Railway Photo Gallery
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Abandoned Railways in the Leicester Area - Great Central Mainline
Click on the thumbnails to view a larger image.
The Great Central mainline closed in 1969, but there are still quite a few reminders of this once grand mainline around the city. Even the station buildings at Leicester Central are still intact.
This is where the GCR mainline used to cross
the River Soar near Frog Island. To the left, much of the railway viaduct on
which the GCR mainline ran through the city centre is still in place, while the
middle bridge abutment is all that remains of the river bridge.
Taken from the same spot as the last shot, the
camera has been panned to the left to show more of the remains of the viaduct.
You will notice an old signal post that still stands proud on this part of the
viaduct.
This shot was taken from Slater Street and
shows the entire length of the remaining section of the viaduct from the River
Soar (far end of the viaduct) to Slater Street. The viaduct beyond Slater Street
towards Central station was demolished for redevelopment several years ago, and
there are now no traces of the railway between Slater Street and Leicester
Central station.
The view of the opposite side of the viaduct
from the Slater Street end. The signal post can be clearly seen.
A close up of the old signal post near Slater
Street - a remarkable survivor, especially as it appears to be made from wood.
As mentioned before, the viaduct is non existent
between Slater Street and the approach to Leicester Central. This is where the
remains of the viaduct restart at Soar lane. This view is taken from the west
side of the line.
The west side of the viaduct at Leicester
Central. The roofs that you can see on top of the viaduct now occupy the station
site.
The steel bridge over All Saints Road taken
from the west side.
Moving across to the east side of the viaduct,
Leicester Central station is still largely
intact at street level and is now used by several local businesses.
The original stonework has been neglected, but
is still in remarkably good condition.
After Leicester Central station, the viaduct
has been obliterated for the short distance across the river Soar and West
Bridge. The remains start again on Duns Lane at the back of the Pump and Tap
pub. Immediately after this, the line crossed Braunstone Gate on this impressive
steel girder bridge which is soon to be demolished.