With summer approaching and the promise of warmer days, the Great Central Railway is getting in the mood with a range of events suitable for both families and enthusiasts, including the Great Central open extravaganza, heritage bus rally and railcar weekend, and steam to Mountsorrel.

The Great Central Open Extravaganza

Next weekend, Saturday 11 and Sunday May, the Great Central Open Extravaganza allows visitors to go behind-the-scenes tours to view the line’s vintage locomotives close up and enjoy family-friendly activities.

Guided tours will be held around the Loco Shed, Loughborough Central and Quorn and Woodhouse station.

Among the weekend’s activities are:

• A tour through the Loco Shed with a knowledgeable guide to see steam locomotives being stripped down, restored, and repaired
• Guided tours of Loughborough Central station to discover its history and find out about the railway’s past .
• A guided walking tour around Quorn & Woodhouse station to look into its fascinating past, its role in the Second World War, and get an insight into its present operations.
• View a stunning display of rail vehicles in Quorn Station Yard where wagons are preserved and maintained by volunteers.
  Also on display in Quorn Station Yard will be a Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 steam locomotive.
• Tours by vintage buses operating from the Tin Shed in Quorn Station Yard

Real Ale, soft drinks, tea, coffee, and light refreshments will be on sale in the Tin Shed, where guests can enjoy a pint of beer whilst watching the trains go by.

Special fares of just £12.50 are on offer for Leicester and Leicestershire residents if they show a proof of residency when they purchase their tickets.

Heritage Bus Rally And Railcar Weekend

The following weekend, Saturday 18th and Sunday, 19th May, Heritage Bus Rally And Railcar Weekend will be held in Quorn & Woodhouse station yard in conjunction with Leicester Transport Heritage Trust.

Admission to the event is free, and it promises to be a nostalgic weekend for vintage buses and railcars.

The weekend also includes:

• Free bus rides on a selection of urban and rural routes (including both Loughborough Midland and Loughborough Central stations.
• Additional train services with steam and diesel locomotives and diesel railcars.
• Frequent trains on the Mountsorrel branch.
• Day Runabout fares will be available allowing travel on any train all day, and short-hop train fares will allow travel between Quorn & Woodhouse and Loughborough Central or between Quorn & Woodhouse and Mountsorrel Halt one way by free heritage bus and one way by steam or diesel train.
• A large bus display area with over 50 buses expected on the Saturday and many already booked for the Sunday.

Throughout the weekend, two steam locomotives, one diesel loco, and three diesel railcars will be in operation.

A range of transport-themed sales stands will be inside the marquee and throughout Quorn station yard.

Steam To Mountsorrel

The weekend of 29th to 31st May promises a weekend of steam and trains running on the Mountsorrel branch line.

Details of all the railway’s events can be found at www.gcrailway.co.uk