“The right Project at the Right time…. “
In the words of Robin Jones, Editor of Heritage Railway following the Appeal launch for £50,000 to enable the GCR ‘Barnum’ 64-seat 1910-built carriage currently under restoration to be back on the rails in three years….
“I was honoured to attend a VIP reception held by the Great Central Railway Rolling Stock Trust at the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre, Ruddington at which a new appeal for funds and volunteer resources was launched with a view to having one of the Group’s three Edwardian classic Barnum coaches restored and running within three years.
The group has been the custodian of the trio for a considerable number of years, ensuring that they remain safe from the scrapman. However, there is a growing feeling that their time to shine again is appearing on the horizon.
The Barnums are particularly special, in that they have a dedicated local relevance to the GCR main line and its modern-day manifestations. To support their restoration, both through public donations and local grant aid, and hopefully through skills training schemes, is to enhance awareness of history on our doorstep.
Original GCR Barnums in Service – C/O: J Quick
We are now approaching the centenary of January 1, 1923 Grouping of Britain’s railway companies into the Big Four which marked the next big step in rail travel. The pre-Grouping coaches that survived in second-hand use, bungalows and farm buildings and have been retrieved for restoration are priceless windows into our past, whether you are a rail fan or not.
One of the first of the three Barnums, no.228, is being restored and I cannot have been but extremely impressed with the craftsmanship and attention to historical detail that was in evidence or being planned. The methods employed will be used as the blueprint to tackle the other two. Not only will a Barnum train, maybe hauled by Robinson 04 2-8-0 no.63601 after its second heritage-era overhaul, become a byword for preservation excellence and a tourist magnet, but also an invaluable educational resource.
I eagerly look forward to the day I can ride in a Barnum carriage over all those bridges into Loughborough.”
How can you help?
Only with your support can we be ready for the big GGCR Loughborough Re-connection! There are 64 historic seats up for grabs – all with brilliant views of the newly joined up 18-mile railway, but we have to build the seats first…
Choose and sponsor your very own seat! Join our Barnum Restoration Club and reserve your seat for the Inaugural Day – for £100, or sponsor for £1000, or a pair for £1800, or, go big, a Family of Four for £7000 featuring fully upholstered seating and own table. Your name will be there for all to admire and you will smile through the landscape windows… a unique view of the Greater Great Central. To find out more, visit our donations page.
How you could be travelling in 2025 across the GGCR between Leicester and Nottingham. Actual photo of interior of a Barnum – courtesy of NRM
Work underway! Devised by Steve Billings of Kreativ Joinery, designed by Keith Stimpson, this high quality prototype four-seat back-to-back unit has been trial fitted into Barnum No. 228 with absolute precision – and upholstered…..
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