Tornado is visiting the Great Central Railway and, by popular demand, will be operating one further weekend before moving away from Ruddington!
Journey through the heart of Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire on a preserved heritage railway. Eight miles of authentic Great Central Railway history awaits.
Embark on an adventure at the Great Central Railway (Nottingham), a heritage railway visitor attraction running through the beautiful Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire countryside. Climb aboard and step back in time to experience the golden age of travel with journeys behind original steam trains and heritage diesel locomotives.
The GCRN is proudly based at Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre — a 25-acre site at Ruddington bringing together railway, road transport, and industrial heritage under one roof, right next to Rushcliffe Country Park.
With a calendar packed full of events and special experiences, there's something for everyone at one of the East Midlands' best loved visitor attractions…
Eight miles of preserved steam and diesel working from Ruddington to Loughborough, with plans to reunite the full eighteen-mile main line.
Step inside our working bus depot featuring Nottingham's historic buses and coaches, lovingly preserved and maintained by NABS.
Enjoy rides on our miniature railway systems — including the NSMEE's impressive 5" and 7¼" gauge tracks, perfect for all ages.
Relax in our café, browse the gift shop, and explore museum displays showcasing Nottingham's rich transport heritage on 25 acres.
Special Event
Join us for a classic steam-hauled running day aboard the Great Central Railway Nottingham, complete with a traditional fish and chip supper served on board. A must for any steam enthusiast.
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Special Event
Treat yourself to a delightful afternoon aboard the Great Central Railway Nottingham, enjoying a traditional cream tea as you travel through the Nottinghamshire countryside behind a working steam locomotive.
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General
Tornado is visiting the Great Central Railway and, by popular demand, will be operating one further weekend before moving away from Ruddington- Kids Travel for a Quid!
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Class 31 210 has completed a full test run along the main line...
Read Full StoryPreserving eight miles of the historic Great Central Main Line
Once part of the Great Central Main Line from Sheffield to London, our route runs from Ruddington, just south of Nottingham, to the northern edge of Loughborough. We're based at Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre, next to Rushcliffe Country Park.
Experience authentic steam railway travel as we journey through beautiful Nottinghamshire countryside, crossing the majestic Stanford Viaduct over the River Soar. Bridges are under construction to create an eighteen-mile heritage main line connecting with the preserved Great Central at Loughborough.
Whether you're visiting for a special event, bringing the family for a day out, or joining our team of dedicated volunteers, we're here to help you make the most of your time at the Great Central Railway (Nottingham).
Plan your day out on our heritage railway. Find opening times, ticket prices, and facilities information.
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Join our dedicated team of volunteers. No experience necessary — we provide full training in all departments.
Join Us
From afternoon teas to special dining events, enjoy refreshments in authentic period surroundings.
Special Events
Discover our collection of historic locomotives and rolling stock, lovingly maintained by our volunteers.
Explore FleetFantastic family day out! All 4 of us thoroughly loved it. Great value for money, a fab old fashioned train, lovely carriages, beautiful views, and friendly helpful staff. It's so hard to find activities for a baby and a toddler, but you do it with bells on!
The staff are very friendly and always willing to chat. The GCRN is accommodating to all and very family friendly. The site also has an excellent Heritage Bus Centre and several miniature railway lines that you can take a ride on. Highly recommended.
Week by week, GCR Nottingham is getting better. Excellent when the 8F steam loco is running, always a good display of old local buses. Great for the kids when miniature trains are running, and volunteer staff with great knowledge of the site.
A wonderful experience from start to finish. The locomotive was magnificent and the volunteers so knowledgeable. We'll absolutely be back for one of the special steam events — the whole family was completely captivated from the moment we arrived.
Brought my elderly father who remembered travelling on the original line as a child. Seeing his face light up as the steam engine arrived at the platform was priceless. The staff went out of their way to make him feel welcome. Truly special.
