Scale / Gauge	4mm/OO gauge Finescale
Location / Era	Melton Mowbray to Peterborough route / Late 1970s/early 1980s
Owner	Simon Stewart and Lincoln MRG

Gunthorpe is a small hamlet situated just south of Oakham on the former Midland Railway route between Peterborough and Leicester. Although a station was never constructed at this location, our model presents the scenario of a junction existing here, providing connections to a branch line that formerly served the area now occupied by Rutland Water.

Following the closure of this branch to passenger services, the hypothetical Gunthorpe station would have been discontinued for passenger use; however, the branch would have remained operational for ballast and military trains supporting nearby military installations.

While the station platforms persist, they are depicted as being in a state of disrepair.This section of railway represents a significant freight corridor, offering connectivity between the East Coast Main Line and the Midland Mainline.

During the 1970s and 1980s, a diverse range of Speedlink traffic utilized this route, facilitating freight movements from the Northwest to East Anglia.

Common freight flows included steel, fly ash, coal, and cement, with the Ketton Cement Works located along the line.

Passenger operations were primarily Norwich to Birmingham locomotive-hauled services, typically managed by class 31 locomotives allocated at March depot and comprising both Mk1 and Mk2 coaches.

In addition, diesel multiple units (DMUs) operated local stopping services between Peterborough and Leicester.