Leicester City Centre and the disused Great Central Railway

We take a look at the disused Great Central Railway mainline running through Leicester City Centre, including Leicester Central station.
The lost great central railway dissected Leicester raised above the city streets via a 1.5 mile long viaduct containing 97 arches and 16 girder spans. We’re going to see some of the abandoned remains of these today.
We start at what is now Bede Island and the site of the former Braunstone Gate Yard. The Tesco Express shop used to be the old hydraulic engine house. The area contained a goods yard, carriage & engine sheds amongst other things - and a scrapyard as recently as the 1990s. Our sole surving building from this location can be seeing on this map from the early twentieth century.
We move up the line slightly and see remains of the viaduct on the approach to the Braunstone Gate Bridge. Or known better as Bowstring Bridge. The bridge was only demolished in 2009, but not before a lengthy fight to save it by campaigners. Considered unique by design and weighed over 400 tonnes.
We continue up the line to Leicester Central Station. Like we have seen with other GCR stations, it opened with the line in 1899 but saw a managed decline until ultimate closure in the late 1960s finished off by Dr Beeching. The station frontage has been derelict and unloved for many years, but now is the home of Lane7 bowling. The station platforms themselves were elevated on top of large archway area. Little remains of the station on top apart from the retaining walls along the viaduct and some shot sections of platform above a road bridge.
If you follow the line through the city, you will come across various stretches of the viaduct that havent been demolished. We finish at 'the last arch' that is still standing.
Don't forget to look for my other GCR related videos in my back catalogue.
Buy me a coffee - ko-fi.com/wobblyrunner
Facebook - / wobbly.runner
Instagram - / wobbly.runner

[@malcolmdavids2399]

Most of our corupt councillers 😬who except golden handshakes from developers allow distruction of valuable history should be ???????. Thank you for all your valuable footage and commentary 👍👍.

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

"jailed" is the word you missed.

[@SteveBernard42]

It’s amazing that unused railway infrastructure is still being removed. I think it’s pretty obvious to many folk now that public transport will again be a much needed part of life.

[@seamusmcevoy2011]

That came out really well, those old pictures are tremendous, the Bowstring Bridge was a beauty, such a shame that the council insisted on demolishing it, especially as the cost to knock it down and the cost to renovate it were exactly the same!!!!

[@WobblyRunner]

Yeah it sounds like they're was a battle that was ultimately lost. That path we were wondering about on the viaduct with the lamposts. That was the original great central way path over the bridge before it shut.

[@seamusmcevoy2011]

@@WobblyRunner What a shame it's not there anymore, it would have been fantastic to walk over both of those bridges.

[@WobblyRunner]

@@seamusmcevoy2011 it sure would.

[@nickbergquist6222]

I believe the arches at the southern end of the viaduct between the still existing River Soar bridge and the now demolished bowstring bridge were used as accomodation for GCR horses, stables in effect. This would include the red brick buildings, the "carbuncle" as you say. These were only accessible through the arches on the other side of the viaduct.

[@nickdrew6863]

when i first moved to Leicester in 1989 you could still walk across the Bowstring Bridge and there were a set of steps down to the much missed Pump and Tap pub, which was also a victim of Leicester University's expansion. There was quite a bit of protest at the decision to remove the bridge, including i believe a lady who chained herself to it, but i'm sure University money to the council decision makers sealed its fate

[@WobblyRunner]

Nice one Nick. It feels odd talking about bridges demolished very recently that survived for years after closure. Like you say. I bet the University have a lot of sway over the council and power money wise. That bridge would have made some sight.

[@jasonm4982]

Indeed, the Pump and Tap is missed, and the magnificent bridge

[@blackjockofmangertonpele]

Unbelievable the transformation even since 2009. Those bridges seemed immortal.

[@WobblyRunner]

I wonder what will be left in another 10 years. We were chatting to lady who had a business in one of the arches and she was being the subject of visits from estate agents.

[@Carolb66]

Hi Paul the viaduct is the best part of Leicester imo. The old infrastructure is the best. The old railway station is beautiful. ❤😊

[@WobblyRunner]

It's a great spectacle isn't it. Shame they can't make more use of the viaduct and derelict buildings. It seems more and more is being eaten away.

[@laurenceskinnerton73]

It’s amazing to see what’s left in Leicester,it would be nice to restore it!

[@WobblyRunner]

I agree. Shame the old bowstring bridge couldn't have been saved and used somehow

[@Technaudio]

@@WobblyRunner We did try.

[@railwaychristina3192]

I studied there in 2016 and the central station was a weed ridden wreck used as a garage. So thrilled it has been restored ❤

[@WobblyRunner]

Much better now isn't it. It's a shame they had to get rid of the cycle path over the bridge.

[@TwinkleToes2day]

I recall seeing a video with Gareth & David Icke going through Leicester, not long ago, which evoked so many memories for David. It was quite emotional listening to him; this was another fab pov, around the area.

[@mrbojangles8133]

thing that makes it a MASSIVE shame is that with hindsight granted it would have been a valuable railway tosay

[@WobblyRunner]

Aye in hindsight, I'm sure they regret it now in some form...I hope

[@Technaudio]

The Mosaic Chamber was the last (small) arch (heading south) on the bend on Blackfriars Street. You can see the 6 bolt holes where there was a plaque above the arch. The arch at 13:04 was the Jarvis Street entrance to the station, the next (smaller) arch along was Station Masters office, the next pillar is a little taller than the others and was a chimney for the fireplace in the office.

[@pun2k]

Brilliant video, as an explorer myself i've always wanted to know more about our history! Keep up the good work!

[@WobblyRunner]

Thanks, will do!

[@michaelpowell3962]

Shame it's all gone 😢

[@WobblyRunner]

I would loved to have seen it.

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

​@@WobblyRunner It does need to redeveloped and/or preserved to be integrated into current communities with useful facilities.

[@jasonm4982]

Thank you, as Leicestershire man it is sad to see how much has gone in Leicester's cultural vandalism, rarely ever to reuse. Some say the GCR would have been ideal as HS2? or a tram route, to late for either now.

[@WobblyRunner]

Cheers Jason . One of the highlights of the year for me looking around the GCR in Leicester. Would loved to have seen it originally.

[@alastairhopkins245]

Would have been useful as a link to the west of London. We could do with the GCR and the Humberstone line as tramways to relieve Abbey Lane and Humberstone Road.

[@theburningbridges]

I believe the bit where the funny shaped arches are is where they found the Roman mosaic which is in the Jewry wall museum

[@Technaudio]

The Mosaic Chamber was the last (small) arch (heading south) on the bend on Blackfriars Street. You can see the 6 bolt holes where there was a plaque above the arch. The arch at 13:04 was the Jarvis Street entrance to the station, next (smaller) arch along was Station Masters office, the next pillar is a little taller than the others and was a chimney for the fireplace in the office.

[@malcolmdavids2399]

I don't live in Leicester Thank you for your amazing (professional video) footage commentary of the discussed railway we've lost lot of our priceless history you do lot more than MSM. Carry on your amazing work in keeping our history alive.

[@WobblyRunner]

Cheers Malcolm 👍🙂. Fascinated by all that old history

[@ffrancrogowski6263]

Good to see the remains of the station building and the viaduct. I never knew what remains of the GC were left in Leicester. Crackin' video is this, and thanks.

[@WobblyRunner]

Glad you enjoyed it 👍 fascinating trip

[@Finglesham]

Your photo of the Station with trams means it was pre 1949 when the trams were scrapped. All those arches had car repairs shops in them until not that long ago. It took the Council a long time to get to work on renewing that area. Lots of student accommodation in the area and apartments. Many other bridges and arches were pulled down in 'Operation Clean UP in the early 1980s. I worked for the City Council in Finance and worked on the grant claims to fund that work. The GCR created a golden opportunity ,for later generations to redevelop the City, by acquiring the land but it hasn't been used wisely. Leicester is a dump. The current Mayor has only time for bus and cycle lanes which is killing the shopping heart.

[@WobblyRunner]

Thanks very much. I think that's a situation familiar to a few cities. Hearing similar stories in Sheffield near where I am. Especially rings a note given the amount of unused derelict land around Sheffield station.

[@philroberts7238]

But at the end of the day, buses and cycles will help to revive cities, whereas car parks can kill them.

[@johnjephcote7636]

My father was a Leicester man and having been very young when Leicester had its trams taken away, he took me to see all the tramway sights afterwards, plus Central and the GN Belgrave Road stations in the 1950s. Central's buffet had beautiful glass display caes on the counter with LNER in blue lozenges at the top. One could look down through the GCR grating at the Roman pavement too. ( We were on the last passenger train south on 3/9/66 behind 'Elder Dempster Lines').

[@flippop101]

Great video, really enjoyed that. Many thanks!

[@WobblyRunner]

Thanks Philip. Really enjoyed my time around Leicester. So much to see.

[@daveattrill2712]

Another great take. I got a shot of this as making an explore while in Leicester only this week. Good touch added to the old station building as well.

[@WobblyRunner]

I absolutely loved visiting the old GCR stuff at Leicester. Some fantastic history there isn't there.

[@97channel]

When the Bede Island area was regenerated during the mid to late 90's, the path which now diverts alongside the viaduct and Bowstring Bridge was constructed ready for the intended removal of the bridge. But for a few years, the old route over the bridge remained open. I think it was around 2005 that they finally closed off access to the viaduct and bridge, with the council citing structural danger of the bridge as the reason. They claimed that it was found to be barely able to support its own weight, due to deterioration. But it was heavily disputed by campaigners. The council were then caught in their lie, as they had dubiously said that merely the weight of a person walking on it posed a danger yet continued to send path cleaning vehicles over it on a regular basis. The remaining viaduct has been earmarked for demolition to facilitate redevelopment of land next to it into student flats for the DMU for many years. But the project kept stalling, and is currently not actively being pursued. It's only a matter of time, though.

[@WobblyRunner]

👍 cheers for the info. Interestingly, when we were looking around the bottom of the arches, one of the proprietor of one of the arches mistook us for estate agents. Sounded like they'd been getting some grief. I hope the arches stay. They're great history, but I wish they could be integrated more.

[@stevenhayes2589]

Thanks for a great video looking faward to the next episode

[@WobblyRunner]

Thanks very much. Just one more to go 👍

[@johnlaw3323]

Great vlog many thanks for making and sharing.

[@WobblyRunner]

Cheers John 👍

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thanks for the tour today, in Leicester. It looks during its heyday, it was quite a nice station. Enjoy the weekend, and see you on the next. Cheers Paul. 🇬🇧🙂👍🇺🇸

[@WobblyRunner]

Just another example of something so vast erased from existence. Have a great weekend.

[@PaddyWV]

Nice to see this. Especially the parcels office. It only seems a little while back that it might have been doomed. I read that the "Blue Bricks" used along the line, that they were so well engineered that many were still perfect and in line, barely shifting in all the years left. I think it was a conversation with demolition teams taking down that viaduct. Oh the irony of removing a railway line to make way for a car park. 😥

[@WobblyRunner]

I think you're right about the bricks. Still see so many of them left on the GCR like they were new. Seen quite a few structures on other lines too that had red brick but blue brick on the outside. And the blue bricks are in a much better condition.

[@psychicspies673]

Great urban explore. Something a little different and I really enjoyed watching it!

[@WobblyRunner]

Cheers Jon. Plenty to see in Leicester

[@mikebass3721]

I can remember in the 1960’s waiting on the station platform for a steam train to take myself & my grandad to Nottingham for a day trip. Also visiting the fishing shop nestled under the arches of Frog Island now demolished

[@stuartcampbell348]

Tommy Wadsworth fishing shop

[@mikebass3721]

@@stuartcampbell348 That’s right Tommy who with his son did the tight lines programme on BBC radio Leicester. He use to go to school with my grandad, & his son Tony who later was a radio presenter, went to school with my dad.

[@WobblyRunner]

Love reading accounts like this of when the line was in use.

[@mikebass3721]

@@WobblyRunner I lived in New Parks in the 60’ & 70’s and can remember watching the steam engines coming out of the tunnel from the 120 wooden steps on the Glenfield side of the tunnel. My Grandad & Grandmar lived in Bonchurch st ( off Fosse Rd) backing onto the “ rally” coal yard where my Gt Grandad was a signalman at the adjacent signal box by the Stephenson drive/ Fosse Rd & I can remember the “ Tardis” blue police box on the hospital lane/ Fosse Rd by the allotments.

[@andymarriott8150]

Brilliant video - as a Leicester Man born and bred with an interest in the history of my home town I have heard countless stories from my father who was keen railway enthusiast about the Leicester Railway companies - so just a couple of historical facts that I am aware of for GCR, the first being the Bow Bridge over Braunstone Gate. I was one of the security team working on the old Pecs Hosiery development next to the bridge and the old pump and tap public house. I was told by the site foreman that the bridge plate I could see from his office was featured in one of the last pictures of the Mallard Train which in its day was a record speed breaker and the picture was taken on the trains way into retirement my second piece of information is in relation to B&M Belgrave gate branch which many Leicester people will know as the Abbey Park B&M or the old Sainsbury's this site is the location of the old Belgrave GCR Train station which no longer stands but pictures can be found of it -

[@WobblyRunner]

Nice one Andy. Some great info into Leicester gcr history there.

[@dj_efk]

I wonder, if the consent for the GCR’s closure had included a clause protecting the track bed from development for say 50 years just in case - whether it would have made economic sense to reopen it as an express route to the north for bulk freight or even as a basis for an alternative scheme in place of HS2?

[@WobblyRunner]

For some reason when all these lines closed, they seemed intent on demolition. Almost as 'if we're not using it, we don't want anybody to'. I'm sure they're have been times where they regret this.

[@jaurie80]

Hello from Kansas 🇺🇲

[@WobblyRunner]

Hi 👍🙂🇺🇸

[@julias-shed]

Thanks for this. Was sad when they demolished the bridge. There used to be a great chippy near it that did homemade hummus and chips! I vaguely remember the scrap yard being there. Would have been early eighties I guess 😀

[@WobblyRunner]

Nice one!! Was that the Vic Berrys scrapyard? A chippy would have been handy that day :)

[@julias-shed]

@@WobblyRunner not really sure it was where the old goods yard was. That area has totally changed, it was weird to see the two overlaid. I didn't really go to that area much so it's a bit hazy.

[@chriscarr3916]

There was a matching Bowstring Bridge just after Station going over Northgate Street. There was also 'Van Damme's bar where offices is now (was the Great Central Hotel). Shame you didn't include former bridges and the still present adbuntments on Blackbird Road and Beaumont Leys Lane. I love the Great Central Railway

[@WobblyRunner]

Cheers Chris. So much to see. I could easily have spent more time in Leicester covering everything else. I love the history of the GCR

[@burniemaurins2382]

I was born in Leicester, lived close to the line outside of the city and knew the area very well, trainspotting, fishing on the river and occasionally travelled north from the station, sad to see it as is. The whole line was a real engineering marvel, built to the continental gauge, were it still in existence there would be no need for HS2, it was built in Victorian times. The politics of the railways ran the line down and Beeching did the dirty work to finish it off, they should have closed the Midland line, demolished London Road and kept the Central open, terrible mistake what they did, not only for Leicester, but the country as a whole.

[@WobblyRunner]

Fully agree. Such a waste.

[@bobtudbury8505]

beeching closed nothing, all the labour party, 1965 1970 . careful who you vote for

[@burniemaurins2382]

You're a bit out with your history, the line ceased express passenger services in 1960, the decision to shut the line was delayed whilst the route was used to carry the West Coast Mainline traffic during the electrification into Euston.@@bobtudbury8505

[@stevencarr5294]

Let's build a time machine haha I wish I could have seen the GCR in its heyday

[@TheGalwayFarmer]

There's also a surviving wagon repair shop off Upperton Road

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

Leicester City Council did what the Germans failed to do in the Second World War. Utter disgrace how they allowed the bowstring bridge to be demolished. Nonetheless, there is still plenty to be seen of the former GCR in Leicester City Centre.

[@andydavies906]

Soulsby is the main culprit!

[@adrianbew9641]

Eyesore it maybe but our heritage that too much is disappearing , because public and planners alike don't want to see it. More needs to be done to improve and 're use some of these.

[@WobblyRunner]

Agree Adrian. Shame it can't be used and integrated into the city like when it was a cycle path.

[@Sam_Green____4114]

So it could reopen ?

[@yosefkorn]

How long did it take on the gcr from london to manchester?

[@WobblyRunner]

That's a great question. I've not seen any timetables myself.

[@railwaychristina3192]

Leicester GC...oh I am so glad it was renovated. I was in Leicester in 2016 and it was a weed grown ruin with broken brickwork and a car repair shop. I thought of the fate of the Bowstring bridge and the disgusting destruction at the hands of pen pushers. Maybe a nasty development of flats in place of the station, ugly as the sports centre replacing the bridge. Thank goodness vision and sound common sense won the day. Was the line to Belgrave and Birstall carried on a viaduct ?

[@WobblyRunner]

I couldn't get over how recent the bowstring bridge was taken down. I thought we had stopped erasing history these days. I think the line out to Birstall was part viaduct, part embankment I believe

[@railwaychristina3192]

@Wobbly Runner Exploring Many thanks. It was sold by the railways for a pound I believe! Can't understand why it wasn't listed, there's even a pub named after it. It was a marvel of engineering and exquisite ironwork, durable hut graceful . Also, at the time, railway walks were nothing new..can you imagine what a fab urban walk it woukd have made, like the one in Paris.. When at Leicester North, looking back into Leicester, the station does appear to be at a higher level. The loss of the GC was a scandal. Now Hs2 is being built at a cost which could have seen the re opening of much of the line and also the re opening of a couple of branches. I understand the Leire/ Lutterworth Midland line which snakes around the GC may be re opened? I hope greasy combover Hitler moustache Beeching is now waiting forever on a platform waiting for one of his axed services, which will never arrive...

[@railwaychristina3192]

PS could you do a piece on Charnwood Forest line from Loughborough Derby Road via Grace Dieu?

[@WobblyRunner]

Not one I'm familiar with, but I will have a look for future :)

[@railwaychristina3192]

@Wobbly Runner Exploring thank you! There was another station in Leicester which was turned into a supermarket. The line went to John O'Gaunt.

[@MX-Mug]

Great call, also known as the bluebell line, there are still some buildings and track at Cumberland Road trading estate in Loughborough, plus mile markers, bridges, viaduct next to the ruins, old station at Whitwick it’s a treasure trove 😊

[@gainsbourg66]

The GCR line through Leicester should be re-opened. Anything that can replace cars and lorries is the way forward. Roads aren't expected to make a profit. They are almost 100% tax funded and so should railways be. Any buildings built over the railway should be demolished to make way for reopening. Utterly ridiculous that the council had the power to demolish beautiful industrial artwork like that bridge, even though demolition cost the same as restoration. The wanton destruction of bridges, viaducts, chimneys and cooling towers all over the Midlands and the North has NOT improved the landscape. It was neither progress nor justified financially. It has resulted in a demoralising, barren, ugly lanscape. Now it's just a continuous industrial estate of painted metal and concrete.

[@jcabral6231]

ignite your passion, return the much beloved pacers #blovedpacers

[@laurenceskinnerton73]

Demolish Leicester council!