Bridge that Gap: Great Central Railway News

I agree pmh......and I have not been near a pub in months

 

The line from the M.M.L. up to mountsorrel over the river soar just one question was it owned by M.R. company, And the G.C. branch line now relaid from swithland sidings to mountsorrel was that owned by the G.C.R. or was the whole line from swithland to sileby just classed as a private mineral line?

 

The MR branch was built and owned by MR. The GCR branch was built and owned privately, and gated at the Swithland end. Opinions vary as to whether there was a direct end-on connection or if both just led into the same mess of internal sidings.

Certainly if it were not for the conveyor, quarry yard and earth bank blocking the trackbed, you could in theory continue the recreated branch through Mountsorrel, over the 1860 bridge (which is well worth a look at by the way) and off towards the MML that way. You could probably build a station by the MML where the sidings are too, if it didn’t get snapped up for housing first. Not that near the village centre or main line station unfortunately. There is also the small matter of raising the A6 dual carriageway because the bridge over the conveyor has barely enough clearance to stand up under. Ah well, won’t happen until the quarry is worked out and the filled up with landfill so probably not in the next 100 years. Pure WIBN on my part!


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My own view is that the siting of the outlet for the Mountsorrel quarry traffic onto the Midland mainline which should receive total route modernisation with
electrification is a real problem. It is actually a surprisingly high speed route: at the end of the nineteenth century very early speeds of 90 mph were recorded on it and in the middle 1970s an overall average of 101 mph was made start to stop St Pancras to Leicester. It does not help that the turnouts for the stone loading at MP 108 are on and off
the Down Fast - though it is where you might be easing off for whatever the speed restrictions might become about Trent East Junction for Sheffield, Nottingham and
Derby. With cab signalling and tilt new trains could be for 150 mph.

I see the revenue from the stone trains on the GCR as paying for reinstating the period ambiance that has gone missing - renewing signals with lower quadrants - and retaining bull
head track - other people will have other wish lists.

 

It certainly appears from the map that there as an end-on connection: https://maps.nls.uk/view/101592423

 

Instead of raising the A6 the track could be lowered to pass under.

 

APT

 

It was indeed the prototype APT-E, which was gas turbine powered and is now preserved at NRM Shildon.

 

Just spotted the leaflet/brochure for the new engine shed at Loughborough.
http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-conte...at-Central-Railway-Locomotive-Shed-Appeal.pdf

It looks really good, however I’m confused as to where the connection for the line going North will sit with this new building? The area is right as it is, so struggling to picture what the eventual plan is for the site. TIA

 

That got mentioned back on page 54 of this thread - Seems to be drawn by someone without a clue of the proposed layout....!!

 

The last time a 'Peak' was thrashed senseless all the way was at Old Dalby in 1984...

 

Only if you have a fleet of submarines for the winter months. It’s right across the Soar’s flood plane.


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although of course the GC London extension is unusual in preserved railways for flat bottom being right for at least part of its time as part of the national network.

 

I note from the Steam Railway which arrived today, that the next issue - due out on 26th June - is going to have a feature on "The Great Divide - Reunifying the GCR" in it.

 

from GCR website:-
"
Test trains – Sunday 31st May
Published May 28, 2020 | By GCR Admin
We are running some further test trains on Sunday of this weekend (31st May) and will open up Quorn Yard car park for those who want to get a “steam fix” and photographic opportunities of one of the first heritage railways to run trains since lockdown.

As it stands, Standard Class 2 locomotive 78018 will be in traffic but this is subject to change as circumstances dictate. There is a strong chance that we will also be running some tests and equipment movements involving our diesel Class 37 during the course of the same day, albeit again subject to confirmation.

There will be no access to platforms and the cafés will not be able to open.

Approximate departure times from Loughborough are 13.00; 14.30 and 16.00.

We also suggest that to maintain social distancing, people remain in their cars to watch the trains, although if you decide to step outside, please ensure that you are at least 2 metres away from anyone who is not from your immediate household


Posted in Main Line"

 

Just to update, in the GCR "Rail Mail", they say parking at Quorn will be in the (overflow parking) field on the other side of the line. I would think that somebody will be selling ice creams etc and I suspect that the GCR doesn't want to be seen to break the rules re Cafe's opening.

 

I wonder if they have done a risk assement having invited the public along an event? Whether that be sat in a car or not.
Massed gatherings aren't permitted at the moment so I believe.
Only from Mon can up to 6 people meet up in an open space and then at 2m distance.
This a step to far given the current situation that we fine ourselves in.

 

as long as people state that they’d driven there to test their eyesight, they’ll be ok.