GCR Trails

The origins of the GCR may be traced back to the earliest days of railways in and around Manchester. What was to become identifiable as the Great Central Railway was the amalgamation on first of January, 1847 of the Sheffield, Ashton under Lyme & Manchester, the Sheffield & Lincolnshire Junction, the Great Grimsby & Sheffield Junction Railways and the Grimsby Dock Company. The present day Great Central Railway incorporates stations at Loughborough Central, Quorn & Woodhouse, Rothley and Belgrave & Birstall now part of the present railway. 


Visitors can board the train at any of the four stations on the line but our Trail starts at Loughborough Station stopping off at Quorn & Woodhouse, Rothley and Belgrave & Birstall. The train will then return via the same route back to Loughborough.

The app contains:

- a map showing each of the points on the trails
- pictures and descriptions of each of the historical sites
- detailed information about additional places to visit
- up to date details on places to eat, car parks and toilets