Leicester Great Central Station became an important point on the route between Marylebone and Manchester. The route to London opened in 1899. From 1954, the express engines were changed at Leicester depot. There was a strong sense of pride of the rail community living in the west end near the station including regular features of a railway community such as the "knocker up" waking the engine crews to light the fires etc for the days work on the engines.

The last express passed through Leicester Great Central Atation on the 2nd Jan 1960, and the Leicester depot closed in 1964. The line continued to carry parcels and goods until if finally closed on the 3rd of May 1969.

The line is now used as the Great Central Way footpath and cycleway.

Reference:

Mainline Lament: Colin Walker (Oxford Publishing, 1973)

The Great Central Railway's website, apart from providing information on its services between Leicester North and Loughborough, has a page of Links to many more pages about the railway and its history.