Date: 24/09/2012

IT'S nothing new to hear enthusiasts claim that the old Great Central Railway mainline through Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire would have made a brilliant through-route for heavy rail freight, had it been spared from the Beeching closures of the Sixties. And a new book by Robin Jones 'Beeching: The Inside Track' reinforces this theory through an in-depth interview with none other than the last surviving member of Dr Beeching's own planning team.

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The remaining monument to Nottingham Victoria station, seen here on 19 August 2010, surrounded by the Victoria Shopping Centre. The station, opened on 24 May 1900 by the Great Central and Great Northern Railway companies, originally carried two names. Nottingham Central (used by the GCR) and Nottingham Joint (used by the GNR), a situation that obviously could not be allowed to continue. The problem was finally resolved around 3 weeks later when a compromise agreement was reached to rename the station Nottingham Victoria with effect from 12 June 1900. Nottingham Victoria station was officially closed on 4 September 1967. [See image 31821]
Location: Nottingham Victoria
Company: Nottingham Victoria (Great Central Railway and Great Northern Railway Joint)
19/08/2010 Mark Poustie

Stanier 8F no 48197 at Nottingham Victoria on 13 August 1966 with the RCTS Great Central Rail Tour. The train had arrived from London Waterloo behind West Country Pacific no 34002 Salisbury and the 8F handled the next leg of the tour as far as Shireoaks. [See image 30330]
Location: Nottingham Victoria
Company: Nottingham Victoria (Great Central Railway and Great Northern Railway Joint)
13/08/1966 K A Gray

Bulleid West Country Pacific no 34102 Lapford seen shortly after arrival at a murky Nottingham Victoria with a football special from Southampton on Saturday 30 March 1963.
Location: Nottingham Victoria
Company: Nottingham Victoria (Great Central Railway and Great Northern Railway Joint)
30/03/1963 K A Gray

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