page_title: Swithland Sidings
section_title: Preservation
hierarchical_section_title: Swithland Sidings / Preservation
caption_attribution_description: English: The Montsorrel Railway, near to Swithland, Leicestershire, Great Britain. The signalling improvements for the sidings and junction are still in progress (the signal is without arms). This is an ongoing project, originally envisaged by signalling enthusiast David Clarke. The recently cleared, relaid (ballast, track soon) Mountsorrel branch can be seen here. This is a separate preservation project that is supported by the railway. Originally it was built to serve the granodiorite quarry a couple of miles away. Three wagons have been restored and transformed into the granite company&#39;s livery. Eventually a small platform will be built and rides given in a small railcar like that at Weybourne. Weybourne railcar
context_page_description: Swithland Sidings is a set of railway sidings on the preserved Great Central Railway, situated just south of Swithland Reservoir and Swithland Viaduct which crosses it.
context_section_description: The main line through here was closed on 5 May 1969. The trackbed was subsequently taken over for preservation, but in 1990 the sidings were wasteland. Led by the vision of GCR benefactor David Clarke, the nephew of a former signalman on the GW&GC Joint Line, double track was relaid from Swithland to Rothley, and then from Swithland to Quorn, eventually reaching Loughborough in 2000. Swithland thus forms the centrepiece of the double track, with GWR signalling as used on the GW&GC Joint Line.  The signal box is the former Aylesbury South box which was located at Aylesbury railway station. The station was once again considered, but it was then decided that it would be close enough to Rothley not to be needed.
  All the sidings, the Mountsorrel Branch and the second main line had gone. So what you now see is what members of the Great Central Railway have painstakingly put back in what is the largest track and signalling project anywhere in railway preservation. Swithland Sidings now has the Up and Down main lines, Up and Down passing loops, a complex of sidings for the storage of railway vehicles and the re-instated Mountsorrel Branch. It has a re-erected signalbox and is fully signalled with semaphore signals. The signalling became operational in the summer of 2012.
  The facilities at Swithland allow for the storage of railway vehicles and the passing loops will allow trains to be held in the loop while an express passes on the main line. Diners will be able to relax while eating their meals while trains pass by on the main lines. It will be possible to see trains coming and going on the branch and joining the main line in a unique display of former railway operations. The Great Central Railway’s famous galas will be enhanced by the facility and will provide experiences of main line steam operation not available anywhere else.
  In the Winter 2012 edition of Main Line Magazine (Issue 153), it was announced that RVP had proposed plans for a four road carriage shed at the back of Swithland Sidings. It will mark a great step forward in the storage of carriages and help to clear the Swithland site to give a better prospect from passing trains. It will also help significantly in prolonging the condition of carriages after restoration. The 65 meter long shed will be able to house a total of 12 coaches over the four roads. Planning permission was put in with Charnwood Borough Council in Autumn 2012 and on 4 February 2013 the ambitious plans were given conditional approval. The conditions relate mainly to screening, trees and hedgerows and RVP will be working to meet these conditions before fund raising and building commences. The estimated cost of this superstructure comes out at around the £120,000 mark.
  From 26–28 April 2013, the Great Central Railway will be opening Swithland sidings to the public for a gala to celebrate the achievements of all volunteers who have worked on this huge project. This will be the first time in many years that the public will have access to this location.
caption: The Montsorrel Branch Line off Swithland Sidings - 2010
exif: {}