Welcome to the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre, home of the Great Central Railway Nottingham — book your tickets online today!
Nearly 10 miles of preserved Great Central Railway heritage
Our railway operates almost 10 miles of the former Great Central Main Line in Nottinghamshire. The route consists of two main sections: the main line from Loughborough South Junction to Fifty Steps Bridge (and the site of the original Ruddington station), plus a branch line from Fifty Steps Bridge to our headquarters at Ruddington Fields station.
This preserved section of the Great Central represents the northern end of what was once Britain's last mainline railway to London. Built to continental loading gauge and designed for high-speed operation, the line features impressive engineering works including bridges, cuttings, and the 98-yard Barnstone Tunnel.
Today, our heritage trains operate between Ruddington Fields and Rushcliffe Halt, with trains continuing south towards Loughborough. We're working towards reunification with the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire, which will create an 18-mile heritage railway.
From north to south – follow the route from Ruddington Fields towards Leicestershire
Ruddington Fields is the heart of Great Central Railway (Nottingham) and our main operational base. Located on the former Ministry of Defence site next to Rushcliffe Country Park, the station features extensive facilities for both visitors and railway operations.
Visitor Facilities:
Railway Operations:
Additional Attractions:
A new platform was opened in 2009, with further development continuing as the railway grows. The station is surrounded by Rushcliffe Country Park, created on the remainder of the former MOD site, offering pleasant walks and picnic areas.
Northern terminus - Starting pointThe gated Asher Lane Crossing sits on a private road which was formerly the MOD depot perimeter road – a reminder of the site's military history. It's a short walk from Rushcliffe Country Park to the crossing, where visitors can watch trains passing and see the crossing keeper at work.
There was once a set of sidings here called Asher Lane Exchange Sidings, but these have since been removed.
Approx. 1 mile from Ruddington FieldsFifty Steps Bridge marks the end of the spur from Ruddington Fields, known as Ruddington South Junction. This is where trains reverse for their onward journey to Loughborough.
The bridge itself originally had fifty steps (hence the name), but subsequent modifications have increased that number over the years. Beyond this point lies the site of the original Ruddington station, which closed to passengers in 1963.
Following reunification, improvements could be made to this area to aid towards eventual reopening of the original Ruddington station site.
Junction point on main lineRushcliffe Halt is one of our operational stations, serving passengers on regular heritage railway services. Built after the original Great Central line opened, this smaller halt provides access to the surrounding countryside and Rushcliffe Country Park.
The station was the initial focus of restoration work by the GCR Northern Development Association in the early days of the heritage railway, before the grand scheme of the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre was developed.
Regular passenger services to Rushcliffe Halt resumed in 2003, marking a significant milestone in the railway's preservation journey.
Approx. 3 miles from Ruddington FieldsAt 98 yards (90 metres) long, Barnstone Tunnel is the only tunnel on the preserved Great Central Railway (Nottingham) line. This Victorian engineering structure carries the railway through the Nottinghamshire countryside.
The tunnel is a key piece of infrastructure that requires regular inspection and maintenance by our dedicated volunteers and engineering teams.
Opened in 1911, East Leake differs from other stations on the London Extension with its two separate platforms. The original station near the centre of the village is currently disused and exists only as an island platform with the stairwell of the station's subway bricked up.
Houses were built on the former goods yard in the 1980s, some only yards from the remaining track. The station has been slowly restored and cared for by an increasing group of volunteers from the local area. There are long-term plans to reopen East Leake station to passenger services.
Approx. 4 miles from Ruddington FieldsLocation of the British Gypsum works at East Leake. This site was served by freight trains using our line until the early 2020s, maintaining a working railway alongside our heritage operations.
The Art Deco LNER signal box here replaced the original GCR structure in the late 1940s when sidings were extended. Our Signalling and Telecoms department restored it, completing new floor and stove installation in December 2022.
Approx. 5.5 miles from Ruddington FieldsThe southern end of our line, where the Great Central Main Line connects to the Midland Main Line. This junction is crucial for the reunification project, as it provides the physical connection between our railway and the wider network.
Currently, Network Rail controls access from this point, and our operations terminate at a stop board close to the A60 road just north of here.
Southern terminus - ~10 miles from Ruddington FieldsAddress: Ruddington Fields Station, Mere Way, Ruddington, Nottingham, NG11 6JS
By Car: Ruddington Fields is located just off the A60, approximately 5 miles south of Nottingham city centre. Free car parking is available on site.
By Public Transport: Regular bus services run from Nottingham city centre to Ruddington village. The station is a short walk from the village centre, or you can take the path through Rushcliffe Country Park.
Walking & Cycling: The station is accessible via footpaths through Rushcliffe Country Park, making it a pleasant destination for walkers and cyclists.
Our most exciting project is bridging the 500-metre gap between our railway and the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire. This "Loughborough Gap" is all that separates us from creating an 18-mile heritage railway from Leicester North to Ruddington.
The reunification project involves rebuilding bridges and embankments and relaying track at Loughborough. When complete, it will:
Work has already begun, with three major sections completed and planning consent secured for the remainder. With continued fundraising support, we hope to complete the next two stages in 2026.