Great Central Railway
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Saving a main line railway: a remarkable achievement!
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50 years ago this year, the first seeds were sown in a bid to save a section of the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire. Graham Oliver, the railway’s former chief executive, recalls those early days of an embryo scheme which has subsequently blossomed into the country’s only double-track main line preserved railway. As 1968 progressed…
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‘Screaming Valentas’ tour raises more than £21,000 for HST depot
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EAST Midlands Trains took one of its ex-Grand Central 2+6 High Speed Train sets from Derby to Ruddington on the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) on November 17. At Ruddington one of the power cars was switched for the National Railway Museum’s prototype HST power car No. 41001. The sold-out train was organised jointly by EMT, the…
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‘Manor’ and ‘8F’ lined up for Great Central winter gala
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THE sound of a GWR ‘Manor’ will echo again over the Great Central Railway for the first time in four years when No. 7802 Bradley Manor visits for the January 25-27 Winter Steam Gala. The Erlestoke Manor Fund 4-6-0 has been confirmed as the star guest at the GCR’s curtain raiser, making the short journey across…
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‘Witherslack’ takes ‘Santa’ strain at SVR
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GREAT Central Railway-based Hawksworth ‘Modified Hall’ No. 6990 Witherslack Hall made a successful return to the Severn Valley Railway during December to help with the festive season traffic(RM Dec). The Locomotive Exchanges veteran crosses Bewdley South Viaduct with a ‘Santa Special’ on December 9. JOHN TITLOW Read more News and Features in the January 2019 issue…
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Weardale getting readyfor the Christmas rush
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THE Weardale Railway is again running the ‘Train to Christmas Town’ this year. An e.c.s. train was run on November 14 to move the Class 31s and coaching stock from Wolsingham depot to Stanhope. This comprised Nos. 31190 and 31459, 10 Mk2 coaches and No. 31465 on the rear. The train is seen with No. 31190 at the head,…
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‘O4’ becomes a ‘ROD’ for GCR’s remembrance weekend
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GREAT Central Railway-based Robinson ‘O4’ 2-8-0 No. 63601 took centre stage at the railway’s Great War, Great Central weekend on November 10-11, six years after being withdrawn from service. The 1911-built former ‘8K’ had its BR identity replaced with that of the Railway Operating Division (ROD), with the legend ‘ROD 1912’ on its tender and the…
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45305 returns for GCR’s Last Hurrah
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WORKSHOP staff and 5305 Locomotive Association (5305LA) volunteers put in a sterling effort to ensure the group’s flagship locomotive – ‘Black Five’ No. 45305 Alderman E Draper – was fit to run at the Great Central Railway’s Last Hurrah weekend on November 17-18 following the completion of its overhaul. The annual event is an opportunity…
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Converted Class 769s set for Northern debut in New Year
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TESTING of Class 769 ‘Flex’ bi-mode trains converted from former Thameslink Class 319s has now reached an advanced stage, with production of sets for Northern, Transport for Wales and GWR set to ramp up over the coming months. The two pre-production sets – Nos. 769434 and 769456 – have been undergoing dynamic testing at the Great Central…
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‘Duchess’ makes Swanage Railway gala debut
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No. 6233 Duchess of Sutherland was in deepest Dorset making its preservation debut on Swanage Railway metals – just a week prior to the East Lancashire Railway gala. The LMS 4-6-2 was one of three Pacifics in action at the October 12-14 event which, like the Great Central Railway gala, was loosely themed around the…
