A Ghost of the Great Central Railway Mainline - The Lost Signal

Please watch: "The Most Beautiful Closed Railway in the UK? Scarborough to Whitby Railway Episode 2"
• The Most Beautiful Clo... -~-
A Ghost of the Great Central Railway Mainline - The Lost Signal
Beside the quiet village of Willoughby near Rugby lies a straight stretch of the former Great Central Railway Mainline. A gimpse of the trackbed can be seen from the Oxford Canal running alongside the line and nestled between a cornfield and the village there is a nice little peice of railway history just waiting to be found.....
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#disused #railway #great #central Additional Music by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0.
www.scottbuckley.com.au

[@levelcrossing150]

These GCR signals are so much loved, they are the real survivors of this wonderful railway.

[@TrekkingExploration]

I loved it and I hope to find more. Thank you for watching

[@shavedphil]

Now living in Nottingham I so wish I had had the chance to travel from Nottingham Victoria to Marylebone in London. I was on a local team recently and chatted to an 83 year old chap who told me about the former station here and his journeys to London on that line. I was riveted.

[@TrekkingExploration]

I'd ha have loved to have experienced this line and I've been fortunate to see many parts during the past two weeks on the narrowboat that makes me want to explore more 🙂

[@michael42158]

I was born near the GCR and can just about remember getting the train from Rushcliffe Halt to Nottingham Victoria.

[@shavedphil]

team = tram

[@shavedphil]

In my first message!

[@westernmonitor]

In typing this I realise its been nearly 20 years since I last visited this spot. Back then I could walk miles and that day visited Charwelton and Catesby Tunnel and then walked down to this excellent survivor. The section this signal is on was much less overgrown then and I wonder in another 20 years if it will disappear into the undergrowth. Thanks as always Ant for jogging the memories.

[@bd4_l]

What a wonderful find! And its still in pretty good condition being that it's so exposed to the elements and opportunity of vandalism.

[@oldfart6318]

WOW. That signal post really deserved its own video. Thanks for tracking down, filming and uploading. Great music.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much I'm pleased you enjoyed it 🙂

[@paulboyle6857]

I live not far away & have been to this site,as you say quite remarkable that it has survived.The Marylebone/Rugby section of the GCR closed in 1966;they then ran DMU,s from Rugby Central up to Nottingham until May 1969.The platfoms at Rugby are intact & the Rotary Club have laid track sections in the positions they would have been in the day.My favourite area is the Ashlawn Bridge cutting;the bridge itself should be a listed structure,the sheer scale is amazing.

[@martinmarsola6477]

A lonely signal post. How did they forget this? Amazing. Cheers Ant! 👍🙂

[@michaelpilling9659]

Hello Ant - greetings from Poland What a fantastic find. There is so little left to see of the GCR. A real survivor. Brilliant video!

[@TrekkingExploration]

Cheers Michael Thanks very much for watching

[@seamusmcevoy2011]

I popped down there myself back in April after my Hammer throwing competition in Rugby, it's great to see it still standing. Such a shame that the track bed is so heavily overgrown, as that would have been a nice walk.

[@michaelmiller641]

that's amazing,Ant, lovely to see an old bracket signal like that, presumably it's a concrete post

[@76Sulaco]

We live at Onley, next to the prison and know this signal well. Between the signal and the prison, the cutting is an interesting walk also, with a few bridges and lots of lineside cable conduit still intact. Up near Catesby Viaduct between the Viaduct and tunnel a platelayers hut is still there, upto a few years ago you could still see it had tools inside.

[@simonballard6413]

Fantastic old signal! I always loved the Great Central. Let me know when you both come to Warwickshire again - I feel a drink coming on!

[@thomasmann9216]

It's nice that it's still there as a reminder of what once was, but it's also sad that what was an important part of rail infrastructure has been left to corrode and fall apart in isolation.

[@matthewwren1177]

Fantastic. There is another signal like this one a few miles south of this one on the former Great Central Mainline near the village of Eydon. The one near Eydon had something to do with the GCRs Culworth junction that is very nearby.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Cheers Matthew thanks for watching 🙂

[@lindamccaughey6669]

That was fantastic. Was a little worried you were gonna climb up I’m so pleased you didn’t. I was born in Northants, at least more than 20 years ago. Thanks for taking me along. Please take care and stay safe

[@Steve_Wardley_G6JEF]

Great video as ever Ant, love the music to go with it. One would assume that not too far away is the remains of the signal box that operated it.

[@markmackay1553]

What an amazing find well done and thanks for sharing.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Mark

[@mcmarky1985]

Love finds like this that survive. If you are ever ever in the area a visit to Rings End Nature reserve on the former March to Spalding Line has stuff like this. I also believe a signal survives in Swaffham on the former line there.

[@ffrancrogowski2192]

A stunner to find this fantastic relic Ant, on such a long closed line! Many thanks!

[@Thunderer0872]

I was on a boating holiday on the canal and saw this signal it's still there with that safety loop hanging on by a? well who knows how it's still there since the 1960's and when I saw it in September 1988. the track bed was still walkable and only bushes 34 years ago you could even see the drainage runs at the side of the tracks back then. I took 2 photos. I will have to see if you're on Facebook to share.

[@shirleylynch7529]

Great find Ant. Must have made your day. Beautiful day at that. Lovely sky and scenery. Great filming as always. Thank you.

[@michaelhollingworth1536]

Another great video,narrated by someone who is so passionate about the historic past,well done Ant,keep em coming.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks for your kind words Michael

[@johnharker3151]

There is a similar signals post still there on the ex LNER line near the ex Chapeltown & Thorncliffe railway station in Parking Wood near Chapeltown, now a suburb of Sheffield towards Barnsley. I climbed up it a few years ago whilst leading a guided walk for the Penistone Line Community Rail Partnership (guided walks 1st, 3rd & 5th Saturdays every month). Some on the walk took photos of me having climbed the ladder but I've never seen them. The line is walkable and parts of it are now a cycletrack & footpath but this section, where the signal tower is, isn't as it's on private land. You get a good view of the old station platform as well, now a private house off the main road between Chapeltown and Barnsley.

[@mbrewin]

Amazing how these things are still here, there's another one just off the A16 at spalding on the way to cowbit

[@TrekkingExploration]

Cheers Martin thanks for watching 🙂

[@martyn6792]

Amazing it has survived all these years, a poignant reminder of what was there

[@Ozbert]

Good lad. Glad you were able to find this and show us the signal post. ; - )

[@bobingram6912]

Oh, the history. How the heck is that still stood standing there in all its glory - but I'm glad it is👍👍👍 Come on Ant, you know you like a few brambles and nettles 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@jetsons101]

That "Lost Signal" needs a Go Fund Me setup for it so it could be moved and restored as mentioned in a previous comment. Thanks for sharing.....

[@BrendanPerkins]

I'd gladly support something like that.

[@stephendey5056]

@@BrendanPerkins Yes, so would I

[@helenthorne8451]

Wow that's amazing it's still standing nice to see it xx

[@Richard_Barnes]

How did that survive? The drone footage shows the route so well. 👍🏻

[@bexhil7]

A good video of A Ghost of the Great Central Railway Mainline - The Lost Signal!.💛💛💛💛

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Michael

[@markharrison7522]

Shirebrook has loads of stuff like this knocking around it was literally just all railways

[@ruthbrierley1798]

That's really cool!

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Ruth

[@4623620]

Yes please, more of this kind of videos 👌😀👍, and I love it when they stay under ten minutes, makes them ideal to watch during a break in between being busy (so relaxing) ❗

[@chrisbayly5457]

Great find of a long lost railway

[@TrekkingExploration]

It certainly is. Thanks for watching Chris

[@lilchris26]

Nice one Ant, I like seeing stuff like this, bit of a shame really just left like that. Chris

[@BrendanPerkins]

Great video, I absolutely love seeing the remaining signalling equipment. One very similar to this near Ludborough in Lincolnshire.

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's lovely isn't it? Hopefully I can find more

[@andytaylor1698]

That would be the Pear Tree Lane signal 👍🏻

[@BrendanPerkins]

That's the one Andy.

[@b4mouse]

Good find, looks like you’ve had great weather for your canal travels this summer.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Cheers John. It's been really good

[@matthewrail6065]

Great find Ant keep up the great content.

[@doylepeterjohn2]

I can’t see why they couldn’t get that track bed cleared it would be a nice walk

[@barrythedieselelectricstea5217]

sad to see this GCR signal all alone it's stood the test of time and still standing after all these decades was this line one of beechings cuts and have you any pictures of what the line looked liked

[@fastmail55]

How cool! Again, nicely done.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks for watching Edward

[@darrenpickering247]

wow! what a great find.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks for watching Darren

[@richarddavey9547]

There's one that reminds in Leicester on a bit of the brick viaduct that still stands on Slater street, worth a look 👍

[@TrekkingExploration]

Is that the one behind Tesco? I was at that one yesterday

[@richarddavey9547]

@@TrekkingExploration No, you were where the bow string bridge was, now sadly gone. If you head towards the G C R station and follow what was the line you come to another row of viaduct, it's clearly visible, be good to get some drone shots of it

[@Jimyjames73]

W😮W - Amazing Thank you for sharing Ant - as you said - short but sweet!!! May be it waiting to 'Signal' more Trains some time in the future & may be that it why it is still there??? who knows 😉🚂🚂🚂

[@kimbenson2920]

Nice little gem of a find. Thanks and cheers 👍🤓

[@benGBRf]

Wow what a find. Great little video Ant. 👍🏻

[@TrekkingExploration]

Cheers Ben 🙂

[@robertbush6652]

Hello Ant when we had our narrowboat we often sailed passed this location and sometimes stopped. I walked the dogs over there and had a look around.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Hi Robert. It's a lovely little area isn't it? Thank you for watching

[@roytabberer7427]

Really interesting, thanks for sharing.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks for watching Roy

[@nlawrence8815]

Shame its not been restored on a presvation railway

[@TrekkingExploration]

Yes I agree

[@audiotron1003]

I love GCR ghosts you should look for ghosts of GCR in Nottingham if you can.

[@remmington-allumvidoes7266]

I am wondering if the GCR heritage line are interested in relocating and restoring it, to an appropriate location on their section.

[@johnhalley974]

The much missed Great Central…God bless Sir Edward Watkin.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks for watching John

[@stephendey5056]

Presume the land its standing on is considered to be the farmers land ? or not ? Just a bit surprised that no one from the GCR hasn't had a go at removing it, if at possible, obviously they'd need permission from the farmer to access his land to do so. Would be nice to see a part of railway history restored and working in its correct enviroment.

[@TrekkingExploration]

No idea about the land. I'm unsure. It's accessable from a footpath but the track bed itself I have no idea 🤷‍♂️

[@andrewlong6438]

I think you have to be careful about simply walking across fields to reach items of interest like this one. The field is private land and unless there is footpath/bridleway or byway you are trespassing. You say below there was a footpath and it would have been wise to mention this in the video. I suspect trackbed is now private property as well not to mention signal so getting it moved would require consent from landowner.

[@richardperry5538]

Think there's a few on the old March Spalding Line. Thanks Ant 🙂

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks for watching Richard

[@cricketdk2024]

Yes there's a full bracket signal at Ring's End Local Nature Reserve, Friday Bridge. Quite visible on Google street view. Haven't spotted any others.

[@merlinonline67]

I can't see this being a candidate for restoration on the heritage line, however, it could be restored in situ, what's the point if nobody is going to see it? Maybe one day the old track bed becomes a cycle/ walking path, I've seen a couple of old signals on pathways where railways used to run. I can't see the GCR south of Leicester being used for trains ever again, so why not turn the track bed into a long-distance path

[@MM0IMC]

Did you first see this on the recent "Middy Explores" video?

[@TrekkingExploration]

No from reading about the area on my Canal Route books

[@sugarbertie1143]

Great find mate. My grandad was a driver on the GCML based at Staveley. He regularly went to Woodford Halse with trains and would have passed this signal. That line should never have closed full stop. It was a fast line and built to continental loading gauge . Another lack of foresight by stupid British politicians.

[@blw896]

Get up that ladder😂😂Martin Zero would be on it by now😂😂

[@johnaston6440]

Did I not tell you I came from willoughby

[@TrekkingExploration]

No but I know now 🙂🙂