New heritage railway carriage shed in Ruddington has been installed

New heritage railway carriage shed in Ruddington has been installed

Last updated: 12/9/2024

A new multi-functional carriage storage shed has now been installed at the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre in Ruddington, enabling the site to accommodate more carriages and offer better protection.

The carriage shed will provide covered storage for four operational passenger carriages, host community events and a small workshop for volunteers and visitors.

Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) allocated £40,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) to Great Central Railway Nottingham (GCRN) towards the essential project which supports the revival of the heritage site.

RBC's Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Wellbeing, ICT and Member Development Cllr Jonathan Wheeler unveiled a new plaque at the site to celebrate the opening of the carriage shed at a celebratory event which coincided with the railway's Road-Rail-Ale Festival on September 6.

RBC Cabinet Member Cllr Jonathan Wheeler unveiled the new UKSPF plaque at GCRN

Eventgoers also enjoyed train rides on their first run of passenger trains since 2020 which builds on their next stage of development, returning trains further along the main line towards Rushcliffe Halt, near East Leake.

Cllr Wheeler said: "It was a pleasure to unveil the new carriage shed at the Transport Heritage Centre. It looks fantastic and it was great to see residents already enjoying the new space as part of the festival taking place.

"This is a vital project that has provided essential storage to help protect the carriages from rain, snow and all weathers and improve their safety from vandalism.

"The new multi-functional space also offers a great area that enhances the visitor experience at the Heritage Centre. It will also ensure the volunteers have a dedicated space to meet and take part in workshops.

"The GCRN continue to go from strength to strength as a group and have overcome many challenges and we're delighted to be able to support their efforts through UKSPF and REPF so more people can enjoy the railway and experience a part of Rushcliffe's rail history.

"It is among the groups we are reaching out with support for community and place projects and the scores of wonderful volunteers here who will continue this site's heritage and restore four further rail carriages with the help of this storage."

Cllr Wheeler updated visitors on the UKSPF and REPF GCRN project

Andy Fillingham of Great Central Railway (Nottingham) added: "Our new carriage shed is a wonderful facility to protect heritage and enhance what we can offer visitors. The grant funding was essential to unlocking the project and we're very grateful for the investment.

"Without it, we simply couldn't have delivered something of this size. It's a boost for us, our supporters and shows the transformational change which funding can make at a grass roots level."

Visitors and beer festival event-goers gathered at the new carriage shed to mark its opening

In RBC's most recent round of REPF, the authority allocated £40,000 to GCRN for a new toilet block at the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre to help improve the visitor experience and is expected to open in autumn.

The block will feature ladies' and gents' toilets, a wheeled access toilet and a separate baby change and shower area. It will be centrally located at the attraction and replace life expired facilities, with modern cleaner ones.

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