IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Robinson Crescent, LOUGHBOROUGH, LE11 1SZ

This is on the preserved Great Central Railway with a freight train waiting to depart during the winter gala. The locomotive is No. 48624 to a design by Stanier and built at Ashford (SR) in 1943. In previous years this locomotive has carried a red livery but the enthusiasts will be much happier with this more authentic black livery.

The driver of 8F No. 48624 is taking a breather between turns at the winter steam gala. The star on the cabside indicates that it has a specially balanced wheelset that allows it to work fast, vacuum braked goods trains.

No. 45305 is standing light engine on the island platform at the Great Central Railway's preserved Loughborough Station. The mineral wagon rake is to the left. The station's lovingly restored glazed canopy is most impressive.

The preserved station at Loughborough.

This train will be due out at 19:00 on the 'Charnwood Forester' Dinner Service and I will, along with my wife, be on it for the evening meal. The meal for two also includes a first class 'runabout' ticket for each passenger for you to travel for the day of your meal. This means you can make a whole day of the experience before your meal to take in all the attractions and travel on the other steam trains throughout the eight miles of track and three other stations. The journey lasts around two and a half hours, typically departing from Great Central station at 7.00pm (you will need to arrive at 6.30pm), travelling through Quorn & Woodhouse and Rothley stations before pausing at Leicester North at 8.45pm. It then follows the same route back arriving at Loughborough Great Central at around 10.00pm. It makes stops on the way so that may enjoy the scenery of the Swithland viaduct (which appears to be planned timing for the soup course) and also stretch your legs at the stations.

On the preserved Great Central Railway. BR class 5MT No. 7308 Camelot is waiting for the right of way while a class 2MT has just arrived with a train of mineral wagons and brake vans.

The Great Central Railway made extensive use of island platforms between the main running lines. Loughborough had had much work done on its glazed canopies and the result is stunning. Great Western Railway Hall class No. 6990 Witherslack Hall is just waiting to take its train to Leicester North.

No. 45305 is standing light engine on the island platform at the Great Central Railway's preserved Loughborough Station. The mineral wagon rake is to the left. The station's lovingly restored glazed canopy is most impressive.

The locomotive is No. 48624 to a design by Stanier and built at Ashford (SR) in 1943. In previous years this locomotive has carried a red livery but the enthusiasts will be much happier with this more authentic black livery. It is seen here on a train of mineral wagons heading south from Loughborough. The lighting and exposure were appalling.

I think this is the old goods office, bought by the railway recently and restored for their office needs. The wasteground used to have a large industrial building on it but this has gone, revealing the ex goods yard.