29th Annual Railcar Convention
Great Central Railway Nottingham with additional support from Great Central Railway, 19th, 20th & 21st September 2025.
Introduction
The 29th annual Railcar Association convention weekend will now be spread over both Great Central Railways, at the Ruddington base in the north and the Loughborough base in the south.
Friday 19th
During the day the Class 107 set will be running a private charter at the GCR Nottingham for our members, also incorporaring Driver Experiences. The experiences have sold out, however tickets to travel on the charter at £15 per person are available by emailing your interest. It is essential this is booked in advance. Timetables and further details will be supplied to those who book.
Meanwhile, the blue Class 101 set will be operating services all day at the GCR (South). Timetable download. Book travel tickets. Travel tickets for the GCR (South) trains are available on the day or via their website for TRA members at discounted rate. Select "Privilage/Friend" when booking.
Friday 19th(Evening)
In the evening, the blue Class 101 set will be operating at the GCR (South) as part of their Beer Festival event. It is expected for members to be present on this unit! Timetable download. Book travel tickets. Travel tickets for the GCR (South) trains are available on the day or via their website for TRA members at discounted rate. Select "Privilage/Friend" when booking.
Saturday 20th
The day starts at Ruddington at the Great Central (Nottingham) with the Class 107 in traffic all day (Ruddington departures at 10.15, 12.00, 13.45 and 15.15). Members will need to buy a standard travel ticket from GCRN on the day, which covers all day travel on the 107.
After the 10:15 trip arrives back at Ruddington, there will be a TRA member's only tour of the Class 108 under restoration there (it is hoped the Class 116 may also be available for viewing) with demonstrations and discussion from the owning group/restoration team. Members who wish to attend this tour will be required to bring their own high-visibility jacket. Meet on the platform at Ruddington on arrival of the morning train.
The 107 will be running three further trips throughout the day (12.00, 13.45 and 15.15) for those who do not fancy the tour or the AGM meeting.
Following the tour most members will transfer under their own transport from North to South who are running a 3-train service (Steam, Diesel, DMU). The AGM meeting is being held in the "Greenacres" commercial units adjacent to Leicester North Station. By road, head for The Sidings, Leicester LE4 3BA or incorporate coming down by rail on the GCR (South) services to Leicester North. The units are accessed from a side gate adjacent to the car park. After getting off the train, walk beyond the buffer stops and down the slope into the car park and the entrance is on the left. This is the same venue as at the 2022 convention. The meeting will start at 15:15 which connects with the 14:25 diesel hauled (Class 35) Loughborough departure. We aim to complete the meeting in time to connect with the 17:30 steam departure northwards (bail off this at Rothley to connect with the Class 101 for those who like to limit their steam intake!).
GCR Timetable download. Book GCR travel tickets.
Travel tickets for the GCR (South) trains are available on the day or via their website for TRA members at discounted rate. Select "Privilage/Friend" when booking.
Saturday 20th (Evening)
The Class 101 set at the Great Central (South) will be in operation throughout the evening along with a fully functioning beer festival! It is expected that there will be social members representation on the set from the 18:00 Leicester North departure onwards into the evening. There are two options of food for the Saturday evening:
There will be a pre-bookable Fish & Chip special at Loughborough (GCRS) with chips being served at Loughborough station some time after the Class 101 arrives at 18:32 and some time before the 18:45 departure. We can then enjoy our chips on the 18:45 and continue to travel into the evening. Booking for the food will be essential, make your menu choice and payment earlier in the day at the bar that is located in the centre car of the 101 set running all day. The following choices will be available for the Fish & Chip Special on Saturday evening at Loughborough (on the Class 101):
Fish & Chips (£10.50)
Sausage (Battered) & Chips (£5.10)
Chips only (£3.40)
Salt, vinegar and ketchup will be available on the train. If you are planning on joining us at Great Central Nottingham on Saturday morning for a trip on the 107 followed by the tour round the yard, and then heading straight for the AGM at Leicester, then you may struggle to reach the bar on the 101 in time to make your order. If you think this is the case for you, we are offering a pre-order service via bank transfer, but this MUST be done by 18:00 on Friday by the latest, and preferably earlier than that to give me chance to process. If you want to use this pre-order service, please email your menu choices and name(s) to christophermoxon8@hotmail.com and keep an eye on your email as you will receive BACS details. If no payment has been received by 18:00 on Friday, then your order won't be placed!
Timetable download. Book travel tickets. Travel tickets for the GCR (South) trains are available on the day or via their website for TRA members at discounted rate. Select "Privilage/Friend" when booking.
There is an alternative Saturday Evening food option, aboard the 107 back at the Great Central Nottingham. This is the Indian Street Food train and is much more comprehensive with several courses and tables etc along with an onboard bar. It costs £50, payable to GCRN, BUT is anyone books this, the "all in" fare will mean no rover ticket to ride the 107 earlier during the day would be required. Departure is at Ruddington at 17:00 and returns before 19:00, which leaves time to travel on some of the later GCRS beer festival trains if desired. Pre booking for the Indian Street Food experience is essential, contact christophermoxon8@hotmail.com to book.
Sunday 21st
The final attraction for the weekend, which offers delights not available on the other two days, is a second private TRA member's charter from Loughborough using Derby Lightweight "Iris" (not appearing at any other time during the event). Timings are now confirmed. Iris will depart Loughborough at 11:10 for a trip down the Mountsorrel Branch and an hour to look round the heritage centre there (there will be a very small charge to support the heritage centre for those who visit) before returning to Loughborough via Rothley and Swithland. The charter returns at 14:00 for those who need to get off home but continues in service for another trip that ends at 15:22.