View source for Mountsorrel Railway

{{short description|Heritage railway in Leicestershire}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox heritage railway
|name     = Mountsorrel Railway
|logo              = Mountsorrel Railway.jpg
|logo_size         = 
|logo_alt          =
| image              = The Mountsorrel Quarryman inaugural trains (geograph 4713734).jpg
 | image_width        = 
 | image_alt          =
 | caption            = The Mountsorrel Quarryman inaugural train on 24 October 2015
 | color              = 
 | locale             = [[Mountsorrel]], [[Leicestershire]], England
 | terminus           = 
 | coordinates        = <!-- {{coord}} -->
 | map                = 
 | map_caption        = 
 | map_alt            = 
 | mapsize            = 
 | connections        = 
 | linename           = 
 | builtby            = 
 | originalopen       = 
 | originalgauge      = 
 | owned              = 
 | operator           = [[Great Central Railway (heritage railway)|Great Central Railway]]
 | stations           = 2
 | length             = 
 | preservedgauge     = 
 | era                = 
 | com-years          = 
 | com-events         = 
 | com-years1         = 
 | com-events1        = 
 | com-years9         = 
 | com-events9        = 
 | closedpassengers   = 
 | closed             = 
 | stageyears         = 
 | stage              = 
 | years              = 2015
 | events             = reopened
 | years1             = 
 | events1            = 
 | years12            = 
 | events12           = 
 | headquarters       = 
 | website            = {{url|http://heritage-centre.co.uk}}
 | routemap           = {{Mountsorrel Railway|inline=1}}
 | routemap_name      = 
 | routemap_state     = 
 | embedded           = 
}}
The '''Mountsorrel Railway''' was a network of industrial [[railway]] lines that served the [[granite]] [[quarry|quarries]] which dominate the [[Leicestershire]] village of [[Mountsorrel]]. After being closed in the 1950s, a section was reopened in 2015 as a [[heritage railway|heritage line]] run by the Mountsorrel & Rothley Community Heritage Centre.

== History ==

Construction started around November 1859 on a line {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} long. It ran from the local quarries of the Mountsorrel Granite Company at the north west of Mountsorrel, through the village on an embankment {{convert|20|ft|m}} high, crossing the turnpike road on an iron girder bridge of {{convert|39|ft|m}} span, over the [[River Soar]] on a viaduct of 5 arches (the largest being {{convert|80|ft|m}} in width) and then on an embankment to the [[Midland Railway]], half a mile south of [[Barrow-upon-Soar railway station]].<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Mountsorrel. The Railway |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000298/18600331/014/0005  |newspaper=Leicestershire Mercury |location=England |date=31 March 1860 |access-date=10 February 2020 |via=British Newspaper Archive }}</ref> The engineer was Mr. Addison of London, the contractor was Mr. Herbert of Leicester and the cost of construction was £18,000 ({{Inflation|UK|18000|1860|r=-2|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}).{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}}

By the turn of the century there were eight-and-a-half miles of track serving the local quarries, now owned by [[Tarmac (company)|Tarmac]].  

The line was extended and by 1898 ran from the [[Great Central Railway (preserved)|Great Central Railway]] at [[Swithland Sidings]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.birstall.free-online.co.uk/Mountsorrel/mp19.html| title=Memories of Mountsorrel Railway| website=Mountsorrel Post| date=June 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816061833/http://www.birstall.free-online.co.uk/Mountsorrel/mp19.html| archive-date=16 August 2017}}</ref>

The line fell out of use in the 1950s, the track was taken up in the 1960s, and most of the route was abandoned. Part of the 'main-line' is now covered by a conveyor belt<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://heritage-centre.co.uk/visit-us/a-brief-history-of-the-railway/|title=A brief history of the Railway|date=2 November 2015}}</ref> which runs from Mountsorrel Quarry to the site of the junction on the [[Midland Main Line]], near [[Barrow upon Soar]]. The conveyor belt replaced the original railway in the 1970s.

== Restoration ==

[[File:GreatCentralRailwayMGC654.JPG|thumb|1950-built wagon No. B477060, restored as 654 for the Mountsorrel Railway project|right]]

A local resident, Steve Cramp, had been researching the railway and, as well as writing a book about it, led the project to rebuild the part of the railway going from Swithland to Mountsorrel. Donations came in for the project, including from Lafarge.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.com/rvp_ltd%40btinternet.com/news.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613004306/http://www.geocities.com/rvp_ltd%40btinternet.com/news.htm |archive-date=2022-06-13 |url-status=dead |title=RVP News and Discussion |date=12 August 2008 |website=geocities}}{{rs|date=March 2021}}</ref> The project reinstated {{Convert|1+1/4|mi|4=0|spell=in}} of new track to a small halt station under Bond Lane bridge. This enables the villagers of Mountsorrel to catch a train for nearby {{Stnlnk|Rothley}} and then onto the rest of the preserved network. The line climbs at a grade of 1-in-62, which is far steeper than the gradients on the Great Central Mainline, as they reached only 1-in-175.

Despite numerous examples, none of the original Mountsorrel wagons had been preserved, so three wooden-bodied open wagons (two 5-plank bodies and one 3-plank) which closely resembled the old ones were selected to be returned to service in the official light grey livery of the old Mountsorrel Granite Company.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://mountsorrelrailway.blogspot.com/2010/03/final-mountsorrel-wagon-completed-all.html| title=Final Mountsorrel wagon completed - all three to run at GCR gala!| website=Mountsorrel Railway| date=22 March 2010}}</ref>

By 2010, the group had completed ballast laying over the first mile from the junction with the GCR to Wood Lane. On 10 May 2010, the track work began with the placement of a right-handed point at Swithland Sidings, the first part of the new junction.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://mountsorrelrailway.blogspot.com/2010/05/mountsorrel-railway-track-laying-has.html| title=Mountsorrel Railway track laying has begun!| website=Mountsorrel Railway| date=10 May 2010}}</ref> In June, the group received a £5000 donation from the Great Central's support charity, bringing them closer to their goal to complete the track laying.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://mountsorrelrailway.blogspot.com/2010/06/david-clarke-railway-trust-donates-5000.html| title=David Clarke Railway Trust donates £5,000 to track appeal!| website=Mountsorrel Railway| date=18 June 2010}}</ref> By May 2011, track had been laid over the first {{Convert|300|m|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} of the branch line, which allowed the first trains to run on the railway since the track lifting trains in 1959.

By the end of April 2012, phase 2 had been completed, with a further 300m laid and many hedgerows planted, and fund raising for phase three was well underway. This enabled the laying of the next {{Convert|500|m|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} of track up to Wood Lane, on the outskirts of Mountsorrel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mountsorrelrailway.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/edith-murphy-foundation-gives-boost-to.html| title=Edith Murphy Foundation gives boost to Mountsorrel Railway phase 3 appeal| website=Mountsorrel Railway| date=29 April 2012}}</ref>

In early December 2012, track-laying passed through the bridge at Wood Lane. Materials had also been secured to reach the end of the line at Bond Lane. By this time, total project spend had been £90,000, with £9,500 still to be raised to complete the track to passenger-carrying standards.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://mountsorrelrailway.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/track-laying-reaches-wood-lane.html| title=Track Laying Reaches Wood Lane| website=Mountsorrel Railway| date=4 December 2012}}</ref>

In September 2014, contractors started work building a new {{Convert|58|m|4=-long|adj=mid}} platform in the cutting at Bond Lane. The track laying to the current limit of the cutting, platform and sand drag had all been completed by February 2015.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://heritage-centre.co.uk/visit-us/mountsorrel-station/ | title=Mountsorrel Station. Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage Centre | date=21 January 2015 }}</ref> The complete branch line was officially opened on 24 September 2015 and the first train hauled by Peckett locomotive 'Teddy' visiting from the Chasewater Railway, and North Eastern Railway No. 1310 visiting from the Middleton Railway.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://heritage-centre.co.uk/in-the-press/pictures-from-the-official-opening/ | title=Pictures from the Official Opening. Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage Centre | date=24 October 2015 }}</ref>

== The preserved line ==
On 21 November 2013, the first passenger train travelled the railway towards Mountsorrel hauling the project volunteers. Project leader Steve Cramp said on the day that "It’s been an emotional time for us all, everybody has worked so hard over the last six years to bring this vision to reality and it’s so nice to actually see a steam train get back up to Mountsorrel."<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.loughboroughecho.net/news/local-news/first-steam-passenger-train-goes-6350392| title=First steam train rolls on the tracks in Mountsorrel| website=Loughborough Echo| date=2 December 2013| first=Amy| last=Watkins}}</ref>

On 27 January 2014, planning permission for a simple {{cvt|50|m|ft|adj=mid|-long}} platform built into the base of the cutting next to the bridge at Bond Lane was granted by Charnwood Borough Council. The platform was constructed from concrete blocks faced with Mountsorrel Granite. The aim for the new platform was to link up with [[Stonehurst Family Farm and Motor Museum]] bringing together the local community.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://mountsorrelrailway.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/planning-permission-granted-for.html| title=Planning Permission Granted for Mountsorrel Halt| website=Mountsorrel Railway| date=27 January 2014}}</ref> The platform is now known as Mountsorrel railway station.

After eight years and over 80,000 hours of volunteer time, the Mountsorrel Railway was opened to the public over the weekend of 24 and 25 October 2015 by [[Richard Faulkner, Baron Faulkner of Worcester|Lord Faulkner of Worcester]], who is president of the [[Heritage Railway Association]] and vice chairman of the [[Science Museum, London|Science Museum]].<ref>{{cite web| first=Steve| last=Cramp| url=http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Mountsorrel.pdf| title=The Mountsorrel Railway - The Grand Opening| website=Great Central Railway}}</ref>

The site of the former Nunckley Quarry now occupies Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage Centre, which includes a coffee shop, heritage displays, a railway museum, a narrow gauge railway and Nunckley Hill railway station, as well as various other visitor attractions.

In January 2018, the Heritage Centre publicised its plans for the construction of the Discovery Centre, a brand new building which planned to provide an innovative and interactive teaching space, featuring an exhibition area, a library with archive storage, a lecture theatre/class room, a study room, and advanced AR equipment for 'hands-on' learning.<ref>{{cite web| first=Steve| last=Cramp| url=http://heritage-centre.co.uk/news/discovery-centre/| title=Discovery Centre. Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage Centre| website=Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage Centre| date=14 January 2018}}</ref> The Heritage Centre applied for £800,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, although the bid later fell through in July of the same year due to a change in the HLF's requirements for grants.<ref>{{cite web| first=Steve| last=Cramp |url=http://heritage-centre.co.uk/newsletters/discovery-centre-july-2018/| title=Discovery Centre: July 2018. Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage Centre| website=Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage Centre| date=2 July 2018 }}</ref>

In the summer of 2019, an extension to the railway museum was completed, providing a dedicated workshop for the restoration and maintenance of standard gauge rolling stock.<ref>{{cite web| first=Steve| last=Cramp |url=http://heritage-centre.co.uk/newsletters/summer-2019//| title=Newsletter: Summer 2019. Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage Centre| website=Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage Centre| date=13 June 2019 }}</ref> A further expansion of the workshop took place in 2022, providing a new store for the narrow gauge locomotives at the site.<ref>{{cite web| first=Steve| last=Cramp |url=http://heritage-centre.co.uk/newsletters/summer-2022/|title=Newsletter: Summer 2022| website=Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage Centre| date=20 July 2022 }}</ref>

In July 2020, the iron components of Robert Stephenson's Leicester and Swannington Railway Lift Bridge arrived at the Heritage Centre.<ref>{{cite web| first=Steve| last=Cramp |url=http://heritage-centre.co.uk/in-the-press/stephenson-lift-bridge/|title=Stephenson Lift Bridge. Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage Centre/| website=Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage Centre| date=25 July 2020 }}</ref> The bridge had previously been exhibited at [[Snibston#Snibston_Discovery_Museum | Snibston Discovery Centre]], before it closed in 2015. The lift bridge was originally situated near West Bridge, Leicester and had been built in 1834 by [[Robert Stephenson]] to allow wagons from the [[Leicester and Swannington Railway]] to cross the [[Leicester Navigation]], accessing nearby coal wharves. Following Snibston Discovery Centre's closure, the bridge was dismantled and the old timbers had been discarded, new beams had to be ordered as result, which did not arrive until 2022.<ref>{{cite web| first=Steve| last=Cramp |url=http://heritage-centre.co.uk/newsletters/christmas-2022/|title=Newsletter: Christmas 2022. Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage Centre| website=Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage Centre| date=23 December 2022 }}</ref> A project of reconstruction is currently being undertaken as a collaboration between Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage Centre, Leicestershire County Council and Leicester Industrial History Society.<ref>{{cite web| first=David| last=Pearce| url=http://www.lihs.org.uk/Autumn_2020_Newsletter.pdf| title=Autumn 2020 WEB VERSION| website=Leicester Industrial History Society}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Jones |first=Robin |date=7 August 2022 |title=Robert Stephenson lifting bridge moves to GCR Mountsorrel Branch |magazine=Heritage Railway |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/heritage-railway/20200807/page/9 |publisher=Mortons Media Group Ltd}}</ref>

== Locomotives and rolling stock ==
{{main article|List of Great Central Railway locomotives and rolling stock}}
=== Locomotives ===
The last surviving locomotive of the original railway is a [[Peckett and Sons]] 0-4-0ST Works No. 1759 ''Elizabeth'' of 1928<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com/peckett-sons-works-no-1759-elizabeth-0-4-0st/|title = Peckett & Sons Works No 1759 Elizabeth 0-4-0ST|date = 27 March 2018}}</ref> currently undergoing restoration at [[Rutland Railway Museum]] in [[Cottesmore, Rutland|Cottesmore]], with ambitions to bring it back to the railway once restored. 
{| class="wikitable"
! Number & Name
! Type
! Builder
! Photograph
! Livery
! History
! Owner
|-
|''48DE''
|[[Ruston and Hornsby]]<br> 48DS
|[[Ruston and Hornsby]] 
|[[File:Ruston_393304.jpg|200px]]
|Green
|Built in 1956, it began its life at Bardon Hill Quarry before moving to the [[Battlefield Line]]. It then spent time at Snibston until it closed. During its time at Snibston it was acquired by the Leicester museums service. It was offered to the railway on a 1-year rolling loan following Snibston's closure<ref name="auto">{{cite web| url=http://heritage-centre.co.uk/visit-us/ruston-diesels/| title=Ruston Diesels| website=Mountsorrel Heritage Centre| date=27 March 2017}}</ref> Operational.
|[[Leicestershire County Council]] 
|-
|-
|''314''
|[[Powlesland and Mason (railway shunting contractors)|Powlesland & Mason]] 0-4-0ST<br> 
|[[Brush Traction]] 
|[[File:Brush 0-4-0ST 921.jpg|200px]]
|Lined Green
|This is the last surviving standard gauge steam locomotive built by Brush Traction. The engine was built in 1908 for Powesland & Mason, Swansea Dock, where it was acquired by the [[Great Western Railway|GWR]], after the grouping of the railways in 1924 and was later sold by the GWR in 1928 to Berry Wiggins & Company's Oil Refinery at [[Kingsnorth (Medway)]] in Kent. It was acquired by the Leicester Museums Service in the 1960s, they moved it to [[Abbey Pumping Station]] for display and then onto [[Snibston|Snibston Discovery Centre]] until its closure in 2015, after being in storage, it was then put back on display at Nunckley Hill in 2019.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com/921-powesland-mason-0-4-0st/| title=921 Powesland & Mason 0-4-0ST| website=Preserved British Steam Locomotives| date=12 June 2017}}</ref>
|[[Leicestershire County Council]] 
|-
|''85049''
|[[Ruston and Hornsby]]<br> LBT Series
|[[Ruston and Hornsby]] 
|~
|Yellow
|Built in 1956, it was delivered to the British Transport Commission. It is a narrow gauge Ruston used to demonstrate quarry actions and haul passenger trains on the Quarry Bottom Railway.<ref name="auto"/> Operational.
|Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage
|-
|-
|''22070''
|4wDM narrow gauge<br> 
|[[Simplex]] 
|~
|Yellow
|Built in 1960, this locomotive was acquired by the London Brick company, and was loaned to Butlins Holiday Camp in 1974, and subsequently went to the Derbyshire Dales Narrow Gauge Railway. It arrived at Mountsorrel Heritage Centre in 2018.<ref name="auto"/>
|Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage
|-
|7595
|[[Wickham trolley]]
|[[Wickham trolley|D Wickham & Co Ltd]]
|~ 
|Green
|Built in 1957, for part of an order to [[British Railways]] North Eastern Region. Helped in the reinstating of the railway.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://heritage-centre.co.uk/visit-us/wickham-trolley-7595/| title=Wickham Trolley 7595| website=Mountsorrel Heritage Centre| date=5 January 2016}}</ref> Operational.
|Private Owner
|-
|No. 1223 ''Colin McAndrew''
|[[Andrew Barclay Sons & Co.|Andrew Barclay]] 0-4-0ST
|[[Andrew Barclay Sons & Co.]]
|[[File:Andrew Barclay Colin McAndrew.jpg|200px]]
|Lined Green
|Built in 1911 and spent most of its working life in Edinburgh. Preserved at the [[Chasewater Railway]] in 1968 and it remained there until October 2020 when it was sold and moved to Mountsorrel. Operational, boiler ticket expires in 2030.
|Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage
|}

=== Wagons ===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Number
! Wagon Type
! Built
! Photograph
! Notes
|-
|No. 539
|5 Plank
|1949
|~
| Restored in the style of Mountsorrel Granite wagons.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web| url=http://heritage-centre.co.uk/visit-us/granite-wagons/| title=Granite wagons| website=Mountsorrel Heritage Centre| date=7 January 2016}}</ref>
|-
|-
|No. 654
|5 Plank
|1950
|[[File:GreatCentralRailwayMGC654.JPG|200px]]
| Restored in the style of Mountsorrel Granite wagons.<ref name="auto1"/>
|-
|-
|No. 127
|3 Plank
|1942
|~
| Restored in the style of Mountsorrel Granite wagons.<ref name="auto1"/>
|-
|-
|No. 23
|4 Plank
|~
|~
| Ellis & Everard mineral wagon; formerly of Snibston Discovery Park.
|-
|No. 618
|5 Plank
|1928
|~
| Restored in the style of Snibston Colliery wagons.<ref name="auto1"/>
|-
|-
|No. 402
|3 Plank
|~
|~
| Restored in the style of South Leicester Colliery wagons.<ref name="auto1"/>
|-
|-
|No. 860
|Midland Railway 20T Brake Van
|1926 
|~
| Restored in the Midland Railway livery.<ref name="auto1"/>
|-
|No. 501987
|BR 12T Ventilated Van
|1954
|~
| Restored in LMS Grey livery.
|-
|-
|No. 48339
|Cambrian Waggon Works Tar Waggon
|1940
|~
| Restored in Midland Tar Distilleries livery.<ref name="auto1"/>
|}

=== Coaches ===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Number & Name
! Description
! History & Current Status
! Livery
! Owner(s)
! Date
! Photograph
|-
|No. 946
|[[Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway|MS&LR]] Thomas Parker 5-Compartment.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://gcr-rollingstocktrust.co.uk/our-projects/vehicles/m-s-l-no-946/| title=MS & LR No. 949| website=GCR Rolling Stock Trust}}</ref>
|Restored
|[[Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway|MS&LR]] Chocolate & Cream.
|[[Great Central Railway (preserved)|GCR]] Rolling Stock Trust
|1888
|~
|-
|}

== See also ==
*[[List of heritage railways]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://heritage-centre.co.uk Mountsorrel & Rothley Community Heritage Centre]

{{Heritage railways in England}}

{{coord|52.732967|-1.142911|region:GB|display=title}}

[[Category:Rail transport in Leicestershire]]
[[Category:Transport in Leicestershire]]
[[Category:Great Central Railway]]
[[Category:Great Central Railway (preserved)]]
[[Category:Heritage railways in Leicestershire]]