Great Central Railway "Railway 200 Open Weekend" 5th July 2025

#trains #railway200 #greatcentralrailway #nottinghamshire #ruddington #steamloco #steamlocomotives

2025 marks 200 Years since the Stockton & Darlington Railway opened on the 27th September 1825! Many preserved heritage railway were celebrating this historic moment over the whole year!

The Great Central’s put on a Railway 200 Open Weekend in July to celebrate the historic moment! Both Great Central Railways were opened over the weekend! They were doing a Heritage Bus Service linking the two railways from Quorn to Ruddington.

I have been to the Great Central Railway in (Leicestershire) so many times that I decided to try out the other one in (Nottinghamshire)!

It was great to visit Great Central Railway (Nottingham) or known as the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre! I have passed the location many times but never have visit the place! It was great to explore a new location and see amazing things to do at the centre! I really enjoyed watching the Robot Railway Dogs in action! They act just like the real dog!

I plan to do other things at the centre like seeing the Model Railway and riding on the Miniature Railway but due to the time that I had and I needed to catch a train back home. I couldn’t do everything. Oh well, better luck next time! 

The work that they were doing at Ruddington Fields Station looks brilliant! I can see it in the future as what Bath Green Park Station used to be in the day of steam or what Aylsham Station is today on the Bure Valley Railway but in standard gauge. 

The highlight of the day was riding on the train from Ruddington Fields to Rush-cliffe Half before a steam locomotive. They haven’t run as steam service since 2019, so it made it even more special! It great to see and ride behind Andrew Barclay Sons & Co 0-6-0 Tank “1245” from Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway. A charming little Loco that could be used for a Day out with Thomas Event!

All the volunteers and people who were involved with the open weekend! I would like to say a big thank you for putting on a fantastic weekend!

Thank you Great Central Railway (Leicestershire) for getting me from Loughborough Central to Quorn to catch the bus service to Ruddington.

Thank you Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre for putting a fantastic open weekend. Thank you to the bus drivers and conductors for getting us to Quorn & Ruddington and special thank you to a kind gentlemen who kindly share his Taxi with back to Loughborough Main Line Station. I thought I would miss the train home but I didn’t thanks to you!

If you would like to visit the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre? There is a link down below. 👇🏻

Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre: https://www.gcrn.co.uk

I have also made a couple of clips of “1245” in action. Feel free to view them as many times as you like.

“1245” leaving Rushcliffe Halt:    • “1245” leaving Rushcliffe Halt! 📸🚂 #train ...  

“1245” leaving Ruddington Fields:    • “1245” leaving Ruddington Fields! 📸🚂 #trai...  

Link to the TLF Channel: ​⁠‪@thelostfilmprojects‬