Great Central Railway

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Great Central Railway Step back in time to the golden age of travel at GCR! 🚂 We’re a heritage railway and award-winning tourist attraction.
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Open all year round, visit us for our Running Days, Dining or Drive a Train experiences - all in the heart of the East Midlands. The official Great Central Railway page - accept no substitutes! Voted number 12 on the list of the 50 greatest railway journeys in the world the Great Central Railway is the UK's only double track, main line heritage railway. It’s the only place in the world where full size steam engines can be seen passing each other – just as it was when steam ruled the rails. Trains run every weekend of the year, bank holidays and selected week days through the summer. In addition, First Class Restaurant Car Services provide 5 course meals, whilst travelling between Loughborough and Leicester. For a very special night out, step aboard the Great Central Pullman and return to an age of luxury and glamour, the quintessential orient express experience. Childhood dreams can come true with a Drive a Train Experience. We also run many family events, including Bonfire Night, Wartime Weekend and Santa Specials

Hands-On History: Join Our Exhibit & Heritage Care Team!Do you love working with historical artifacts and keeping herita...
17/10/2026

Hands-On History: Join Our Exhibit & Heritage Care Team!

Do you love working with historical artifacts and keeping heritage alive? We’re looking for a hands-on volunteer (16+) to care for the vintage exhibits and displays.

From repairing vintage railway hand lamps and restoring leather luggage to caring for historical uniforms and rewrapping platform parcels, this role puts you at the heart of our visitor experience!

What you’ll do:
Restore and maintain authentic props and equipment
Care for historic textiles and uniforms
Set up evocative platform displays that transport visitors back in time
Keep our station exhibits looking their absolute best
Hours: Fully flexible (weekday and weekend slots available)
Location: Loughborough Central Station
Skills: Great eye for detail and basic craft/repair skills (or a willingness to learn heritage care!)

Interested in joining the team and helping us preserve living history? We’d love to hear from you!

Email [email protected] with the reference ‘Heritage Care’ to find out more.

🚂 Double the track, double the magic!Did you know the Great Central Railway is the UK’s only heritage railway with doubl...
17/10/2026

🚂 Double the track, double the magic!

Did you know the Great Central Railway is the UK’s only heritage railway with double track? That means trains can pass each other, recreating the sights and sounds of a busy main line in the age of steam.

It’s what makes the GCR truly unique! ❤️ Join us for a ride and and purchase tickets in advance or on the day from booking offices.

📷 Clive Hanley

Last Chance to See the Lost Engine’🚂This weekend it’s your final chance to catch visiting guest Newstead, running on bot...
16/10/2026

Last Chance to See the Lost Engine’🚂

This weekend it’s your final chance to catch visiting guest Newstead, running on both Saturday and Sunday!

The fiery red loco will be running alongside one of our home fleet steam locos, Standard 5 73156.

Spend the day relaxing at our cafes, watching the trains run by as you enjoy a hearty lunch, and don’t forget to stop at the Loughborough Refreshment Room for our new seasonal pumpkin-spiced latte.

Plan your day using the timetable on our website, and don’t forget to get your runabout tickets, allowing you to hop on and off and explore all of our beautiful period stations- click the link in our bio.

📸Image Credit- Clive Hanley

Start Your Day Right!🥓🍳🍞You can now upgrade your usual running day by starting your day fuelling up on a classic English...
16/10/2026

Start Your Day Right!🥓🍳🍞

You can now upgrade your usual running day by starting your day fuelling up on a classic English Breakfast in our First Class carriages- the perfect way to indulge in a fry up and brew in style! ✨

Available to pre book for just £15 with your runabout tickets on 24th, 25th & 31st October!

🔗Pre-book your Full English on our website using the link in our bio!

Choose your spooky adventure time!👻On 20 October, join us for a Spooky Ghost Train adventure. Choose between two return ...
15/10/2026

Choose your spooky adventure time!👻

On 20 October, join us for a Spooky Ghost Train adventure. Choose between two return journeys aboard our heritage DMU from Loughborough Central to Mountsorrel Heritage Centre!

Departure Times:
• Trip 1 – Depart Loughborough Central at 10am arrive at Nunckley Hill 10:24 am for Mountsorrel Visitor Centre. Return train from Nunckley Hill at 1:15 pm, arriving back to Loughborough Central at 1:51pm.
• Trip 2 – Depart Loughborough Central at 12:30pm arrive at Nunckley Hill 12:54 pm for Mountsorrel Visitor Centre. Return train from Nunckley Hill at 3:45 pm, arriving back to Loughborough Central at 4:19pm.

🛤️Your ticket includes return heritage rail travel, entry to the Halloween event and a ride on the Quarry Bottom Railway Ghost Train.
Plus, children in Halloween costume get a FREE second Ghost Train ride!

🔗Book your DMU return journey through the link in our bio.

Pumpkin Spiced Season Has Arrived at Loughborough Central!🎃☕Our Refreshment Room at Loughborough Central will be offerin...
15/10/2026

Pumpkin Spiced Season Has Arrived at Loughborough Central!🎃☕

Our Refreshment Room at Loughborough Central will be offering a range of specials this October, including Pumpkin Spiced Latte, freshly prepared BLT cobs and Halloween cookies. Plus, don't miss a visit to the Gift Shop for ghoulish gifts.

14/10/2026

Join Our Volunteer Team in the NAAFI!

Fancy becoming part of the team at Quorn & Woodhouse Station?

Our NAAFI, housed in a cosy 1940s-style air raid shelter, is the perfect place to welcome visitors, serve hot drinks, light refreshments, cakes and ice creams, and enjoy one of the best views of the railway from behind the scenes.

No previous experience or qualifications are needed. All you need is a friendly, confident approach and a smart, professional manner when chatting with our visitors.

🕘 Volunteering: Running days, Saturdays & Sundays, approximately 9am–5pm, with flexibility around your availability.
Come and be part of the team! 🚂

To get involved and find out more email us at [email protected]

Carriage Care & Presentation Crew and On-Train Service Attendants Loughborough🚂🫧Help keep our historic railway looking ...
14/10/2026

Carriage Care & Presentation Crew and On-Train Service Attendants
Loughborough🚂🫧

Help keep our historic railway looking it’s best with a hands-on heritage conservation and passenger experience role. As a Heritage Train Presentation volunteer, you’ll help prepare our beautiful vintage carriages and locos for passengers. At the weekends, enjoy the train journeys whilst attending carriages.

Duties to include;
• Help care for historic locomotives supporting their presentation and ongoing conservation.
• Bring out the character of vintage carriages by cleaning interior and exterior windows.
• Prepare historic carriages for passengers – sweep, tidy, wipe tables and ensure compartments are welcoming.
• Help maintain a safe, comfortable and welcoming environment between services.
• Watering – filling up water tanks
• Recharging Train Batteries
No previous qualifications or experience are required. Be part of a hands-on team, helping preserve a living piece of railway history.

🕘 Volunteering is available:
• On station platform Carriage Cleaning Mondays and Tuesdays between 8.00am and 2.00pm.
• On Train Carriage Service Attendants whilst trains are in service, Saturdays and Sundays between 9.00am and 5.00pm approximately with flexibility around your availability.

📧Get Involved and find out more by emailing our Volunteer Team at [email protected] with the reference "Carriage Care"

Dress to impress this Halloween!🧛‍♀️Witches, ghosts, vampires and little monsters are all welcome aboard our Spooky Ghos...
13/10/2026

Dress to impress this Halloween!🧛‍♀️

Witches, ghosts, vampires and little monsters are all welcome aboard our Spooky Ghost Train experience on 20 October.

Travel from Loughborough Central to Mountsorrel Heritage Centre in our DMU for a family-friendly Halloween adventure, with spooky decorations, attractions and a ride on the Quarry Bottom Railway Ghost Train.

And there’s an extra treat for children arriving in costume…
Enjoy a FREE second ride on the Ghost Train!🚂

🔗Book your tickets and find out more by clicking the link in our bio.

💬Who will you be dressing up as?

There's lots happening on the Great Central Railway in Nottinghamshire!Find out all about everything the northern half o...
12/10/2026

There's lots happening on the Great Central Railway in Nottinghamshire!

Find out all about everything the northern half of the Great Central Railway in our new YouTube video, covering everything from updates on the Stanford Viaduct to welcoming steam locomotive Wimblebury to the tracks!

Watch the latest updates on our YouTube here- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma8HBdUrVsg

Address

Great Central Road
Loughborough
LE111RW

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

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