Remains of the Abandoned Rugby Central Railway Station.

Welcome to Part 8 of the Ghosts of the Great Central Railway Mainline series.
We've visited remains of old junctions, stations, yards, tunnels, viaducts. To finish off this series, we have arrived in the Warwickshire town of Rugby.
The GCR arrives into the town through an impressive substantial cutting, which we take a look at at the Ashlawn Cutting and bridge.
Then we visit what I think is the jewel of today's filming the whole series. The GCR Rugby Central Station. The tracks have gone and the buildings demolished, but the platform and bridge remain. Plenty to look around here and evidence of the lost railway station.
Through trains ceased in 1966 although local trains to Nottingham continued until 1969.
**About this series**
We are visiting various locations on the GCR between Culworth Junction in Northamptonshire and Rugby in Warwickshire. Visiting former station sites, bridges, junctions, old infrastructure, viaducts, tunnels and some other interesting stuff.
Great Central Mainline was built as the London Extension of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire railway. Opening in 1899, it was designed to be as straight as possible with as little gradient as possible. Speed was the aim and express trains travelled between London Marylebone, Leicester, Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester. It was the last UK mainline to be built before HS1 over a century later.
It thrived initially, however with a lack of upkeep, neglect and dwindling usage, it was mothballed during the great railway rationalisation of Dr Beeching in the 1960s - known as the Beeching Axe. Lost railway artefacts and relics are left scattered along the route.
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[@johnlarkin2980]

There are 3 arches on the platform,and the one you were looking at. They were to support the booking hall which was directly above. The single arch led to the goods yard, which is now a housing estate. Rugby central booking hall at road level was much bigger than Loughborough. British Railways wanted the line gone by the end of 1965. The transport users commission argued that this would cause hardship. So this is why the Rugby to Nottingham service limped on until May 1969. I have fond memories of using the line, in the early sixties right up to the end.

[@seamusmcevoy2011]

Great info John, thanks.

[@WobblyRunner]

Thanks John. Great info. 👍 thanks for helping filling in the gaps

[@jackchatfield5464]

deserves to be preserved as part of a great central railway

[@smithyhouses100]

All your GCR work is very much appreciated, seeing all the GCR stuff we dont usually get to see has been great recently, many thanks and please keep going!

[@WobblyRunner]

Thanks very much. More GCR on the horizon too

[@mikeslipper1779]

Very enjoyable...anything about the GCR is.

[@WobblyRunner]

I agree Mike.

[@daystatesniper01]

High speed line ,continental loading gauge,no level crossings as such , a perfect line for freight in 2024

[@WobblyRunner]

🙂

[@nectafarious8842]

HS2 - ready made...

[@gslug1]

The arch may have been built simply to save materials. On a much larger scale, there are several viaducts, most notably the Ouse Valley Viaduct on the Brighton line, where the piers are themselves arched bridges. This reduces amount of brick and fill required and saves weight, meaning the foundations can be less substantial.

[@NWP_EXPLORING]

Good old Jim! Very passionate on the GC history! Great vid mate 👍

[@WobblyRunner]

Cheers Neil. We'll have to arrange a visit down your way at some point.

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thank you for the walking tour this day. Always enjoyable to watch. Enjoy your week ahead and see you on the next! Cheers Paul! 😊

[@WobblyRunner]

Thanks Martin 👍🙂🇺🇸

[@iancaveney7464]

I particularly enjoyed that Jim dressed like a prison officer escorting a ne'erdowell on his rounds! 😂👍

[@WobblyRunner]

He does have his work cut out with me. I always see him as my responsible adult.

[@mikewood142]

Hello again Paul, Just wanted to say, WHAT 😮 a brilliant way to end the series!!!!! I've enjoyed watching all episodes, but I think this one in my view was my favourite especially with the remains of Rugby Central Station, on the note of Rugby, I never realised that it had two stations? Loved the artwork, must say it was a bit more tasteful than some artwork you see dotted around places which isn't very nice. But yes I really have enjoyed watching all the episodes, sadly it's area's I won't be able to get to myself due to me not having a car, so I always say to myself, it's nice to see people like yourselves going out and doing great videos like this for everyone. 😃 That Birdcage bridge looks very interesting, looking forward to seeing that in a future video soon I hope? As I always say Paul keep up the good work mate. On a bit of jokey banter, I always giggle to myself when you go walking with Jim, because he's always miles ahead of you all the time, it's like he's got loads of energy!!!!!! lol 😂 😂 But you make a great team together. All the best from. Mike Wood.

[@WobblyRunner]

Cheers Mike. I do seem to struggle to keep hold of Jim's coat tails. I need some of those reigns my mum had me on when I was young.

[@mikewood142]

😂😂 yes I agree, you do 😂😂

[@paulboyle6857]

The Ashlawn Rd Bridge should be listed;it,s a thing of wonder! Near to my house so a regular visitor here.The Rugby Half Marathon uses this trackbed on the 2nd lap!

[@WobblyRunner]

The bridge took my breath away, Paul, when I first stood on top and looked over. A wonderful structure.

[@peterskegness3204]

Remember visiting the site of Rugby station in 2006 and to photograph the "Birdcage" bridge over the WCML before its removal by Network Rail on Christmas the same year.

[@WobblyRunner]

👍 Hi Peter. Seems a shame, 2006 being so recent doesn't it. Great to hear from you, I enjoy a lot of your photos shared on various Facebook groups

[@peterskegness3204]

@@WobblyRunner Many thanks, fame at last, lol. Unfortunately the pics I took of the Birdcage at Rugby were amongst those I lost when the hard drive on my PC crashed 🙈 Kind of why I upload plenty of photos online now, for fear of losing them 🤣

[@Carolb66]

Hi Paul, fab series this has been loving all this blue brick never tire of it. Ah lovely pic of you & Jim at the end. I think that's far enough south now! 😅 have a great week. Take care. ❤😊👍

[@WobblyRunner]

😄 thanks Carol. Have a great week. You'll be pleased to know I'm back in South Yorkshire on next weeks videos.

[@Carolb66]

@@WobblyRunner 😁👍💗

[@johnwatson3616]

Lovely series of 8 pal, thank you

[@WobblyRunner]

Thanks John. Glad you enjoyed it

[@chrischapman7514]

Great video never get fed up of them bridges and blue bricks GCR always interesting going myself to the diesel gala end of the month thanx for sharing Paul.

[@WobblyRunner]

Thanks Chris. Enjoy the Diesel Gala. I'm in Loughborough tomorrow doing some filming.

[@jamespoyser106]

Thanks again another great GCR station shown unusual to leave tracks down love it though👍

[@brianwillson9567]

Tracks are a 'modern' addition.

[@jamespoyser106]

@@brianwillson9567 Thought they would be a modern edition

[@WobblyRunner]

Cheers James. It's fantastic that stuff like this hasnt just been filled in to build more.

[@richardharris4452]

Fantastic series,Paul & Jim. Many thanks. What chance of walking the full route? Are there realistic diversions to make it possible?

[@WobblyRunner]

It's a bit hit and miss from the bits I've done. To be honest, I was shocked at how little of it was turned into trails compared to what we have in Derbyshire.

[@richardharris4452]

​@WobblyRunner very true....apart from Rugby, some of those incredible embankments further south could benefit from something similar. The more I read into the GCR, the more the anger grows that many of our predecessors will have felt back them.

[@neilshipman8355]

I have memories as a child aged 4 getting a train from here to go on holiday in Bournmouth for a week in the summer of 1960. My grandparents had got the same train from Sheffield and my 0arents were quire happy to have a child free week I think it was a summer Saturdays only train and wads double headed steam , although there were various loco changes on the way there and back including diesels which even at my young age I didn't like. My last holiday by train !

[@WobblyRunner]

That's some great memories Neil!

[@richardharris4452]

If you fancy exploring the GCR around Annesley, Paul, it's worth your time....some of the track bed is still, i think, in existence, but some will be needed to use the imagination....

[@Robslondon]

Just discovered your channel Paul. Great video.

[@WobblyRunner]

Welcome 👍🙂

[@LeiceExplore]

Nice little video Paul, I enjoyed that! How weird though, I literally explored the station last weekend and uploaded it today! I ain’t got your phone tapped or owt like that lol… nice one explaining the archway, I thought it was for station access, but I couldn’t workout why it was there next to the track. Also, I’ve only just realised who Jim is, I’m connected with him on instagram, and only just worked it out after seeing him on a lot of your videos haha

[@WobblyRunner]

Hahaha yes good old Jim 🙂. Great chap. It's a great site isn't it, love a good station site. Enjoyed your video the other night with the bits on the canal.

[@LeiceExplore]

@@WobblyRunner cheers mate. I’m going back very soon to do more of it in the next couple of weeks

[@mikewood142]

On another note for future video's hopefully? Is it possible for you to maybe do a few videos on the old Derby Friargate railway line please? And the old Friargate Railway Station Bridge which is just a few minutes walk away from the City Centre. I used to spend a lot of time walking around the area and on the site of the old Bonded Warehouse site, but sadly due to the amount of fires it's had in the past, people are not allowed to go there anymore and it's been all fenced off now. 😞😞 But there is a bit of track bed to walk along leaving Derby going through Mickleover and up towards Eggington Junction and a bit further up I think.? Anyway I know it's your channel and you decide what to put on, but just thought I'd give you a few more ideas? 😃 All the best from. Mike Wood.

[@WobblyRunner]

Great shout with Derby. I'm planning on doing a Derby series at some point.

[@railwaychristina3192]

Brilliant ❤

[@WobblyRunner]

Thank you 👍🙂

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

Great presentation. Thank you

[@WobblyRunner]

👍 cheers 🙂

[@seamusmcevoy2011]

What cracking viewing that's been, we've covered all the highlights from Culworth Junction to Leicester North over two series, there's still some bits around Rugby and up to Lutterworth but not an awful lot, however, they are still interesting.

[@WobblyRunner]

Still enough for a second series Jim 🫣. Will the producers give us a second series?

[@seamusmcevoy2011]

@@WobblyRunner I'm sure they will.

[@willswheels283]

Cheers for the video mate, did you film From Culworth up to Rugby in one day? That’s some driving about! I wondered where the station entrance was to Rugby central, it seems it was on a slight skew on the bridge, the “pull in” that’s still there would have been handy for Taxi’s buses etc dropping off passengers wanting to catch a train from there. The GCR is an interesting line to investigate, I’ve only visited the stations in and around Nottingham and it took me a while to find those! Enjoying your vids mate, cheers.👍

[@WobblyRunner]

Nice one 👍 Yeah all in one day. Only 8 selected locations though. A few more GCR sites near Nottingham this week

[@rodgermoss8975]

Thanks again Paul , arches were put in brick piers and walls to reduce the amount of bricks required to complete the project.Fun fact - the loco mural at 5.58 does not have a tender -Price of coal perhaps?. Stay safe ,R.

[@WobblyRunner]

Cheers Rodger. Good spot :)

[@maestromanification]

Another great video Paul. Ive read somewhere that the reason for island platforms was so that Another pair of tracks could be added at a later date and serve as slow lines . Obviously this didn't happen but i wonder if the arch was for another staircase and access to a never built platform Am i right in thinking that truncated passenger service didn’t connect with any other services and terminating at Victoria to start with and later Arkwright Street

[@WobblyRunner]

My understanding is bang on with your points there Russ. Ironically I'm off to visit the section South of Nottingham tomorrow

[@Carolb66]

Thanks

[@WobblyRunner]

Thank you Carol :)

[@Carolb66]

@@WobblyRunner your welcome. 🥰

[@ceanothus_bluemoon]

Very much enjoyed the series. Quite liked the train murals, though the engine had no tender, and had no connection to the carriage, and no buffers on either. Every time I watch these kinds of explores, I wonder what it would be like today if most of the lines that were axed by Beeching were still up and running...and where would all the heritage lines go!

[@WobblyRunner]

I often think the same about if the lines were still open. Some were obvious duplication, but what a shame about some of them. Those murals are very random aren't they 😄

[@bobtudbury8505]

beeching axed nothing, all the labour party

[@longbar2344]

work for colas rail. guessing the access the depot uses was where the old line went away from rugby

[@arthurrytis6010]

Weren't many Spamcans ran on the GC .

[@jameshowson5897]

Brighton sing all box was only removed around a year ago, I wanted the signal box but was told that wasn't possible, the idiot local mp lives close the line as there used to be two or three old garages to the right hand side just pasted the signal box that some rail group wanted to use for working on trains but thanks to the idiot mp Clive bets objecting it all became a passing dream

[@WobblyRunner]

Ahhh Beighton. Auto correct has tripped me up a few times with that one too 😄 I was living in Beighton at the time the signal box was demolished in 2021. Such a shame it couldn't be saved. Very sad time.

[@musicgarryj]

If we must have garish murals "decorating" the brickwork of this historic site it would help if they were painted by someone with a reasonably good knowledge of railways. Firstly there is a red vaguely GWR styled 4-6-0 which I assume is meant to be the Hogwarts loco but the nameplate is wrong: also the small point that it is running without a tender! Secondly on the parapet where the steps were we have a head on view of what seems to be some sort of Southern Railway "spamcan" . Nether of these types of loco have any connection with the Great Central whatsoever. Absolutely moronic. :( Someone should put a Karcher power washer to work immediately!!!