Great Central Railway Reunification - North of the Gap

Welcome back to my Great Central Railway Reunification series. Last time, we left Loughborough and looked at the 'Bridging the Gap' part of the Reunification. This time, we are heading slightly north to the next major structure on the soon be reunified GCR.

We're at Stanford viaduct on the outskirts of Loughborough, where Leicestershire meets Nottinghamshire by the River Soar. A typical GCR construction made with blue engineering brick, which we've grown to instantly recognise.

***Link to previous videos

This is now the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) section of the line. This part of the line has not seen trains since 2020, however remained active as a freight line until it was taken on by the Ruddington based heritage railway - NTHC - Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre.
Great Central Mainline was built as the London Extension of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire railway. Opening in 1899, it was designed to be as straight as possible with as little gradient as possible. Speed was the aim and express trains travelled between London Marylebone, Leicester, Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester. It was the last UK mainline to be built before HS1 over a century later. It thrived initially, however with a lack of upkeep, neglect and dwindling usage, it was mothballed during the great railway rationalisation of Dr Beeching in the 1960s - known as the Beeching Axe.

#gcr #loughbrough #loughboro @GCRofficial

[stephencope]

It was a blessing that the Stanford viaduct was left intact, or the extension would have been impossible!! 🤔

[c.o.m.ewithme]

I have been to Nottinghamshire, but never been to Leicestershire (got a relative down there), but hopefully that will change once it's a full line again! Although it has been frustrating in that it has taken longer than hoped, the full line will bring huge tourist boosts for the region, and I will definitely take a ride on the line!

[Carolb]

Beautiful viaduct Paul, the more you see & film GCR, you have to wonder why it closed in the first place! Bit by bit it would be wonderful to see this magnificent line reopened. Thanks Paul. ❤😊👍

[ceanothus_bluemoon]

A beauty of a viaduct, apart from the awful graffiti, which needs removing. Always so sad to see the end of Catesby where part of the embankment has been weathered or robbed out. The only positive thing is that you can see the construction. I sometimes wish I had money and could put it in to repairing and maintaining what's left. Really good series once again!

[josephcooksley]

Great to see Surplus Infrastructure was used to re join at Laughbrough great stuff .... after all was just cost of transport and lifting into place and fettling the abuttments .... when the Leicester link to Nots is complete will be A real great journey to do 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[JGstrongman]

That was the beginning of a great day out, I can't wait to see the succession of videos that are coming, and I know what's in

[wossisname]

Thank you two chaps for another intriguing guide to an exciting project.
'ang on, though -- a year ago (as near as 'dammit') I was hearing tales of political strife between the Ruddington end of the line and the Loughborough end, and how it was brutally pointed out that unless certain Parties got themselves together before electrification of the M.M.L., they could kiss Re-union goodbye.
Presumably there's been some cosying-up recently??
I do 'ope so!

[maestromanification]

Interesting video Paul, I hadn't realised the gypsum trains had stopped running. I was surprised when I visited Ruddington earlier this year when doing those diversions that the GCR N wasn't running either

[chrischapman]

Great video be good too see it all in one will make it a good few miles going to the diesel gala in September.

[SiaVids]

A great video. 😎 It is such a shame that such beautiful brickwork has to be covered in graffiti.

[michaelhaywood]

Why has the northern section not ran since 2020. I understand that it may have had to close in 2020 and 21 due to covid, but why did it not run in 22, 23 and 24?

[brianwillson]

I went to look at Brackley the week after it was demolished. I got to look at Brackley linear brick pile.

[barrythedieselelectricstea]

i agree with @Carolb66 this line should never have closed like so many other beeching closed so many that shouldn't have happened all they've done is put more traffic on the roads and less on the railway it makes my blood boil 😡

[timothyseabrook]

this nonsense they shoild be converted into a b massive n long distance. cycle n lane to serve the communities better than. burning coal in steam locos which is bad on too many
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