Championed by Earl Lanesborough, the first section opened in 1860 and connected Mountsorrel with the Midland Railway mainline near to Barrow-upon-Soar. In 1896 the line was extended southwest to Swithland, to carry the ballast required during the construction of the GCR itself.
The line could have taken an easier route avoiding Nunckley Hill, however, being in the business of quarrying granite, a route straight through Nunckley Hill was chosen.
