The Heritage Centre is open from 10:45 until 17.00
Check Out The Running Dates Page For The Days We Are Running
One thing we have at the Great Central Railway, Nottingham. That no other preserved railway in the country has is the route goes right alongside the BRUSH loco works at loughborough so if you want your exclusive pics of locos in the yard come for a trip and have a nice family day out on 10 miles of heritage railway through the lovely nottinghamshire and leicestershire countryside.
Also at Ruddington on the GCR(N) there is something for everyone on site.
There is a wide variety of locomotives and rollingstock on site at Ruddington. With 2 x Class 08, 2 x Class 20, 1 x Class 25, 1 x Class 37, 1 x Class 46, 2 x Class 47, 1 x Class 56 & 1 x Class 73. There is also 2 DMU sets on the railway in the form of a class 116/117 & Class 108. The coaching stock on the railway covers most era's in the form of Wooden Barnum coaches, Mk1's, Mk2's & ex Gatwick Express stock.
click here to view the gallery of other locos and stock based on the GCRN
On the NTHC site at Ruddington there is also a miniature railway operated by The Nottingham Society of Model and Experimental Engineers Ltd, Since 1992 members of the Society have spent thousands of hours constructing brand new running tracks in 3½", 5" and 7¼" gauge together with workshop, storage buildings, platform, traversers, tunnels, steaming bays with inspection pit, turntable and numerous ancillary items. Both tracks have easy gradients, none more than 1 in 80 and their total running distance is approximately 700 metres (around 2300 feet) each. NSMEE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO
There is also lots more to do on the site at Ruddington with a large model railway on display, Road Transport building with a selection of buses, car & memorabilia. Then after all this if you are feeling hungry there is a large cafe on site which caters for most tastes where you can have a full dinner or just a snack and a cuppa. Just to the side of the NTHC site at Ruddington there is also a play park where the little ones can have a play and watch the trains going past also & if it gets too hot there is a ice cream kiosk selling a good choice of snacks etc.
On July 11th 2009, saw the opening of the new platform at Ruddington. It has been named Ruddington Fields, the name comes from the estate where the heritage centre is based. The other station on the route is Rushcliffe Halt, at the moment it is not possible to leave the train at East Leake station or Loughborough.
For a guide to the complete line see the route map & description below, also with details how to find each location
The Railway Route
Ruddington Fields Station & Heritage Centre
Ruddington is the main station on the line, and the home of the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre. It features a Road Transport Building, locomotive sheds, signal box, miniature and model railways, cafe, visitor centre, toilets and car park. The country park borders the Heritage Centre. A lengthy new platform was opened on 11th July 2009, in Great Central style at Ruddington to replace the much shorter temporary platform.
Own TransportCLICK HERE.....Via BusCLICK HERE.....Via Rail "Nearest station is Nottingham"CLICK HERE
Asher Lane Crossing
For a short time this was the end of the line. The old style crossing is on a farm road used by the public. It is a short walk from the country park to the crossing, where it is possible to see trains passing and the crossing keeper at work. A carriage shed may be built here in the future. There is no station at Asher Lane.
Fifty Steps Bridge
This is the end of the spur from the Heritage Centre, and here trains reverse for the onward journey to Loughborough. Passenger trains ran to this point in 1995. Surprisingly enough, the bridge itself originally had "Fifty Steps" but subsequent modifictions have increased that number. There is no station here at present, although it is possible that a platform might be constructed in the future. The old Ruddington station is further down the line and there are plans to purchase the station and extend there.
Gotham Sidings
There is currently no facilties here but if funds and planning permission can be collected, the NTHC plans to create a new set of sidings, similar to the ones at Swithland on the Leicester section.
Gotham Moor
Trains pass through pleasant countryside, teeming with wildlife along with passing under a few bridges. There are wonderful views across Gotham Moor. There were once sidings there and it is hoped one day that the sidings would be reinstated
Rushcliffe Halt
This is the only other station on the line currently available for passenger use. On many operating days soutbound trains terminate here before heading back to Ruddington. Station development is ongoing. Some rolling stock is stored in the adjacent sidings. The overhead road bridge gives a good view of the station area and sidings. Just next to the station is the British Gypsum works. On weekdays, trainloads of gypsum are delivered to the works and unloaded on the concrete pad visible from the station platforms. In recent years these trains have been operated by EWS with a mixture of Class 60 and Class 66 traction, and latterly by GBRf Class 66s.
East Leake Halt
A disused station about 1 mile from Rushcliffe Halt.
Barnstone Tunnel
Barnstone Tunnel is the only tunnel on line. It was built by the Victorian Navvies and was dug out by hand.
Stanford Viaduct
The line travels over the River Soar, providing a view of the river below. The viaduct is completely original and NTHC passenger trains first travelled across it in 2000. The viaduct was built in 1895.
Loughborough Midland High Level
This is the end of the line, just after passing the FKI/Brush works. GCRN services terminate at a Stop Board close to a road. Beyond that is the connection to Network Rail and the Midland Main Line. There are plans for a station to be built here. The loco shed of the Great Central Railway at Loughborough are just visible, across the Midland Mainline. There are plans to reinstate a bridge across the Midland Mainline and to join up with the GCR at Loughborough.
