Great Central Railway News and Updates

[Barclay]

View attachment 190264
A Gloomy Sunday 12/10/25 at Woodthorpe High Street Bridge Loughborough.

A real shame about the new houses on the right with their modern details, close-boarded fences, and backs to the line. A real missed opportunity to create a development that fronted the railway in a positive manner with traditionally-styled new houses. The whole line should be linear conservation area to force developers to up the quality of their new homes where they have an interface with the GCR.

 

[joieman]

A real shame about the new houses on the right with their modern details, close-boarded fences, and backs to the line. A real missed opportunity to create a development that fronted the railway in a positive manner with traditionally-styled new houses. The whole line should be linear conservation area to force developers to up the quality of their new homes where they have an interface with the GCR.

If you think that's bad, wait until you see the houses west of Loughborough Central station!

 

[Mr. SW]

If you think that's bad, wait until you see the houses west of Loughborough Central station!

.
Screen grab from Google maps.
The roads are named Fay, Henderson and Robinson.
It's gated to keep the riff-raff at bay.

 

[joieman]

.View attachment 192277
Screen grab from Google maps.
The roads are named Fay, Henderson and Robinson.
It's gated to keep the riff-raff at bay.
View attachment 192279

Exactly the place I was referring to

 

[Chris125]

If you think that's bad, wait until you see the houses west of Loughborough Central station!

I don't see the problem personally, seems fine to me.

As for Woodthorpe I assume that's the affordable portion of the development, the rest is much better laid out and noticeably higher quality.

 

[Iskra]

More of The Winter Steam Gala lineup has been announced, with guests being a 9F, Battle of Britain Class and an Austerity Tank, plus the home fleet. Looks a good event, hopefully I can get there

20260122 – Winter Steam Gala - Great Central Railway

Kickstart the New Year with our Annual Winter Steam Gala! This action-packed four-day event features an intensive timetable and guest locos.

www.gcrailway.co.uk

• Starting: 22/01/2026

• Finishing: 25/01/2026

• Tickets from: £37.00

Kickstart the New Year with our Annual Winter Steam Gala! Running from 22–25 January, this action-packed four-day event features an intensive timetable of both passenger and goods trains, plus a line-up of special guest locomotives.
We’re excited to confirm that BR 9F No. 92134 is our first guest for the gala. Join us for a run behind the only single-chimney 9F on the UK’s only double-track heritage main line, steaming through the frosty Charnwood countryside — a brilliant way to start the year.
The second guest locomotive that will be joining us for the gala is Austerity 3809/18, this locomotive has been in preservation since 1988 and is returning to GCR after being at the North Norfolk Railway for the last 2 years – so make sure you attend to give it a warm welcome back!
The third and final guest locomotive is Southern Railway Bulleid Battle of Britain class No. 34072 257 Squadron, appearing with thanks to Swanage Railway and Southern Locomotives Limited (SLL).
Our goods trains will be a big part of the Winter Steam Gala, with the Windcutter running throughout the event. The 9Fs were well known for hauling Windcutters on the Great Central Railway, so seeing one at work on our double-track main line will be like stepping back in time. Alongside the Windcutter, we’ll have other goods trains running across the four days, adding plenty of variety to the timetable.
Our guest locomotives will be joined by a strong supporting cast from our home fleet, for a full steam ahead Winter Steam Gala.
With an intensive service throughout the weekend and the chance to explore all our beautifully restored stations, it’s a steam-powered weekend for enthusiasts and families alike.

 

[james_the_xv]

More of The Winter Steam Gala lineup has been announced, with guests being a 9F, Battle of Britain Class and an Austerity Tank, plus the home fleet. Looks a good event, hopefully I can get there

Should be some good variety with the home fleet two Standard 2s, Standard 5, Hall, and Austerity also all in steam at the moment.

 

[Iskra]

Should be some good variety with the home fleet two Standard 2s, Standard 5, Hall, and Austerity also all in steam at the moment.

Agreed. You'd think the two Austerity's might work together, which should be quite the sight as the Austerity that worked last season was one of the highlights for me even on its own.

I'm looking forward to the timetable appearing

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Jan 2026 ==

The timetable is online now.

Loco's advertised:

Austerity 0-6-0 x2
BR 9F
Standard 5MT
Standard 2MT
SR Battle of Britain Class
GWR Hall Class x2

Class 101 DMU

 

[Iskra]

I had a great day at the gala today, with plenty of locomotives out running, plus some nice freight rakes. The weather enhanced the steam effects and the 9F and Bullied in particular looked great.

Unfortunately, it seems that a volunteer was injured during the course of the day which caused the freight trains to be deleted from the timetable and some late running. Hopefully the volunteer is okay

My highlights video from the day:

 

[ryan125hst]

I'm surprised to see that Ellis Tea Rooms at Rothley are being permanently closed next month.

We wanted to let our visitors know that Ellis Tea Room at Rothley will close permanently from 15 February. While this is a sad moment, it allows us to focus on providing the best possible experience for our visitors across the railway.
There will still be plenty of places to enjoy food and drink when you visit us, including the platform Tea Room at Rothley station, Butler Henderson Café and platform NAFFI at Quorn & Woodhouse as well as the Refreshment Room at Loughborough Central, and on-board catering services on our trains.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support — we look forward to welcoming you soon.

Great Central Railway | Loughborough

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While I've only been in on a couple of occasions, it seemed to be a nice cafe and there are numerous benches outside that are normally filled with people watching the trains while having a drink from the cafe.

I wonder what the building will be used for now? Will it be relaunched as a catering space or open as something different entirely?

I hope they leave the rest of the railway catering alone. I attended the Winter Steam Gala on Saturday, and both the breakfast in the griddle car and the hot chocolate by the fire in the Loughborough Refreshment Room were very nice, not to mention the atmosphere of using both of these catering options that really add to the experience.

 

[duffield]

I'm surprised to see that Ellis Tea Rooms at Rothley are being permanently closed next month.

Great Central Railway | Loughborough

Great Central Railway, Loughborough. 47,560 followers · 2,819 talking about this · 42,330 were here. Step back in time to the golden age of travel at GCR! We’re a heritage railway and award-winning...

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While I've only been in on a couple of occasions, it seemed to be a nice cafe and there are numerous benches outside that are normally filled with people watching the trains while having a drink from the cafe.

I wonder what the building will be used for now? Will it be relaunched as a catering space or open as something different entirely?

I hope they leave the rest of the railway catering alone. I attended the Winter Steam Gala on Saturday, and both the breakfast in the griddle car and the hot chocolate by the fire in the Loughborough Refreshment Room were very nice, not to mention the atmosphere of using both of these catering options that really add to the experience.

Shame, it always looked pretty busy to me. But I suppose having two catering establishments at Rothley was a bit overkill.

 

[ryan125hst]

They have now provided more detail on their website:

We would like to let our visitors know that Ellis Tea Room at Rothley will close permanently from 15 February. This has been a difficult decision, taken after careful consideration, as Ellis has faced ongoing challenges for some time.

Ellis was originally intended to serve both the local community and visitors to the Great Central Railway, while also contributing financially to the railway. Unfortunately, this has not proved sustainable in the long term, and the decision has been made to refocus our catering offer in a way that best supports the railway and our visitors.

We would like to reassure visitors that there will continue to be a wide range of food and drink options available across the railway. Visitors can still enjoy refreshments at the platform Tea Room at Rothley station, and the Butler Henderson Café will remain open at Quorn & Woodhouse alongside the platform NAAFI as well as the Refreshment Room at Loughborough Central Station. In addition, on-board catering services will continue to operate on our trains on running days.

This closure does not mark the end of the Ellis building. Alternative uses are already being explored, and we hope to share more about future plans in the coming months.

Thank you for your understanding and for your continued support of the Great Central Railway. We look forward to welcoming you and hope you enjoy the variety of refreshment options available during your visit.

Ellis Tea Room Closure – Visitor Information

We would like to let our visitors know that Ellis Tea Room at Rothley will close permanently from 15 February.

www.gcrailway.co.uk

 

[Flying Phil]

Whilst Ellis's was always busy during events, it was less busy on ordinary running days and weekends. When no trains are running it has usually been very quiet. It is in a difficult location, hidden from view with only a small sign board at the roadside to show it is there.
It is a shame that it is closing as quite a lot has been spent on extending it and upgrading its facilities.

 

[IanH440]

How does closure affect the Quorn Facilities? -- I enjoyed a breakfast there at the November gala but had to make do with a a bacon roll at the January Gala.... what will be on offer by the February event....

 

[Flying Phil]

Hi Ian
I should think that the Butler Henderson cafe at Quorn will be unaffected, there is also the Naafi tea room under the bridge on the platform so plenty of choice.

 

[Amos390]

Hey, timetable has been released by Hanson Hall for a loco move into GCRN on Monday (Tomorrow) with a drag of some sort on Tuesday (Timetables: https://live.rail-record.co.uk/train.php/?c=R31713&d=2026-02-16 https://live.rail-record.co.uk/train.php/?c=K48917&d=2026-02-17). I’m presuming the loco performing the move will be 50008 ‘Thunderer’ as it came into Burton yesterday, but I don’t know whether something else will join it to accommodate T&T running and what the 50 will be dragging, does anyone know anything else about the move?

 

[Denis103]

Hey, timetable has been released by Hanson Hall for a loco move into GCRN on Monday (Tomorrow) with a drag of some sort on Tuesday (Timetables: https://live.rail-record.co.uk/train.php/?c=R31713&d=2026-02-16 https://live.rail-record.co.uk/train.php/?c=K48917&d=2026-02-17). I’m presuming the loco performing the move will be 50008 ‘Thunderer’ as it came into Burton yesterday, but I don’t know whether something else will join it to accommodate T&T running and what the 50 will be dragging, does anyone know anything else about the move?

31235 and 31210 are moving to Nemesis Rail.

 

[Amos390]

31235 and 31210 are moving to Nemesis Rail.

ok thanks, are they going there to be fixed/sold on or are they being scrapped do you know?

 

[Denis103]

ok thanks, are they going there to be fixed/sold on or are they being scrapped do you know?

That I don't know. Just picked up what was moving from a pic on FB.

 

[Bob85]

Here's the "official" video on the GCR YouTube channel, showing 50008 and 31161 as the locos doing the drag.

Additionally, there has been another upload related to reunification.

 

[ExRes]

Here's the "official" video on the GCR YouTube channel, showing 50008 and 31161 as the locos doing the drag.

Additionally, there has been another upload related to reunification.

Thanks for the links, but 31161?? records I can find show that loco (31400) as being scrapped in 1993, I'm pretty much sure that 50008 was working with 31128 yesterday

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Feb 2026 ==

ok thanks, are they going there to be fixed/sold on or are they being scrapped do you know?

As far as I can find 235 is/was a donor for 210

** According to WNXX this evening 210 & 235 have both been re-registered and allocated to the MBDL pool

 

[merry]

Unfortunately, it seems that a volunteer was injured during the course of the day which caused the freight trains to be deleted from the timetable and some late running. Hopefully the volunteer is okay

For those who may have been concerned, I've been informed that the volunteer in question was not significantly injured, and is now fully recovered and well.
A reminder to all: especially in/after wet and cold weather, wooden steps can be slippery. Take care, hold the handrails (where provided), 3 points of contact on ladders & the like. We all need to be regularly reminded.

 

[Forty29]

There's been a few isolated incidents in the last few years involving volunteers and other's( was that a passenger that opened the door on the platform ramp and fell out)? However it's happened on facilities and equipment that is used like it did in days gone by so is a modern day hazard.

Yes why did 31161 get quoted!

 

[WesternLancer]

Good day at the gala today. Though seemed not without incident as I believe the Hymek failed which was a shame.

Lots to see and great to be able to go on the Mountsorrel Branch.

 

[Sidmouth34010]

Good day at the gala today. Though seemed not without incident as I believe the Hymek failed which was a shame.

Lots to see and great to be able to go on the Mountsorrel Branch.

Hymek didn't fail

Shortage of crew , so approved drivers for D7018

 

[WesternLancer]

Hymek didn't fail

Shortage of crew , so approved drivers for D7018

Ah. Thanks for clarifying. That was what was mentioned to me by another passenger. Shame I didn’t take more of a trip on it earlier as was hoping to take one of the later runs in full.

Good to know it’s in good order however.

 

[Flying Phil]

At the end of Feb there was a Brake Van ride organised for the Windcutter restoration team of volunteers. This had the rake of 16T mineral wagons hauled by the 9F.



We all enjoyed seeing our wagons in operation, even though the weather was a classic mix of wind, rain, sunshine and a rainbow!

 

[Iskra]

Does anyone know how Goods Friday is going to work?

Standard 2MT was advertised but has been removed from the website now, just the Austerity Tank and Peak now. Does that mean the 2MT is on the freight or will the Austerity and Peak handle everything?

 

[Denis103]

Does anyone know how Goods Friday is going to work?

Standard 2MT was advertised but has been removed from the website now, just the Austerity Tank and Peak now. Does that mean the 2MT is on the freight or will the Austerity and Peak handle everything?

I'm not convinced on the rosters that are shown lately as the Austerity was quoted last weekend but was in Swanage. There must be at least 3 loco's on friday or the timetable doesn't work

 

[Iskra]

I'm not convinced on the rosters that are shown lately as the Austerity was quoted last weekend but was in Swanage. There must be at least 3 loco's on friday or the timetable doesn't work

Thanks for the information, that’s helpful. I’m not that fussed what steam produces, although the Austerity is a cracking little loco, I’m mainly hoping the Peak turns up.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Apr 2026 ==

It was a good day in the end. Running were:

Austerity Tank Engine on the Tank Wagons
Standard 5MT on Blood and Custard rake
Peak on Maroon Rake
Standard 2MT appeared on the diner
And a surprise appearance from a Gronk