GCR Winter Steam Gala 27-29th January 2017

The GC might have been a trunk route. But when you normally think of where a Western region engine is more likely to operate your going to think of Reading rather than Rothley. A GW Castle has made it as far as Gateshead but that doesn't mean that its often thought of being there and if you left the main trunk route of the GC a Western region engine would definitely seen as out of place. Preserved railways now mean the area around them as much as the exact place and site they run to.

However, its nice to see the GC having that chance to see the Western region stuff run with the chocolate and cream stock. Away from the stations with the older bridges and double track you could think the engines were operating on some former Western region route somewhere back in the 1960s. Id never have the chance to see that, and while preserved railways give a glimpse into the past they also act as a way of running what we have today. While those of us that like the historical nod (and I do for I think that means more) preservation and how events unfolded lost us the chance to see many more Eastern machines survive - all of which has been documented somewhere before. Mainline engines get even more of a chance to be themselves in 2017, which is why I quite like Galatea in Maroon, and the idea of British India Line done in some other similar way. Still, the GC does have a nice mix of engine, which I also mentioned in the report. Even if some naff southern engines that frankly look awful have to make up the numbers!

Lights blue touch paper and retires...

 

I think we shall have to agree to differ on the Southern engines! (Although I'd swap either of them for a K3, personally.)

 

Banbury's Halls were not unusual on the GCR through Leicester and beyond, when not deputising for ailing Kings. Lots of images of such workings, and we had one parked in the yard opposite our school in Mansfield one memorable morning. Was the Castle at Gateshead you refer to Clun in 1967?

 

Think the Castle was Clun. Had to be taken off at Gateshead due to platforms at Newcastle being tight. Not that I was there, just something I've read.

 

Hi, just to add to the 'GW/GCR' debate, I've always wondered why the fantastic Swithland complex was signaled with lower quadrants? Was it down to the fact that these were available at the time? I am aware of the GWR/GC Joint Railway further south which I'm sure was lower quadrant. Thanks, Andy

 

Basically, most of the rebuilding of Swithland sidings (and the double track project) was payed for by the late David Clarke. who wanted to recreate a typical GC/GW
section of main line I believe that the Banbury area was the inspiration for the project.

Colin

 

Colin, thanks for explanation. As noted earlier in thread, the cost of a lineside pass is more than justified if you spend any length of time at Swithland - magic!

 

The area around Swithland is indeed a gorgeous piece of infrastructure that allows the railway to really develop its theme and attraction as being a working main line / double track railway. I don't have any issue with the GC/GWR connection either as to be honest I do have a massive soft spot for Western region stuff, and if theres a link to the line further south then that's interesting and imaginative to try to recreate it.

Personally, I do like the fact that the Hall and engines like Cromwell, a Green 9F and the Ivatt in green all have the matching stock to run with. I think that the decision sits well to try and match the sets to the engines they have. The Great Central does really stage a great event, which the last one managed to do well.

 

Very enjoyable event, though one question how come the service sets are restricted to 6? I'm sure I've ridden aboard a 7x coach take at one event, and just wondered why this wasn't repeated?

Not that it distracted from GCR doing what it does best, busy timetables with trains everywhere. Had a memerable moment at Swithland where we arrived behind the Ivatt and passed 777, to then be looped whilst 70013 shunted the windcutters across. Where else could that happen??

 

I've always wondered this, should be 7 really as 6 get crowded a lot unless there is a legit reason for doing it.

 

I'm pretty sure it's simply down to the number of coaches available for service.

 

As it's now nearly four weeks since the gala, is it now time to unpin this thread?

 

Really? I'm sure I've seen stock in the sidings not being used that day, which looks operational and a sets worth. The GCR only run 2 rakes plus the dining and local set?

 

I am sure that it is due to the length of platform at Quorn and Rothley.

 

Platform length never stopped us before (although it does tend to increase loading & unloading times). So what stock is sitting around unused then? I must admit I didn't spend the gala writing down carriage numbers. But anything green is still out of service, for a start.

 

I've not been for 5 years but I am sure they got more than 16 'normal' coaches available just from the videos I've seen. I could be wrong but I'd be surprised if 100% of coaches were in action 100% of galas on a railway of the stature of the GCR.

 

It is down to platform length and has been for a few years now. You may occasionally see a train of seven coaches but the preferred length of sets is no more than six coaches as that is all that can be fully accommodated in the platforms of all the stations.

Phil

 

Seems daft to me Phil! What's wrong with walking through the train? I would have thought that even if you started out with six you'd keep the option of popping a spare on the back if demand required it. I can certainly remember sets being strengthened between departures at Loughborough in the past.

 

No dig at you, but why have this rule AND include the doorless Beavertail?! The GCR can be a joke on gala days on times. The Beavertail, a Mk1 RB and the Teak Kitchen I'm sure have been on a six coach gala rake in the past.

 

Train formations are nothing to do with me I'm afraid so not my place to comment. All I can say is we do the best we can with the servicable vehicles our C&W department provides for us.

From what I understand you can put the train length restrictions down to today's blame and claim culture, I wish it were different but life isn't perfect unfortunately!