£20.95
By David Pearce. Published by Middleton Press, Softback, 96 Pages, 120 Photographs, Large Scale Maps.
Part of the Midland Main Line series, this book explores the history, operation and subsequent demise of the Great Central Railway route connecting Nottingham and Derby opened to passenger traffic on 15th Marc 1899. Although a late arrival on the railway map, the GCR established a remarkable reputation on its London Extension for comfort, speed and reliability before being swallowed up by the LNER at Grouping in 1923. During WWII the route proved to be a valuable freight artery but the post-war years saw the line’s gradual decline with the transfer from BR Eastern Region to London Midland Region in 1958 representing the beginning of the end. Services were cut back and stations closed until the route to London closed to passengers in 1966 and local services ceasing in May 1969. Locally generated freight continued from Ruddington Royal Ordnance Factory and British Gypsum to a newly constructed link with the Midland Main Line at Loughborough.
Happily, much of the line between Ruddington and Loughborough is now a heritage line with plans to reinstate the connection with the heritage line heading south from Loughborough.
