Join us on Saturday November 28th 2026 for a chance to explore the Great Central in Nottinghamshire like never before and help raise funds to keep up with repairs. Take a Diesel Multiple Unit train from the Heritage Centre at Ruddington to Barnstone Tunnel. There’ll you’ll climb down onto the trackbed and in the company of Tom Ingall and GCR infrastructure director Matt Brown, you’ll walk through the tunnel and for a further mile to cross the incredible Stanford Viaduct. On the way you’ll see the infrastructure repairs we’ve done and the work still to come.
The train will depart at 11am from the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre. The walk is expected to begin around 11.45, with the train collecting the group from Stanford Viaduct and returning us to the centre for approximately 1.30.
To join the train and walk, please make a donation of at least £35 to the Forward Fund at www.emtht.org/the-forward-fund/ then email us at contact@emtht.org (Subject) Barnstone Train to confirm your donation. We’ll then send your invite to the train.
You MUST be in good health, be able to walk unaided and able to climb down and up from the train. Stout shoes, warm (and if necessary waterproof) clothes are essential.
All proceeds from the fundraising will go into the Forward Fund and allow us to carry on with our programme of repairs to the railway, in particular the viaduct and tunnel.
We look forward to welcoming you, to see the railway up close!