[gwrmad]

Hi just found this item on the BBC great news from Network Rail for a change? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-22728920. Kelvin

 

[Chris Grouse]

Too right!
I found out about this on Thursday, glad that the money I'm using to buy shares in the GCR is going to be well spent ;-)

 

[David Todd]

 

[James Harrison]

This is thoroughly excellent news- I've donated to the cause and look forward in a few years' time to a journey from Leicester North to Ruddington and back!

 

[Mercator II]

Damn fine news, was thinking all had gone very quiet on the 'Gap' and now we get this

http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/news/#7940

Two years to wait for the bridge and Five for the completion, think I will just have to be on the first train, has to be the Robinson 04, should give them enough time to overhaul her

I think that some serious track upgrading will need to be done on the Ruddington side past the quarry to take the heavier locos, and of course funding to rebuild Workington Shed so as to move the current ex Avro Hanger/shed as its on the running line

Now wheres my lotto ticket...

 

[James Harrison]

Thinking about it this link achieves the aim of the original group of preservationists in the late 1960s/ early 1970s. J M C Healy's book 'Echoes of the Great Central' suggests that the original goal was to preserve the 20-odd-miles of track from the centre of Leicester to the centre of Nottingham. Well, here we are now nearly 50 years later with two lines from the outskirts of those cities joining up in the middle.

What a spectacular way to end the rebuilding efforts!

 

[Chris Grouse]

John Healey's books on the GCR are full of errors, although it actually was the aim to run from Leicester to Nottingham.
Just think of the maintenance nightmare of having to look after not only Leicester Central, but all of those viaducts!

 

[Alan Wragsdale]

QUOTE (Chris Grouse @ 1 Jun 2013, 21:53) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>John Healey's books on the GCR are full of errors, although it actually was the aim to run from Leicester to Nottingham.
Just think of the maintenance nightmare of having to look after not only Leicester Central, but all of those viaducts!
There is the issue of where the engine shed is moving tne thing for sure its not going on the jelson site adjacent to loughborough central.A couple of sites have been identified for possible use and talks have taken place.I was told this by a 'senior' gcr member some months ago. Alan

 

[Chris Grouse]

Yeah the 'Jelson' site is still earmarked for residential development, and the old tip is apparently not stable enough to take the weight of buildings and locos.
Not really many other places to have it, Quorm, Rothley and Swithland are all out due to noise and proximity to residences, so that potentially leaves Leicester North, where the GCR and NRM are planning to build a railway museum....

 

[Alan Wragsdale]

As you say Chris,sites for the shed are limited but one does stick out like a sore thumb if you know where to look,only thing is it does have housing near by which may cause a problem.To me its the most logical and best place to erect the new shed as it has excellent road links aswell.You should know where i,m talking about by now! Alan

 

[Mercator II]

QUOTE (Alan Wragsdale @ 2 Jun 2013, 17:16) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>As you say Chris,sites for the shed are limited but one does stick out like a sore thumb if you know where to look,only thing is it does have housing near by which may cause a problem.To me its the most logical and best place to erect the new shed as it has excellent road links aswell.You should know where i,m talking about by now! Alan

Where are you thinking?

 

[Chris Grouse]

Leicester North?

 

[Chris Grouse]

No idea! It's definitely NOT Quorn though!

 

[Alan Wragsdale]

As you know the gcr rails are either on an embankment or in a cutting so a large piece of flat land is a problem to find anywhere on the railway but if carefully look there is one or two areas that could solve the shed relocation problem.As i said in my previous post Ive been sworn to secrecy over what is happening with this so until i can speak out its mouth shut unfortunately but you are right its not quorn or rothley or as far as i know leicester north and of course its not going to be anywhere around loughborough central so that leaves...........? Alan

 

[Chris Grouse]

I was going to say Swithland, but that's not going to happen either, RVP are building a shed there.....

 

[Alan Wragsdale]

No,not swithland either,ruddington has been quoted as a consideration but there,s no where that has good road access near the heritage center that i know of so that has been taken off the list of potential sites. Alan

 

[Chamossaire]

Gon then...tell us, or give us more clues...please?

 

[Alan Wragsdale]

I cant say any more than i already have only that one site is easily seen from both the line and a main road.The other thing is that i have no personal link to the project and rely on information received from a person working with the project so i can only report when i get or receive info from him. Alan

 

[Chamossaire]

OK, I respect that.

Any idea when we might know?

 

[Chris Grouse]

Well it's not anywhere on the Mountsorrel branch, it might be the allotments at Leicester North or Barnstone sidings......