Loughborough Central Station

Loughborough Central Station is a railway station built in 1898 for the Great Central Railway, designed by Edward Parry, who was the resident engineer for the northern section of the GCR. The station is constructed of red brick with stone dressings and features a Welsh slate roof, along with cast-iron, steel, and glass canopies. The entrance block is two stories high, with the main entrance located on the upper storey. This block and the offices are situated on an overbridge, while additional offices are located on the island platform below.

The front of the station has three bays, with a central doorway that has a segmental arched head and a keystone, flanked by 2-light mullion-and-transom windows. A three-ridge canopy extends over the front, supported by two cast iron columns, and features restored valancing. The roof behind has two parallel ridges and gable ends that include 2-light windows. The date and initials of the railway company, "1898 GCR," are displayed on the gables.

Inside, there is a panelled entrance hall that includes a booking office with original fittings, leading to a staircase down to the platform. The platform area consists of a central range of red brick buildings with panelled walls and plain doors and windows. A continuous roof canopy with fifteen ridges is supported by steel brackets, with an additional ridge crossing over and supported by four cast iron columns that connect the roof to the foot of the staircase. This platform canopy is noted to be the largest on a preserved railway.

Historically, this station was opened by the Great Central Railway as part of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway's London Extension, which was promoted in 1893. It became the GCR in 1897 and officially opened on 15th March 1899. The station closed on 5th May 1969 but was reopened on 23rd March 1974 as the headquarters of the Great Central Railway (private). It remains an almost completely unaltered station from 1898 and continues to serve as the focal point of a steam preservation society's railway line.