Bridge that Gap: Great Central Railway News

They've got the advantage that they're extending! Though the realigned section runs nicely through the middle of a brand new housing estate, bizarrely built on a filled-in former sand pit.

 

The rate the housing round that way is continually mushrooming, they need to!

Re: GCR(N), is the formation's position (north of the present gap) suitable for possible double tracking, should some eccentric millionaire offer to stump up for it?

 

Short answer....... Yes! But that would be a very much longer term ambition.
The more important Northern development is the proper terminal at Ruddington and chord line to access it without reversal.

 

okay you’ve sold the GCR, what about the siding that is the North end ?

On every topic about the Gap it’s all about a Mainline connection, the North already has that….

The Gap is 100% about the GCR gaining that much sort after Mainline for its own benefit, with a token “oh and a 16 mile community link to Nottingham” to score some points for funds in Notts.

Id rather all concerned who wants my money where honest about the real aims.

 

How many round tours could be fitted in to the new timetable when eventually the GCR Loughborough and the N.H.R. join up the gap commencing from Loughborough after say 2 locos have been fired up or 1 steam and 1 diesel running south to Leicester N. whilst the other service departs for Ruddington from Leicester at a slightly later time would the service be well patronised if stopping at Rushcliffe H. Besides probably the most passengers boarding at Loughborough, And maybe at Ruddington passengers joining from Notts via the tram link or by car. But as always the A60 bridge and bunny lane bridges need strengthening or new bridge decks which the A60 funds are already been raised for that so the Gypsum trains maybe able to recommence running very soon in a joint project with E.M.R.

 

Is the return of the gypsum traffic guaranteed (e.g. through planning conditions etc.)? Since the bridges broke, they’ll presumably’ve made other transport arrangements.

 

I really don't understand why you keep on as if there is some sort of competition between the two organisations. As I said in my post #1710 above the two were set up to to safeguard both ends of the line until such time as "the Gap" could be bridged. Amalgamation will achieve that original intention and the current members of both groups will benefit by being part of the new "full-strength" GCR.
If you are going to keep opposing the move to join up you really need to come up with some good reasons why that original intent no longer applies to the northern group, and why they should be left to operate in isolation.

 

I am not a member of any of the organisations concerned and have no axe to grind; but purely from what has been said on here over the last few months it can seem that what is in prospect is not an amalgamation but rather a hostile takeover. For some matters, such as the rulebook for operations, a takeover would be perfectly appropriate, but it should be a friendly one, with proper allowance for the existing rights and interests of the northern partners. I hope that that is indeed the intention of all the organisations, but some categorical assurances to that effect (from all of them) wouldn't go amiss.

 

The last figure that I saw from the EMRT regarding the money they had raised so far for their "Forward Fund" was £12,000 - Including Gift Aid (stated in the last edition of Main Line) so that isn't exactly going to go very far when you have two decayed bridges to restore to enable anything to run.
Frankly, nothing is going to be happening with the northern section until they either discover a "magic money tree" or can get some outside funding from whatever source. You can't really have a "hostile takeover" of something that has basically ceased to function in its original form....

 

As far as I know, there haven't been any formal statements by any of the parties either side of the gap surrounding the possibility of a future takeover of the northern GC. Whilst there may be some evidence to suggest this will take place, until there is an official announcement or statement on the matter, it's not at all fair to let what are essentially rumours to rumble on. All it has caused is friction and unease.

 

I fully agree. There seem to be a small group of people who, for no obvious reason, wish to stir trouble between the two organisations. Most obvious is the use of the term "takeover" as if these were commercial businesses with tradeable shares instead of membership organisations that would each require the approval of the majority of their members in order to amalgamate.

 

Therefore a formal statement of intentions would be welcome, as I suggested in post #1728.

 

Whilst I too would like to have more information as to what is happening, I suspect that those concerned are more intent on getting things done rather than telling us all about what may be possible in the future.
Given the difficulties of merely(!) trying to run a railway in these times, the facts of replacing bridges, repairing others, liaising with County Councils, road authorities, canal authorities, water authorities, commercial companies et al, as well as raising funds, negotiating grants etc. means that those concerned deserve our gratitude and support, especially as many of them are volunteers trying to do their best to create a preserved, 18 mile length, of main line.
There are also statements of intent from both of the operating companies (GCR and NHR) and both of the charitable trusts (EMRT and DCRT) available on their respective websites or Company articles ...... all of which support the Reunification.

 

The chord at Ruddington would presumably provide a triangle at the northern end. The only other place I can see on the satellite images to turn a locomotive is a turntable at Quorn, although it's difficult to tell how big it is.

 

The turntable at Quorn is about 60ft I think so small engines can be turned. Tornado was turned without its tender recently.

 

Google Maps is your friend...

 

Well I never knew you could do that - where’s that function hidden?

 

Right Click on the location on Google Maps, select 'Measure Distance'

 

Thanks, perhaps I need to try it on my laptop then

 

I can confirm that. 60', as I was involved in lifting it from Queen St. York and reinstalling it at Southport. We turned Black 5's and Jubilees on it at Southport and, at York it had turned Scots without splitting them from their tenders.
Ray.