Great Central Railway bridge gets go-ahead
Planning permission has been granted for a new £1m bridge that will create 18 miles of heritage railway across Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.
Great Central Railway was given the go-ahead by Charnwood Borough Council for the structure, which will be built over the Midland Mainline track.
The railway's managing director said a decade old dream was now moving towards reality.
About £500,000 has been raised by rail enthusiasts towards the project.
Boreholes had already been drilled in preparation for the 36m (118ft) bridge, which will link Ruddington, in Nottinghamshire, and Loughborough, in Leicestershire.
Bill Ford, managing director of the Great Central Railway said: "This is a real milestone in the progress of this decades old dream as it moves towards reality."
The group said construction work was unlikely to start until after Christmas.
The Leicestershire side of the railway has featured in films including Buster, Shadowlands, The Hours and Cemetery Junction.
It was also used for the Top Gear episode involving caravans being attached to a specially modified car and towed down the line.