Friday 6th September 2024 was a special day for the Great Central Railway 
l in Nottinghamshire as passenger trains ran again for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Passengers were welcomed on board at Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre (NTHC) for a one-mile round trip to the junction with the Great Central main line. The train was formed of a Class 08 shunting loco with three carriages.
Since then, a locomotive has run from NTHC along the branch line and then down the main line as far as Rushcliffe Halt station. One of the last physical obstacles to running trains was repairing Bridge 302A (about halfway between NTHC and the Halt). That work is now almost completed and signed off, with only replacement handrails needed.
All being well, NTHC hopes to run passenger trains to the Halt before Christmas and details of a special event will follow – keep an eye on https://gcrn.co.uk for updates.
In the meantime, NTHC has now received planning consent to construct their new, fully accessible toilet block. This major step forward in the facilities they can offer the public has been funded by grants from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (via Rushcliffe Borough Council), East Midlands Airport Community Fund, East Midlands Railway Community Fund, The Friends of the Great Central Main Line and generous support from the public.
The work is expected to begin soon with a view to the toilets, baby change and shower being open as soon as possible.
NTHC still has some more funds to raise to finish the toilet block and donations are extremely welcome via the LNER (GC) Heritage Trust website at https://lnergctrust.org/. On the front page you’ll find a link in red to the toilet block appeal.
Adapted from news articles on the NTHC / GCRN website.