is not an original station so less historic interest but a nice job has been done to create a small basic station there.

Loughborough inc the museum is where there is most to see. And a walk down towards the sheds is always of interest and a good second hand book shop The Emporium on the platform.

Hope this helps a bit.

The amount of time between the scheduled trains is ample for the Rothley and Quorn stops to view all the stations' attractions. Loughborough is open well before the departure of the first train and still open after the arrival of the last so there is no rush to get round the station in the relatively short time before lunch. There is quite a lot going on there to see.

 

[ac6000cw]

Carriage and wagon works is at Quorn but don’t think there is usually public access.

The Carriage Works is at Rothley (just south of the station, on the east side of the line). Quorn has a goods yard, goods shed, turntable and lineside TPO mail bag exchange equipment.

A guide to the line - https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/the-railway/guide-to-the-line/

 

[WesternLancer]

The Carriage Works is at Rothley (just south of the station, on the east side of the line). Quorn has a goods yard, goods shed, turntable and lineside TPO mail bag exchange equipment.

A guide to the line - https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/the-railway/guide-to-the-line/

Thanks for correcting me! I new there was a risk of me getting muddled between those two in my posts without checking - despite many enjoyable visits to the line!

 

[JBuchananGB]

Walking distance from Leicester North:

Abbey Pumping Station – Leicester Museums

Walk into the impressive Abbey Pumping Station and enter a world of industry and technology. General entry is free except on event days.

www.leicestermuseums.org

 

[Flying Phil]

If you are there on Sunday Sept 8th, there is the opportunity to go round the Loughborough locomotive shed on one of the monthly guided "Boscastle Shed Tours". It is also the Diesel Gala weekend.

 

[WolvertonWorks]

Thanks everyone - lunch is booked and is at the end of September. I'll report back on how it goes.