Step back in time to 1960s at Great Central Railway gala

Visitors are invited to step back in time to the 1960s at the Great Central Railway[1] next weekend. The Leicestershire attraction is holding a 'Railways at Work Gala', complete with the sounds, sights and atmosphere of a busy mainline railway in the 1960s.

The event, which is described as an "immersive recreation" will take place on Saturday, August 19 and Sunday, August 20. There will be a busy timetable with both passenger and goods trains in operation, as well as demonstrations and cameos throughout the weekend, showing how the railways kept the nation moving during the 1960s.

Highlights of the event[2] include rail crane lifting demonstrations, vintage bus tours (Saturday only) period re-enactors and a 1960s police display. There will be five steam locomotives and three diesel locomotives in action.

Railways at Work will tell the story of how the railways served Britain by transporting its goods, taking people to work and sending them on holiday, an attraction spokesperson. said. In 2023, Great Central Railway is marking 60 years since the end of local services along the Great Central line including the closure of Quorn and Woodhouse, Rothley and Belgrave and Birstall as a consequence of Dr. Beeching's infamous axe in 1963, and this year's event takes on a distinctive Beeching theme.

Quorn and Woodhouse station yard will be turned into a busy goods yard where rail meets road featuring British Railways road vehicles, commercial lorries and other period vehicles. You'll be able to watch as goods trains shunt into the yard and a team of porters load and unload the goods onto road vehicles for distribution in the local villages, all under the watchful eye of the newly formed British Transport Commission Police.

There will also be rail crane lifting demonstrations and period re-enactments and cameos, as well as heritage bus tours on Saturday. The bus tours will give you the chance to jump on board a 1960s bus courtesy of the Leicester Transport Heritage Trust.

New for 2023, there will also be a 1950s/60s evening dance from 7pm on Saturday evening. This will take place in a marquee at Quorn and Woodhouse station and will feature a mix of recorded and live music.

Over at Loughborough[4] Central, visitors will be able to watch as a team of porters load suitcases, parcels and a miscellany of goods on and off trains ready for the next service. Between 12.50pm and 1.45pm each day, you can get up close with a goods train as it pauses in the platform.

On Saturday only, station tours will take place, enabling you to learn more about the history of Loughborough Central and about what it meant for the railways to be called 'common carriers'. Talks will be given at 10.30am, 12.50pm and 2.30pm. You'll also be able to find out all about Dr. Beeching in an exhibition in the Loughborough waiting room.

At Swithland Sidings, trains will pause so you can make the most of the double track action. It's worth noting that it is not possible to alight the train at Swithland sidings or access by road.

At Rothley there will be a small exhibition of GCR Edwardian goods ephemera, and at Leicester North you can see how they moved parcels towards the other end of the 20th Century with the mighty BRUTE trolley.

At all stations, there will be period dressed passengers and station staff. Plus, keep an eye out for any rowdy protests against Dr. Beeching cuts, and you may even spot the infamous Dr. himself.

You can join the railway at any of the four stations - Loughborough Central, Quorn and Woodhouse, Rothley and Leicester North. A large car park is available at Quorn and Woodhouse for £3 per car.

A day runabout ticket is £28 for adults (£25.20 when bought online) and accompanied children can ride for £1[5] as part of GCR's August offer.

References

  1. ^ Great Central Railway (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
  2. ^ Highlights of the event (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
  3. ^ Leicester's LOROS hospice to hold free family fun day (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
  4. ^ Loughborough (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
  5. ^ children can ride for £1 (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)