Great Central Railway 

The Great Central Railway (GCR) was the last main line railway to be built, opening in March 1899. Cost of construction was estimated at  £6 million but on completion expenditure amounted to £11.5 million. Built for speed the line had no level crossings, modest gradients and easy curves. Speeds of up to 80 mph were achieved by express trains such as 'Master Cutler' and 'South Yorkshireman'. The route provided a direct connection from London Marylebone to Rugby, Leicester, Nottingham, Sheffield, Yorkshire and Lancashire. General Manager Edward Watkin envisaged the GCR having a link from the North of England to the Continent through a channel tunnel, his vision was a little ahead of its time.

In 1960 the London-Manchester expresses were transfered from the GCR to the Midland Region. Unfortunately most of the major towns on the GCR were also served by other lines so a large section closed in 1996. Complete closure of the remaining part from Nottingham to Rugby came on 5 May 1969.

A group of enthusiasts in 1969 formed a preservation society with the aim of purchasing the line from Nottingham to Leicester. This 23½ mile length of track proved too costly to purchase, so just the five mile stretch from Loughborough to Rothley was acquired instead. On 30 September 1973 the GCR officially opened with trains going from Loughborough to Quorn. Passenger services were extended to Rothley on 6 September 1975. Later a lease was granted for a southern extension to Belgrave and Birstall station. The present station was built close to the old one and called Leicester North, it opened on 5 July 1991. Long term plans include the possibility of the GCR lengthening the line to a point closer to Leicester City.

A major project commenced in the 1990s to lay double track from Quorn to Rothley. This would give the GCR the characteristics of an express mainline railway with the capability of accomodating the largest locomotives. In the end the double track was laid further from Loughborough to Rothley, which gives the GCR the longest length of double track of any preserved railway in the UK. It is hoped that in future track will be doubled along the complete length of line.

Battlefield Line

Shackerstone Station: Refreshments, shop, museum, loco shed

Negotiations were successfully made to purchase the railway from Shackerstone to Market Bosworth, there were not sufficient funds to purchase the section from Shackerstone to Shenton. With the title of Market Bosworth Light Railway the organisation began passenger services in 1979 over the 3 miles of track.

A campaign started in the 1980s to extend the line to Shenton. A tourist centre was being developed by the County Council in the historic Battlefield of Bosworth. Shenton station was ideally situated to serve this new centre. With this new impetus resources were raised to acquire the extra 1½  mile of track and the first trains steamed into Shenton in August 1992. At this time the railway changed its name to the Battlefield Line.

No.1306 'Mayflower' 4-6-0 is the only operational steam locomotive, although there are numerous diesel locomotives and three DMU all located at the railway. These are owned by members of the Society as is the case with most heritage lines.

Severn Valley Railway

A group of railway enthusiasts got together in 1965 with the idea of running passenger services over the 5 miles of track from Bridgnorth to Alveley. After many problems and a great deal of exertion the section from Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade was opened in May 1970.

A campaign was started to purchase the track which was no longer used from Alveley through to Foley Park. The fund raising was successful with trains reaching Highley in April 1974 and Bewdley a month later. 

In 1982 the British Sugar Corporation stopped using the sidings at Foley Park. The SVR purchased the siding and the line that ran to Kidderminster Junction. A new station was built in 1984 called Kidderminster Town, it is a faithful reproduction of a station at Ross-on-Wye dating from the 1870s.

Unfortunately 2007 was a dreadful year for the SVR with storms in June causing the River Severn to flood, the line was damaged in 45 separate locations. Major repair work was carried out but it was not until 2008 the railway was fully operational again.

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