The Great Central Railway hosted a very special event, celebrating its 50th anniversary on the 17th and 18th of June 2023, which was extremely well attended, with thousands of visitors making their way to the popular Leicestershire line.

The event marked 50 years since the line was rescued by a team of dedicated volunteers who fought to gain access to the line following its closure by British Railways in 1969.

1973 saw the heritage line’s beginnings with trains operating just two miles between Loughborough and Quorn and Woodhouse station.

The railway has grown substantially since then, with trains operating to Rothley station and further on to Leicester North covering 8.25 miles.

Simon Bracewell, Head of Marketing and Communications for the Great Central Railway said:“It was wonderful to welcome so many visitors to our celebration gala, particularly the pioneers from the early days. Despite the uphill struggle and obstacles they encountered, they persevered. Once there was a plan to demolish Loughborough Central and build a road over the track-bed. Fortunately, we have a thriving visitor attraction that brings so much to the East Midlands economy.”

In order to celebrate 50 years in style, the heritage railway created a spectacle to remember which saw resident locomotive BR 9F No. 92214 haul 50 wagons in one train!

The epic train ran from Loughborough to Swithland and caused great delight amongst attendees.

Simon went on to say:“The 9Fs were synonymous with the GCR – particularly pulling freight trains – in the 1950s and 60s, and it was fantastic to recreate the scene so many decades later. Demonstrating how Britain moved goods around the country wasn’t envisaged when the GCR first began running trains in 1973. As well as marking the past, it was good for everyone to enjoy what has been created by millions of hours of hard work and millions of pounds of funding from supporters, setting the stage for the next half a century.”

The Great Central Railway is unlike any other heritage railway in the UK as it offers a double track which allows full-size locomotives to pass each other, creating wonderful scenes of nostalgia from the golden era of steam and the dynamic days of diesel.

Based in Loughborough and Leicester, the railway is open every weekend of the year and also on weekdays through the summer months. The railway offers an impressive array of special events with plenty to entertain people of all ages. To find out more about the Great Central Railway, please visit here.