Great Central Railway

18/06/2026

It is with great sadness that we share the news that our much-loved Traffic Department cat, Onslaught, was put to sleep peacefully yesterday evening.

For the past twelve years, Onslaught was a familiar face at Loughborough Central in or around the Traffic Office. Whether she was greeting visitors, coercing staff for a share of their lunch or happily lazing in the sun, she became part of the fabric of the Railway. Countless members of the GCR family, along with many visitors, came to know and love her over the years and would look out for her whenever they visited.

Yesterday evening, surrounded by love, Onslaught went to sleep peacefully for the final time.

She wasn't "just a cat". She was a colleague, a mascot, a source of comfort on difficult days and a friend to so many people. Heritage railways are built by people, but places like ours are also shaped by the characters who make them unique. Onslaught was undoubtedly one of those characters.

Thank you, Onslaught, for the companionship, the smiles, the photographs and above all the memories. The Traffic Office, and indeed the Great Central Railway, won't quite be the same without you.

Sleep peacefully, old friend.

17/06/2026

Relaxed Running Days🚂

You can now enjoy the Great Central Railway at a gentler pace with our Relaxed Running Days. Our Relaxed Running Days are designed for visitors who prefer a quieter, more predictable experience. With reduced visitor numbers, a calm atmosphere and supportive staff, these days are ideal for families with additional needs, including those with autism or sensory sensitivities.

Starting on 18th June on selected Thursdays, you can expect dedicated quiet carriages, clear information online to help you plan your visit, fewer visitors and a slower, more relaxed pace throughout the day.

🔎Find out more information on how we are creating a warmer and more welcoming environment for everyone and dates of our relaxed running days at www.gcrailway.co.uk/visit/relaxed-days/

17/06/2026

A Weekend of Sunshine and Steam- Dads and Grandads Travel for just £1!

Make this Father’s Day one to remember at the Great Central Railway! On 20th & 21st June, treat Dad to a nostalgic journey through the golden age of rail travel — with Dads and Grandads riding for just £1 when purchasing another child or adult runabout ticket meaning offspring both big and small can accompany Dad for a day on the railway!🛤️

Bring the whole family to experience the golden age of steam travel, explore our beautifully restored stations, relax in our cosy Butler Henderson Café and best of all spend quality time with Dad this Father’s Day.

🎟️Get your Dads for a Quid tickets on our website at www.gcrailway.co.uk/visit/timetables-fares/

17/06/2026

PLEASE NOTE – OUR PHONE LINES ARE CURRENTLY DOWN

Unfortunately, our booking office phone lines are temporarily unavailable. We are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or need to get in touch, please email us at [email protected], and our team will be happy to help.

We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

16/06/2026

Uncover Railway Collectors' Items!🪙

Are you a railway memorabilia (railwayana) collector or do you love to admire parts of railway’s history? Join us on 21 June at the Railwayana Swapmeet for one of the UK’s longest-standing events of its kind!

Browse through locomotive nameplates, lamps, signalling equipment, silverware, enamel signs, buttons, badges, books, photographs and more at Quorn and Woodhouse Station yard from 7:30 am.✨

🔎Find out more about the Swapmeet on our website at www.gcrailway.co.uk/visit/events/20260329-railwayana-swapmeet/

15/06/2026

Thank You to This Week's New Patreon Members!💛
A huge thank you to everyone who joined our ‘Porter’ & ‘Guard’ tier this week! Your support helps keep the Great Central Railway’s day-to-day journey on track, and we’re so grateful to have you with us.

As a Porter member, you’ll already be enjoying early access content and exclusive little extras. Guard members enjoy all of this too, plus even more behind-the-scenes content, a chance to submit your questions for a monthly Q&A video with Malcolm Holmes, GCR merch after 3 months of membership, and much more!

Choose from our ‘Porter’ or ‘Guard’ tiers on Patreon today so you don’t miss out on all the extra GCR perks at www.patreon.com/cw/GreatCentralRailway or click the link in our bio.

✨A special thank you to the new Guard members:
• John Dickerson
• Martin Hardy
• Peter Lindley
• Dave
• David Shetliffe
• Matthew Kay

✨A special thank you to the new Porter members:
• Clyde Hinton
• Brian
• Christopher Davies
• David Durrance
• TommyBlack
• Lydia Couch
• Billyboy
• Ocean King

Get more from Great Central Railway on Patreon. Heritage Railway Enthusiast News and History - Steam and Diesel . Support Great Central Railway and get exclusive access to their work.

13/06/2026

Heritage buses at the Quorn Village Fete! 🚍🎉

On Saturday 20 June, Quorn Village Fete is taking place and we’ll be running a bus service from Quorn Station to the fete to help you get there and back with ease.
Whether you’re heading along for the stalls, entertainment, food, or a great community day out, we’d love to see you there!

🚗 Parking at Quorn Station? If you’re leaving your car with us but not travelling on the train, a donation would be greatly appreciated to support the railway.

13/06/2026

🚂 We’re Hiring: Volunteer Ambassador

Join us and help keep history alive — one volunteer at a time.
We’re looking for a Volunteer Ambassador to help shape the future of volunteering at Great Central Railway. This is a key role focused on growing, supporting and inspiring our volunteer community — the people who make everything we do possible. From recruiting and welcoming new volunteers, to improving communication, recognition, and engagement, you’ll play a central role in making volunteering here even more rewarding and accessible.

What you’ll be doing:
• Helping recruit and inspire the next generation of volunteers
• Building relationships with schools, colleges, community groups and local organisations
• Supporting onboarding and creating a great first experience for new volunteers
• Improving communication and making sure volunteers feel informed and valued
• Developing ways to recognise, celebrate and retain volunteers
• Working across the railway to highlight the huge range of volunteering opportunities available

Who we’re looking for:
Someone who is:
• Confident and great with people from all backgrounds
• A strong communicator and natural relationship builder
• Organised, proactive and able to coordinate across teams
• Positive, practical, and full of ideas
• Passionate about volunteering, community engagement and heritage
Experience in volunteering, recruitment, engagement or communications is helpful — but just as important is enthusiasm and the drive to make a difference.

Why this role matters
Our volunteers are at the heart of the Great Central Railway.
This role will help ensure they feel supported, valued and inspired — while bringing new people into the world of heritage railway volunteering and securing the future of what we do.

📍 Location: Great Central Railway
📅 Full time, two-year fixed term contract (with some evenings and weekends)
📩 To apply, please send your CV to: [email protected]

The full job description can be found here - https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/news/volunteer-ambassador-job-vacancy/