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Great Central Railway
| Directions: |
The Great Central Railway runs from Loughborough to Leicester and trains can be boarded from either end of the line. Loughborough can be reached on the A6 from the North and the South and the GCR is well-signposted throughout the town. At the Leicester end of the line the station can be found off the A6 on Station Road; follow the signposts for the Great Central Railway. |
| Accessibility: |
Very good. All stations provide disabled access. |
| Costs: |
Adults: £12, Child (5-15): £7, Concessions: £10, Family: 2 Adults and up to 3 Children £30 |
| Best time to visit: |
All Year |
Venue information
The Great Central Railway is a preserved 8-mile line that runs from its headquarters in Loughborough through to Leicester. Originally part of the mainline from Sheffield to London, it has been restored to its former glory by a large group of over 700 passionate volunteers and has been running consistently for over 30 years.
All the stations on the line are beautifully restored and the line itself is fully signalled and controlled by semaphore signals and original block instruments. Loughborough is the best end of the line to base yourself if you’re looking to watch a hive of activity of railway movements and this is also the base of the engineering works. At weekends the loco sheds are open to the general public and there are wonderful, steamy, atmospheric shots to be had from inside. If you’re more of a landscape photographer, why not venture down to Switherland reservoir where you can try your best at capturing some railway reflection shots.
The Great Central Railway is also the only preserved double track mainline so you’ll be able to enjoy the delights of other passing steam locomotives on your journey. Check out the railway’s events calendar (where can you do this – online?) before your journey to ensure trains are running on the date you plan to visit.
Photoanswers Location Rating: 5