Great Central Railway's new bid for Leicester museum funding
The museum would adjoin the Great Central Railway, which spans Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire
A bid for £10m to create a railway museum "of national standing" has been resubmitted.
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Some exhibits will come from the National Railway Museum in York, which said it is "delighted" to be part of the project.
Bill Ford, managing director of the Great Central Railway,
said they had received "some really constructive feedback" and are
"confident we have made this visionary project even better".
"Not only will the museum help people reconnect with their
railway story, sitting right alongside our thriving heritage line it
will be a unique attraction," he said.
Unlike other museums, steam hauled passenger trains will arrive alongside the exhibition halls.
The museum will be connected to the running lines to allow
displays to be changed, and locomotives and carriages to be operated on
the tracks of the railway.
The National Railway Museum in York is part of the project
The project, which is supported by Leicester City Council, is expected to cost £16m.
Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "This is a really
exciting opportunity to create a railway experience of national standing
in Leicester."
Exhibits will include V2 class steam locomotive Green Arrow, and the only surviving GCR passenger engine, Butler Henderson.
Paul Kirkman, director of the National Railway Museum, said:
"Leicester had one of the world's earliest railways. It was also a hub
of the Midland line.
"We want to put key parts of the national collection on display at the heart of the country for the first time.
"But just as important we hope to inspire a new generation to get involved in our nation's railway story."
Those behind the bid will find out if they have been successful in April.
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The Great Central Railway is the UK's only double track main line heritage railway.
