GCR Winter Steam Gala 27-29th January 2017

Up to 9 locomotives in action including guest Southern Railways Q Class No. 30541.

 

Is the Mountsorrel Railway in use?

 

I don't think that it is usually. There's often a special weekend for the Mountsorrel branch.

 

Is it actually signalled to fit in yet??

 

No. And won't be until someone comes up with the money.

 

GCR website is stating 'up to eight' locos but then shows photos of 10: 30541, 70013, 777, 6990, 45305, 48624, 46521, 78018, 92214 & 47406.
So which two of these are not expected to run or don't we know yet?
Last weekend 47406 was on accommodation bogies with its wheels out on the adjacent road, so maybe that won't be back in one piece, but it has a booked job (for which nothing else is suitable) in the week before the gala so maybe it will. I must admit I didn't take too much notice of what else might be having work done but 92214 was behind 47406 in the shed so would be 'interesting' to get out if the Jinty still has no wheels by then. And 78018 has been at NVR, though presumably will be back by then.
Does anyone know for sure which 8 are planned to run, or which 2 won't?

 

Deleted.

 

Copy and paste job from Thursday's G.C.R. e-newsletter:
Work on 47406 in preparation for it's summer at Wirksworth is racing ahead, in fact by the end of the week it may well be on it's wheels again and be running in. The offending axle box that ran hot has been re-metalled, and the sides built up to limit transverse play, and the other bearing surfaces trimmed and polished. We can then move our attentions to the loco behind, namely the 9F, on which the first of the valve heads, machined by Simon Horobin, were being trial fitted on Wednesday.

Also, it was noted that 78018 had just arrived back at the G.C.R.

 

Any idea on when the timetables will be out?

 

Thanks for the update 'oddsocks', I unsubscribed the newsletter a while ago due to change of email address and really should sign up again!

No word on which 2 won't run then?

 

Just noted that timetables available on GC website. No timings for goods trains although 'mail drop' timings at Quorn available on timetables. (Sat and Sun only). Do all locos (apart from 70013) still face Leicester please?
Andy

 

I think 70013 is facing Leicester and it was turned last year. In my opinion it is best to have the all locomotives in a gala facing the same direction.

 

It is nice at the GC to have one or two facing different directions as that can lead to moments like (from 4:16)

 

Indeed, fantastic video. I need to see moments like that.

 

Not sure about 78018 as it has been away, or the visitor 30541; the rest were facing south 2 weeks ago. But I understand the turntable has been fixed so who knows?

 

Each to their own but I like some locos to face in the opposite direction to the others. Provides some variety from the photographic point of view and on the GC, gives the opportunity of seeing locos pass each other smokebox first. I appreciate that this will be of less importance to those who ride the trains.

 

Good day all, thanks Johnme. I agree that for the sake of variety in photos having a mixture of 'directions' has positives and negatives! If all locos face the same way then you know what you are going to get from the start, however, you can choose different locations if they are mixed up! I don't mind if goods trains are tender first as I think the variety of trucks compensates for a prominent tender!!
Lee; lovely video, thanks for posting - I had never noted the pronounced 'wobble' on the 7F previously (as seen at the Kinchley Lane sequence) even having seen the loco a number of times at the WSR!
As usual, looking forward to visiting the GCR and fingers crossed for some winter sunshine!! Andy

 

Hello All,

Just a few extra snippets of info for those of you thinking of visiting to help you plan your trip:

Friday
20 departures from Loughborough with the first movement at 0910 and the first passenger train at 1000.

Full line and local passenger trains as well as some freights with the last passenger service from Loughborough at 1600.

5 steam locos in use, expected to be 777, 6990, 30541, 46521 and 70013.

Saturday
37 departures from Loughborough with the first movement at 0815 and the first passenger train at 0900.

Full line, local and DMU passenger services along with TPO runs, freight and mineral workings with the last passenger service from Loughborough at 1815.

TPO drops at Quorn at 1025, 1555 and 1805.

10 steam locos in use, expected to be 777, 6990, 30541, 45305, 46521, 47406, 48624, 70013, 78018 and 92214 along with the class 101 DMU.

Sunday
35 departures from Loughborough with the first movement at 0815 and the first passenger train at 0900.

Full line, local and DMU passenger services along with TPO runs, freight and mineral workings with the last passenger service from Loughborough at 1645 and the last non-passenger departure at 1710.

TPO drops at Quorn at 1025 and 1555.

10 steam locos in use, expected to be 777, 6990, 30541, 45305, 46521, 47406, 48624, 70013, 78018 and 92214 along with the class 101 DMU.

As far as I am aware all of the home fleet locos currently face south and I would be very surprised if the visiting Q class does not also face the same way when it arrives.

Hope to see many of you there next weekend!

 

Hello waterbucket, many thanks for updates to this gala. Planing to be there all 3 days. Noted that there will be goods and minerals train workings - in the past timings etc. for these were published before the event. Do you know if these will be available before Friday please?
Also, most heritage lines have 'unofficial' blogs/info sites. I'm a member at the GCR (also the SVR and Watercress) and both of the latter have these, however, cant' find anything similar for GCR? As I'm based in Hampshire any 'working member' info about the railway would be welcomed as I can only visit a couple of times a year!
Thanks again, Andy

 

Hi Andy,

The times of the freights and minerals as well as the TPOs and light engine moves will be shown in the full working timetable which is provided free on the day when you buy a travel ticket (think it's £3 otherwise). In recent years this information has not been made public before the event so I don't see that changing on this occasion. All I can confirm is that the freight set will be in use all day Friday and both the freight and mineral sets will be out all day Saturday and Sunday with a variety of different locos.

If you need any more information please just ask but I can't really be anymore specific about the timings of non-passenger trains or their loco allocations I'm afraid.

Oh and you're right in saying we don't have any sort of unofficial website.

Phil