Leicester Great Central Railway

Saturday 12th May

As we are still stuck in Leicester we decided to make the most of the available attractions and having found out there was a main line steam railway on our doorstep we made a beeline for it! The Railway is the Great Central Railway and is the UK's only double track mainline heritage railway.
http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/
It was really brilliant and a great day out. This particular weekend was called Goods Galore and focused on all the freight wagons. We bought rover tickets which allowed travel on as many trains as we wanted and for £2 we could even take Dex! We caught the first train to Quorn and Woodhouse station and alighted there so we could have a look around. They had a vintage car and traction engine exhibition which was great to look around. We tried some local beers in the beer tent and had our packed lunch. The we caught another train to Loughborough and had a look around that station and their museum. Then back to Quorn and Woodhouse for afternoon tea before getting the last train back to Leicester North. A really great day out.

 It was great seeing passing steam trains on our journey. The Great Central railway reports to be the only place in the World where full size steam locomotives can be seen passing each other, just like it was when steam ruled the rails. It was wonderful.

 We were soon at Quorn and Woodhouse station. We alighted there so we could visit the vintage car rally.

 There were also numerous freight wagons on display for the G|oods galore weekend.

 As we went along the line of vehicles from the 1960's onwards John told me he had driven most of them at some point as he used to be a motor mechanic back in the day..

 We soon realised our next train was due in 5 mins so headed back to the station. However when we got to the crossing point over the tracks we were unable to cross as they were waiting for a through train to pass by.

 We just made our train to Loughborough! Dex was really good about going up the steps and didn't seem to mind at all. He was a bit spooked by the steam noise at first especially when they released the pressure and it all came gushing out. But he seemed quite happy on board (although he would have prefered to have sat on the seat looking out the window but of course wasn't allowed!)

 At Loughborough we were able to take a look around the engine sheds.

 It was great to see so many young people involved in driving and repairing the locomotives.

 We had a visit to the museum on the platform at Loughborough. 

 Then back on the train to Quorn and Woodhouse. 

 There was a turntable at Quorn and Woodhouse and I was amazed to note that it is operated manually. That's the last time I moan about moving a swing bridge!

 Back at the vintage car rally some more vehicles had arrived.

 The station tea room was situated inside what used to be the wartime shelter.

 The station master's office had been set up as it would have looked in the 1940's.

 Inside the shelter (now NAAFI tearooms)

 Waiting for the last train of the journey back to Leicester North. 

I managed to get some very amateur video footage of some of the trains. It's the sound and the smell that makes them so wonderful. Sadly you won't get the smell but you can at least hear the sound!