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</div> </div> </div> <div class="cleared reset-box"></div> </div> <div class="cleared reset-box"></div> <div class="art-box art-sheet"> <div class="art-box-body art-sheet-body"> <div class="art-layout-wrapper"> <div class="art-content-layout"> <div class="art-content-layout-row"> <div class="art-layout-cell art-content"> <div class="art-box art-post post-434 page type-page status-publish hentry" id="post-434"> <div class="art-box-body art-post-body"> <div class="art-post-inner art-article"> <h1 class="art-postheader">The Mountsorrel Branch</h1> <div class="art-postcontent">  <div id="attachment_443" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-4.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-443" class="size-medium wp-image-443" title="Mountsorrel - 4" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-4-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" srcset="https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-4-300x199.jpg 300w, https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-4.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"/></a><p id="caption-attachment-443" class="wp-caption-text">Steam returns to the branch on 17th January, 2012</p></div> <p>The Mountsorrel Railway Project aims to recreate a forgotten industrial steam line, which was once crucial to the local community.</p> <p>The Mountsorrel Railway was built at the turn of the 20th Century to deliver stone from the Mountsorrel Quarries to Swithland Sidings on the Great Central Railway. There, trains were marshalled and sent on to their destinations all over the country. The present day Great Central Railway aims to recreate this industrial scene and, with the completion of the signalling scheme at Swithland, will also be able to provide branch line passenger trains. This will be a unique recreation of branch line trains joining a double track main line.</p> <p>It has always been an aim of the project to restore the entire railway corridor back to how it would have been during the original life of the railway. It was recognised from the very early days of the project that the derelict and neglected route offered a wealth of potential, with changing landscapes and surroundings throughout its relatively short length of 1.2 miles. Success will have been achieved with the support</p> <div id="attachment_442" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-3.jpg"><img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-442" class=" wp-image-442" title="Mountsorrel - 3" src="/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-3-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" srcset="https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-3-300x199.jpg 300w, https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-3.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"/></a><p id="caption-attachment-442" class="wp-caption-text">The first steam train for 50 years!</p></div> <p>of the local community, by working with schools and other groups, and by promoting ecological aspects of the project. There is now a core of approximately 120 regular volunteers offering different skills and time commitments to the project.</p> <p>Local schools have been involved with ecology study sessions as the route was cleared prior to reconstruction. These included the replanting of native wild flowers, the provision of bird boxes and the encouragement of other wildlife habitats. The project ran a series of visits that allowed over 400 children to learn about their local history and also helped to boost the ecosystem along the sides of the track-bed. Children grew native wild flowers which they then planted alongside the route. The planted sections contrasted starkly with the sections left to run wild, which had filled with nettles and thistles. Not only does the improved diversity of flora and fauna help the ecology of the trackbed to return to how it would have been during the original operating life of the railway, it helps to boost the ecosystem generally.</p> <div id="attachment_5220" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-Volunteers-slewing-newly-laid-track-near-Nunckley-Hill-Steve-Cramp.jpg"><img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5220" class=" wp-image-5220" title="Mountsorrel - Volunteers slewing newly laid track near Nunckley Hill - Steve Cramp" src="https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-Volunteers-slewing-newly-laid-track-near-Nunckley-Hill-Steve-Cramp-300x207.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="207" srcset="https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-Volunteers-slewing-newly-laid-track-near-Nunckley-Hill-Steve-Cramp-300x207.jpg 300w, https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-Volunteers-slewing-newly-laid-track-near-Nunckley-Hill-Steve-Cramp.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"/></a><p id="caption-attachment-5220" class="wp-caption-text">Volunteers slewing newly laid track near Nunckley Hill - Steve Cramp</p></div> <p>This ecological emphasis allows the project to appeal to a much wider audience than it would have otherwise done. The junior ecology sessions gave very young children and their parents the opportunity to share an activity, recognising that involvement at this stage could well lead to general volunteering with the project in years to come. 2012 saw the creation of Mountsorrel Railway Wildlife Warriors, an ecology group for 3-11 year olds. Children attend with an adult on periodic Saturday afternoons with a different focus each time; e.g. Birds, Mini beasts, Trees, Plants and Hoghouses (hibernation homes for hedgehogs!). Other activities are included and feedback from parents is positive and invaluable.</p> <p>Meanwhile, hedgerows have been laid by our volunteer tree surgeon with the help of other project members. Over 1,100 sapling trees and bushes were planted along the line in the first quarter of 2012. As well as helping the hedges to thicken and regenerate, the process has also opened up views from the branch. When the line re-opens it should be possible to ride along this section behind a steam engine and see other steam trains crossing the viaduct over Swithland Reservoir, a quarter of a mile away. This is just another way in which the branch line will help to make the Great Central Railway unique in the heritage railway world.</p> <div id="attachment_5218" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-Head-of-Steel-November-2012-Steve-Cramp.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5218" class="size-medium wp-image-5218" title="Mountsorrel - Head of Steel, November 2012 - Steve Cramp" src="https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-Head-of-Steel-November-2012-Steve-Cramp-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-Head-of-Steel-November-2012-Steve-Cramp-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-Head-of-Steel-November-2012-Steve-Cramp.jpg 800w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"/></a><p id="caption-attachment-5218" class="wp-caption-text">Head of Steel, November 2012 - Steve Cramp</p></div> <p>A number of young people became involved with wagon restoration including a team of local teenage girls, some of whom volunteered to work on the wagons as part of their Duke of Edinburgh award. Loughborough University and East Midlands Airport sponsored this aspect of the project because of the perceived educational benefits the wagons will bring.</p> <p>Phase 1 and Phase 2 track-laying are now complete and the track slewed, lifted and packed ready to receive trains. 2011 saw the first train on the branch since 1959 when top ballast was brought to the line and this was followed, a few months later, by the sight of the first steam locomotive on the restored section of the branch.</p> <p>Two large Leicestershire employers have been helping the Mountsorrel Railway Project by encouraging their staff to volunteer in the community. Aggregate Industries, who operate Bardon quarry at Coalville, have sent teams of up to 15 volunteers on three occasions since the summer of 2012. Caterpillar, which has a plant at Desford, sent 20 volunteers to the Mountsorrel Railway on four</p> <p>consecutive days in November, 2012. Both companies’ staff were able to help with a variety of tasks including track laying. If your company or the company you work for encourages its staff to volunteer in the community, please get in touch via email to the Project Leader, Steve Cramp, at <a href="mailto:steve@mountsorrelrailway.org.uk">steve@mountsorrelrailway.org.uk</a> . There are many different ways you could help us and your help would be very welcome indeed!</p> <div id="attachment_5222" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/46521-becomes-the-first-tender-locomotive-on-the-branch-on-7th-October-2012-Alan-Weaver.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5222" class="size-medium wp-image-5222" title="46521 becomes the first tender locomotive on the branch on 7th October, 2012 - Alan Weaver" src="https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/46521-becomes-the-first-tender-locomotive-on-the-branch-on-7th-October-2012-Alan-Weaver-300x210.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="210" srcset="https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/46521-becomes-the-first-tender-locomotive-on-the-branch-on-7th-October-2012-Alan-Weaver-300x210.jpg 300w, https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/46521-becomes-the-first-tender-locomotive-on-the-branch-on-7th-October-2012-Alan-Weaver.jpg 800w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"/></a><p id="caption-attachment-5222" class="wp-caption-text">46521 becomes the first tender locomotive on the branch on 7th October, 2012 - Alan Weaver</p></div> <p>On 1st December, 2012 project volunteers mounted their last big track laying push of the year to take the head of steel through the Wood Lane bridge and back into Mountsorrel village. Passing through the Mountsorrel village boundary is a major milestone for the project and was a cause for celebration. Almost all the 1300m of track we have laid so far has been away from publicly accessible areas, so to arrive at a point where the public can now see the great work that the community is doing to preserve its local heritage, has really given a major boost to the volunteers working on the project. We can look forward to reaching the site of the proposed terminal at Bond Lane, by March, 2013. This will only be possible with your help as more volunteers are needed to help the track laying process. If you can spare a few hours on an occasional Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday then please email the project leader Steve Cramp. Before this track laying is completed it is hoped that funding sources will have been investigated and discovered to help with the construction of a passenger halt at the end of the line.</p> <div id="attachment_5221" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-Wildlife-Warrior-sesseions-are-very-popular-Steve-Cramp.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5221" class="size-medium wp-image-5221" title="Mountsorrel - Wildlife Warrior sessions are very popular - Steve Cramp" src="https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-Wildlife-Warrior-sesseions-are-very-popular-Steve-Cramp-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-Wildlife-Warrior-sesseions-are-very-popular-Steve-Cramp-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-Wildlife-Warrior-sesseions-are-very-popular-Steve-Cramp.jpg 800w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"/></a><p id="caption-attachment-5221" class="wp-caption-text">Wildlife Warrior sessions are very popular - Steve Cramp</p></div> <p>Shortly before the Wood Lane landmark was reached, volunteers agreed a shared vision for creating a nature trail through the wood just south of the line. The volunteers’ ideas involved a path, known as the Nunckley Trail, which would pass by as many as possible of the ecologically interesting areas that could be found, as well as the wealth of areas of historical interest that remain from the ruins of the old Dob Hall. The path will continue down to a picnic and viewing area where visitors will be able to watch the trains go by. It will then make its way past wood carvings (made by another of our volunteers) back up to the entrance at Wood Lane. The route is lined with logs down either side and in-filled with wood chippings to give a pleasant and clean surface to walk on. A long section of the trail has already been widened to its full width and our younger volunteers are making good progress with dropping chippings along the high path working their way down to the viewing area. The route takes in several open areas that will be used for future Wildlife Warrior ecology sessions. In total the path will be around one kilometre long so will make a very pleasant walk and supporting attraction to the railway. The group have created several areas for benches to be sited, looking out over both the railway and Nunckley Hill. The intention is to furnish the entire path with professional information boards to assist visitors with what they are seeing.</p> <p>When completed, the Mountsorrel Railway will give another revenue stream to the Great Central Railway and can give joined-up economic support for other tourist and visitor initiatives such as Stonehurst Farm, the proposed local Country Park and, possibly, a visitor centre at Lafarge Aggregates’ Mountsorrel Quarry.</p> <div id="attachment_5219" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-Volunteers-of-all-ages-preparing-the-ground-for-the-‘Nunckley-Trail’-Steve-Cramp.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5219" class="size-medium wp-image-5219" title="Mountsorrel - Volunteers of all ages preparing the ground for the ‘Nunckley Trail’ - Steve Cramp" src="https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-Volunteers-of-all-ages-preparing-the-ground-for-the-‘Nunckley-Trail’-Steve-Cramp-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-Volunteers-of-all-ages-preparing-the-ground-for-the-‘Nunckley-Trail’-Steve-Cramp-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mountsorrel-Volunteers-of-all-ages-preparing-the-ground-for-the-‘Nunckley-Trail’-Steve-Cramp.jpg 800w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"/></a><p id="caption-attachment-5219" class="wp-caption-text">Volunteers of all ages preparing the ground for the ‘Nunckley Trail’ - Steve Cramp</p></div> <p>All of the above has been achieved by volunteer labour or through much appreciated sponsorship. There has been extremely generous support from local companies and organisations, reinforced by support from local MPs Stephen Dorrell and Nicki Morgan, and MEPs Brian Simpson and Glenis Willmott. All of this has gone hand in hand with regular media support through mentions on Radio Leicester and in the local newspapers. We would like to recognise and thank the following companies and bodies for their support : Lafarge Aggregates, Languard Vegetation Management, J. McCann (Nottingham) Ltd., Snibston Discovery Park, Loughborough University, East Midlands Airport, Brooklea Nurseries, Loughborough Road Nurseries, Murco Petroleum, Next, Caterpillar, Aggregate Industries, Rolls Royce, Mountsorrel and Rothley Parish Councils, The Harry Hames Cottage Charity and The Edith Murphy Foundation. (Apologies to anyone we’ve overlooked!)</p> <p>For further information, or to volunteer, contact project leader Steve Cramp by e-mail steve@mountsorrelrailway.org.uk or visit the project website <a href="http://www.mountsorrelrailway.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">http://www.mountsorrelrailway.org.uk/</a></p> <p>Please consider making a donation to the Mountsorrel Railway Project. Your support will be much appreciated. Send your cheque to :</p> <p>Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage Centre, 240 Swithland Lane, Rothley, Leicestershire. LE7 7UE.</p> <p>(If you are able to offer Gift Aid on your donation then please make your cheque payable to The David Clarke Railway Trust and send it to the same address. We will supply you with the relevant Gift Aid Declaration form.)</p> <p>(Please write ‘Mountsorrel Railway Project’ on the reverse of cheques.)</p>  </div> <div class="cleared"></div> </div> <div class="cleared"></div> </div> </div> <div class="cleared"></div> </div> <div class="art-layout-cell art-sidebar1"> <div class="art-box art-block widget widget_text" id="text-8"> <div class="art-box-body art-block-body"> <div class="art-bar art-blockheader"> <h3 class="t"> Our next operating day: </h3> </div> <div class="art-box art-blockcontent"> <div class="art-box-body art-blockcontent-body"> <div class="textwidget"><div align='center'><b>This weekend - Spring Steam Weekend</b><br/><br/> Passenger and freight trains are operating this weekend 1st and 2nd March 2025, with three steam locomotives, one diesel loco, and a heritage diesel railcar in action.<br/><br/> <a href='https://tickets.gcrailway.co.uk/events/99930' border='0'><img src='/loco_diary/thumbs/xevtmoreinfo.gif.pagespeed.ic.SwfCNOvbLC.png' border='0' alt='This Weekend'/></a> </div></div> <div class="cleared"></div> </div> </div> <div class="cleared"></div> </div> </div> <div class="art-box art-block widget widget_dpe_fp_widget" id="dpe_fp_widget-2"> <div class="art-box-body art-block-body"> <div class="art-bar art-blockheader"> <h3 class="t"> Latest News </h3> </div> <div class="art-box art-blockcontent"> <div class="art-box-body art-blockcontent-body"> <ul class="dpe-flexible-posts"> <li id="post-40574" class="post-40574 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-mainline category-press-release"> <a href="https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/2025/02/step-back-in-time-at-great-central-railways-1940s-weekend/"> <div class="title">Step Back in Time at Great Central Railway’s 1940s Weekend</div> </a> </li> <li id="post-40466" class="post-40466 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-mainline category-press-release"> <a href="https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/2025/01/full-steam-ahead-for-loughborough-town-deal-in-2025-as-almost-27-million-of-investment-already-delivered/"> <div class="title">Full steam ahead for Loughborough Town Deal in 2025 as almost £27 million of investment already delivered</div> </a> </li> <li id="post-40385" class="post-40385 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-mainline category-press-release"> <a href="https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/2025/01/great-central-railway-locomotives-volunteers-join-the-world-wide-whistle-up/"> <div class="title">Great Central Railway Locomotives & Volunteers Join the World Wide ‘Whistle-Up”!</div> </a> </li> <li id="post-40382" class="post-40382 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-mainline category-press-release"> <a href="https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/2025/01/the-winter-steam-gala-to-welcome-the-new-year-with-a-trio-of-guest-locos/"> <div class="title">The Winter Steam Gala To Welcome The New Year With A Trio Of Guest Locos</div> </a> </li> </ul> <div class="cleared"></div> </div> </div> <div class="cleared"></div> </div> </div> <div class="art-box art-block widget widget_text" id="text-9"> <div class="art-box-body art-block-body"> <div class="art-bar art-blockheader"> <h3 class="t"> Our appeals </h3> </div> <div class="art-box art-blockcontent"> <div class="art-box-body art-blockcontent-body"> <div class="textwidget"><div align='center'> <a href='/unify/'><img src='/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/xreunification2020logo.gif.pagespeed.ic.RBHF6O9VF8.png' alt='Reunification appeal - 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