THE VIEW FROM THIS SIDE

G.C.
The last Days of the Great Central Main Line.

Mainly 1964 - early 1970s, plus more modern comparison shots.
Places are Nottingham Vic, Bulwell, Rushcliffe, East Leake, Loughboro', Quorn, Rugby, Aylesbury, Marylebone. Manchester Pic, Guide Bridge, Dinting, Penistone, Sheffield Vic., also Notts London Rd. High Level, Derby Friargate.
There is just the one shot of a 'Windcutter', coming out of the tunnel into Notts Vic from the North. Remainder are mainly Black 5s on the residual passenger services to Rugby and Marylebone, plus the Poole - York train usually with either 37 or 47 diesels and Notts Vic in its last days as a major rail centre in August '64. There are also pictures of the Trans - Pennine route, complete with 506s on the Hadfield locals and a shot of the Harwich-Manchester Boat Train (37 hauled) at Dinting.
Special, interesting or otherwise rare features include:-
46156, the last active 'Royal Scot' on the GC. Ivatt 'pigs' on the Friargate trains. An Austerity 2-8-0 on short wheelbase petrol tankers. EM2s on the Trans Pennine trains, at least one is in electric blue (not BR blue).    A GW 4-6-0, Arthog Hall, at East Leake on the evening Rugby train as late as August 1965. Several places that are now active again feature eg Quorn, Loughboro' etc. Demolition and dismantling 1967-1970. There are also some poignant comparison/modern day views, eg at Bulwell Common and around Rugby. Note that there are a small number of monochrome images in this show, these were shot on Gavaert Dia-Direct B&W Slide film.
Also available as a DVD slide show.

Samples from this show. These images are compressed. Actual images on the CD are high resolution:-

Bagthorpe 3rd Sept 1966. The 'Last Day' LCGB Railtour with a brace of B1s at the head. The spot from which this was taken is now about 20 feet under someone's back garden, for the cutting has been back filled and built over.


 
 
 
 
 
 

East Leake, 30th March 1966. 44816 makes the welkin ring with the 1715 Nottingham to Marylebone. Some of the younger GC footplateman migrated to the Midland after the closure, and they took their (sometimes) flamboyant enginemanship with them.

Loughborough Central 17th June 1966. 44835 slows for the stop with the 1815 Nottingham to Rugby. The bridge over the Grand Union Canal is by the signal gantry in the mid distance.
 
 


 
 
 
 

Nottingham Victoria,  22nd August 1964. Only three years before the ‘last day’special seen above, the station was still a hive of activity. Ivatt 4MT 2-6-0 43161 has just arrived from Derby Friargate. A similar machine is at the other end of the train, waiting to take on the return service.
 

Nottingham Victoria, demolition, 17th December 1967.
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Rugby Central, 1st June 1966. 45222 approaches the station with the 1715 from Nottingham Victoria.
 
 
 

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