A new locomotive servicing facility and loco pit being constructed at the headquarters of the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) at Ruddington in Nottinghamshire is nearing completion.

The final stage is the construction of a new locomotive servicing pit, where concrete is being poured around it. The pit has been designed to provide maintenance teams plenty of level space to service the locomotives they are working on.

Included in the design of the pit are air, water, and power supplies, which have long enough connections for the cleaning and preparation of the largest steam locomotives that run to the centre from the main line@A vote of thanks has been expressed to all who contributed towards its construction, and suitable commemorative bricks will be installed shortly.

The servicing pit, as well as the revamped and rewired running shed, will be put to good use when the world’s most famous steam locomotive, Flying Scotsman, and A1 Class Peppercorn Pacific No. 60163 Tornado visit Ruddington on Saturday, 23rd May. Both locomotives will arrive via the Midland Main Line connection in mid-May, and both operate trains on the nine-mile-long railway, and also appear on static display.

Tornado will also operate during the Model Railway Exhibition weekend on the 16th and 17th May 2026, and Flying Scotsman will be on static display during the weekend.

Before then, there is a Steam Running Day with a Fish and Chips option this Saturday, 18th April, and a Model Railway Exhibition on the weekend of Saturday, 16th, and Sunday, 17th May, when Tornado will also be operating, and Flying Scotsman will be on static display.

Construction of the new running shed follows the construction of a carriage shed in 2024.