Loughborough shed access

In the latest RM it says that the GCR are withdrawing public access to the locomotive shed at Loughborough. This is a disappointment, as it's always an interesting part of a visit to the GCR.

Having said that, I understand the issues, and the GCR have held out longer than most.

Hopefully they will instigate some sort of guided/accompanied access for a small fee. As an enthusiast I would happily part with (say) a fiver to see what's going on in the shed.

 

I can understand the need for the shed to be taken off limits. While its a shame its understandable if the newly installed mainline is to pass down the side of the shed. It would mean that the walkway through part of the area would cross back over the track, and such an arrangement is going to make access harder.

With all the changes going on, I'm sure that the GCR want to display what they have, but safety comes first and people watching what's going on become a risk that can be removed while this work is going on.

 

Having arrived for a visit on the first weekend it was closed the poor individual who had been tasked with standing down by the shed and turning people back said it was due to people not exercising care in the yard, for example walking under a digger coaling a loco. I was led to believe this is nothing to do with any of the new infrastructure being put in. Must be an insurance issue as most lines have gone the same way. Makes me even more surprised that on a double track line the insurers are happy with lineside photographic access, let alone the number that turn up at the GCR's excellent galas.

 

what a pity, I must have made it in on one of the last days it was open. It was a very impressive visit.

 

Turn up on the right weekend and access is still available. The Boscastle restoration team organise tours on a MONTHLY basis. The following copied and pasted from the GCR newsletter. :-

Boscastle Shed Tours - 11/12 November

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Volunteer members of the Boscastle team will be offering informative tours of the Loughborough Locomotive Shed on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th November.

The tour times on Saturday are: 10 30, 1100, 11 30, 12 00. 12 30, 1 45, 2 15, 2 45, 3 15 and 4 00

On Sunday they begin after the service of Remembrance on the station and are: 11 30, 12 00. 12 30, 1 45, 2 15, 2 45, 3 15 and 4 00

Party size is limited at the discretion of the guide.

Please assemble outside the loco shed door and await guide.

Tours last approximately half an hour; please allow 10 minutes to walk to the shed prior to the tour and 10 minutes to walk back again.

 

To be honest I thought the Shed Access had been restricted for sometime at the GCR after some items were stolen.