Great Central Railway
The Great Central Railway runs from Loughborough south to Leicester North (originally Belgrave & Birstall) Its most famous attribute is the section of track between Loughborough to Rothley that’s now double. Train movements are allowed to reach 25mph during public running, the twin track gives the photographer a unique experience to photograph trains passing, which can be common especially on gala weekends. Whilst the backdrop isn’t exactly stunning like Llangollen for example the long straight sections of track either side of Quorn station are just wonderful with dozens of great line side locations. The most famous being Woodthorpe & Kinchley Lane. Quorn & Rothley are wonderful, Loughborough has the feel of a classic 1960′s station & Leicester North is having a overhead canopy built to improve facilities there. Coaching stock & frieght are good with the windcutters the highlight, locos are very good with many being large Mixed traffic or passenger express types. The GCR has suffered with debt for a number of years, but under careful management is now profitable & really exciting to photograph at, if they get the funding to bridge the gap over the midland mainline @ Loughborough it will effectively link Nottingham to Leicester again…………..
