Bridge that Gap: Great Central Railway News

How does GCRN operate its trains at the moment, does it propel in and out onto the GCR mainline and then run round at the other end ? or is it a 3 runarounds job.
If a south Chord at Ruddington proves to be unachievable: then a steam or diesel 'station pilot' bringing a train from the south in and/or out would certainly add interest and some employment for smaller/ industrial locos -once linked up Ruddington to Loughborough seems a long way at what is 'top speed ' for some such...

 

Hi Class8.....There is no run round once on the line down to Loughborough so I believe the services are run "Top and Tailed". The South Chord is certainly achievable and has been surveyed. I suspect there is a small amount of land needed .... and a reasonable amount of cash required. It is certainly a priority in the EMRT targets for the next 5 years plan.......... Also stated as in the latest Mainline.

 

That's how it was operating when I last rode on the GCRN about 3 years ago. A south chord would shave probably five or ten minutes off a round trip, the loco crew would only have to shut an engine down and swap ends once in the journey rather than three times.

Just an observation; the December copy of Driving Wheels and the Spring 2021 copy of Mainline, the EMRT state what they'd like to achieve in the next five years but unlike the GCR they don't seem to have anything in the way of a fundraising or donations system set up... I have donated to their projects in the past (and still do) but it appears more to be done via crowd-funding sites such as JustGiving rather than a dedicated charitable trust. I can't help but feel that they might get more money raised, quicker, if they made it a little easier to give. Speaking personally I (often) reconsider spending my money if I click on a link to 'donate' only to be taken to another website where I have to spend five or ten minutes putting all of my personal information in, and then dig out my debit/credit cards for the numbers. It gives me time to consider 'is this a purchase I really need to make?'... a direct Paypal link on the other hand, the donation is gone before I notice it.

 

Most trains are actually propelled - we have a Mk2 brake which has been converted with a seat, brake handle, horn and screen at one end, so the guard can sit and watch the road ahead when the train is propelled. This happens for trains up to 4 coaches long, any longer and top and tail is used.

 

Another change in the "Factory Flyover" latest information from Main Line, is that they are only planning to use one Ex Reading bridge deck. The other is planned to be used "elsewhere in the Reunification scheme to achieve a cost saving". I wonder if that is for the section of the embankment where it crosses the Severn Trent combined sewer outflow into the brook?
There is a problem though as it is only a single track width and the embankment is supposed to be double track up to the factory flyover.....Perhaps they are going to cut it into two, as only a short span may be needed and put the two halves side by side?

 

Looking at the new plans in the latest Reunification leaflet, there are three different diameter circles drawn on the Eastern side near to the brook.....does anybody know what these represent or are for?

 

I think they denote trees of varying sizes. NB: I am not an architect/civil engineer!

 

Yep, looking at google earth they are definitely trees.

 

Sorry but no trees there....since the new bridge was built.

But I agree they probably do represent the trees ......but the trees are not quite in the positions drawn.

 

It looks as though some oxygen thief has been busy with the spray cans.
Pat

 

Perhaps earmarked as a replacement for the A60 bridge on the current GCRN that will need replacing at some point? Or is the ex Reading deck too large for that?

 

I believe its a single track bridge deck and at the A60 bridge you should have 2 lines - the link coming up from the MML and the singled GCR line from Loughboro' northwards. The connection point between the two lines and revised track layout is supposed to be further north (towards the viaduct) to avoid the need for the possiblity of having to restart trains on the gradient on the MML spur. Think that is shown somewhere on the emrt website, from memory.

 

Apparently the total contributed to the Gap project this month has reached over £50,000 already, so the "Money Match March" is over halfway to the £100,000 that is available!
This is a great effort by all concerned.

 

This week's copy of Rail Mail announces that pre-planning application discussions have been opened between the Railway and the Council.

 

Well spotted J Rob't!
I hope this means that there will be "spades in the ground"- possibly before the end of this year. I know they say they will not start until nearly all the money is available, and obviously they need to get all the planning permissions etc,....... but there is nothing like seeing action to keep the momentum up ........ and the funds flowing.

 

More news from the GCR....

"......we’re going to be holding another one of our popular online talks at short notice on Sunday the 28th of March. This time, the subject is the award winning signalling on our double track main line. Join broadcaster Tom Ingall exploring the signal boxes and systems that make our gala events spectacular. Unusual videos, behind the scene pictures and diagrams galore will fill this brand new sixty minute talk.
As always the online Zoom meeting will begin at 7pm with the presentation beginning at 7.15pm BST. (Please note, this is the day the UK switches to BST). We ask for a £10 minimum donation to join the talk and the limit is 100 places. Anything donated above the £10 will qualify for Money Match March.
You’ll need Zoom on your PC, Mac or tablet which can be downloaded for free. Once you’ve donated, you’ll receive the meeting number and passcode to join, via email around midday on the 28th."

 

The Zoom talk went well and the "Money Match March" has been very well supported.....the new total funding amount is due to be published very soon, I suspect around £750,000, which will be fantastic!

 

That is good news indeed, I'm rather looking forward to seeing the ground broken with this next stage of the project. Rather than seemingly nothing happening for years, except behind the scenes, I think it would be a good move, when the money is there, to at least get the columns in. Even if then there's another year or two wait whilst the funds for the bridge beams and decks themselves are raised.

That is assuming of course, that 1) Preci-Spark and the Council are happy for two shorter periods of construction work rather than one long one; 2) that the detailed design is suited to a phased method of construction.

 

I totally agree with you J Robt that it would be a good move to see some physical work soon, but I suspect making it into a two stage operation is more expensive, especially as they have deliberately made stage 3 and 4 into one operation.
However, there is another possibility, which is much less expensive and would provide a lot of positive PR - they could clear the stock North of the loco shed and run some rail over the canal bridge. Then some of the GCR locomotives could be steamed and posed for photo opportunities on the canal bridge. I know this means running through the loco shed but that only needs to happen a couple of times to get stock moved and some variety later on. This could keep the momentum going for fund raising with clear physical progress and minimum expenditure - the jobs will need to be done anyway.

 

Phil, have you considered that future construction of the missing embankment may well need road vehicle access over that bridge? I think putting rails on it right now would be a waste of resources and for what, a photo opportunity? There will be more than enough of those when the job is finished. Do it once, and do it properly.


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