GCR Winter Gala 2010

Not sure why we seem to be a brake van down. There were 4 runners quite recently and the 'missing' one was only outshopped about year ago. Maybe it had a defect booked just before the gala and couldn't be fixed in time. There is another o.o.u. with wheel flats and another under restoration by its owners.

The 'mixed' set has shrunk a bit because a couple of vehicles from it have been taken out for repainting in 'Mountsorrel' livery. There are a couple of vehicles under restoration/repaint which should be added to that set at some point later this year.

As for the box vans - several were stopped awaiting various repairs, and they're all privately owned so it's a case of the owners getting around to it. There are a couple of 'runners' missing from the set at the moment too, though - one sitting ex-works outside Rothley shed, not sure why that isn't back in the train (maybe some outstanding work to finish it?), and another which i personally pinched out of the train for re-roofing, which should be back soon.

We'd welcome offers of help with the goods wagons (PM me with your email address if interested) but some of them do need a bit more than just painting.

Had a great day working Loughborough box today, 8am start and finally got to sit down at about 11.30, but only for five minutes...

 

An excellent weekend, top marks to the GC. Also a cracking result on the fund raising front for 34081 so if any of you on here supported our effort, many thanks indeed.

 

Well done GCR !

Two superb days and a local travelodge for £19 - who could ask for more ?

So impressed with the GCR I became a member

Four pics here - more on my site later.

Packed trains were a testament to the event planning and organisation. Well done everyone !

 

It makes perfect sense to me. I don't know the rules & regulations of the GCR but I'll make a guess that they essentially operate to the BR 1961 rulebook. Rule 153 states that a freight train must not be run on any running line without a brake van in the rear unless authorised by the Operating Superintendent. It doesn't distinguish between unfitted and fitted. Not only that, the last time I looked at the minerals, they were essentially through piped and not fitted. If this is still the case, then an extra van to help with the braking is eminently sensible. You have also made the assumption that the fitted freight has fully working vacuum brakes on all vehicles. I somehow suspect that, as freight vehicles aren't in regular service, this is unlikely to be the case.

 

Had a brilliant day at the GCR today,very enjoyable,my photos are now up at:

http://mark-walker.fotopic.net/c1810018.html

Thanks to Oli for driving to Kinchley Lane/Woodthorpe

5690 passing Woodthorpe




Cheers,
Mark

 

A few pics from a brief visit Saturday and longer stay Sunday: http://david1984.fotopic.net/c1810002.html

Decent gala despite one or two minor hiccups, im off to thaw out now!.

Edit: did anyone else see that bloke taking his Bird of Prey for a walk at Woodthorpe ?!

 

Yep - awesome huh?!

 

A gret job well done for the GCR for putting on a smashing gala. The weather over the weekend could not have been better for a month of January, and the conditions on Saturday were superb for photographing.

Got to now go through my many pictures taken over the duration of the gala, but will post my favourites onto here asap.

Cheers to all

 

Glad you enjoyed the day mark, and as usual was no problem driving, great pic of the jube at woodthorpe!

 

Steve the rule book has been updated since then hence fully fitted freights running on the mainline since the 1960s without brake vans (I assume Freightliners and MGRs brought the rule change following agreement with the unions(and yes I know the first freightliners did run with brake vans)). Fair point though if the train is just through piped and not fully fitted. As they were all bauxite I assumed they were all fitted with working brakes.

 

I fully accept that modern standards (i.e. the Group Standard Rule Book) sensibly allow fully fitted trains to run without a brake van but this is relative to the modern railway. It certainly wasn't the case with the 1950 (Oct 1961 version) rule book. I'm not sure about the 1980 rule book; I'll have to dig it out. however, the I suspect that the GCR sticks to more traditional rules and regulations in their implementation. However, not being an active volunteer there, I'm happy to be corrected on the relative rules in operation, if not the principles.

 

Steve,

We currently work to the RSSB Rule Book, which wouldn't normally require a brake van in rear (and presumably doesn't cater at all for unfitted freights!). There's some additional provisions to work around some of the requirements of a preserved railway, and one such addition is in the Sectional Appendix, which states that "freight trains must always be worked with a brake van in rear". There's a single exception listed, which refers to movements over the Down line between Quorn and Loughborough. Hope that answers the question for all

Tom (GCR Signalman)

 

Vid now up,includes shots at Kinchley Lane,Woodthorpe and Quorn. Would of got more if the stills fotters could keep there mouths shut for 30 seconds whilst the train is in sight,although i'll say no more as i will only get shot down in flames.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmu3zrx1RLU

Cheers,
Mark

 

Thanks both for the updates on the state of the wagons and the GC rules although this doesn't explain why a brake van is needed at the rear on a fully fitted freight. Good to see there is still a gang working on the wagons.

Steve, as you no doubt aware, fully fitted freights on the mainline have not needed brake vans since well before 1980 so the 1960 rule book must have been amended prior to 1980. Steam freights always needed a brake vehicle in the formation to carry the gaurd but on diesel hauled trains before OMO the guard would travel in the rear cab (and on class 20s hauled freights they still had a brake van). This was all commom place before group standards.

 

What more could you possibly say ? All through the weekend I heard several 'photters' asking"'anyone on vid or audio?"' On one occasion a 'vidder' politely asked a 'photter' to turn his volume down and it was done with a hushed apology. People sometimes don't think - its human nature. Perhaps a friendly word about noise over video PRIOR to the arrival of the train could prevent people getting upset. Good manners contribute to a harmonious existence - most times.

 

With all the noise from modern cameras (multiple shots, focussing buzz etc) it always amazes me how many video photographers still want to stand at traditional stills locations. If I did video I would be looking for a spot as far away from stills photographers as I could. For example at Kinchley Lane over in the fields to the left. This is obviously no excuse for people rabbiting on spoiling the video photographers day.

 

As a still photter myself who used to do video, i've often wondered why some of the silly noises modern cameras make is necessary, i can see it's working, i don't need a tune or click to tell me so!

 

I may be wrong here but IIRC the fact that the minerals are painted grey means they are unfitted, fitted vehicles being painted bauxite.

 

Study your BR steam era freight train pics. Break vans at either end or even in the middle if the train was to be divided en route were not unknown. Was looking at a pic just the other day of a steam hauled freight in the 60s and it had two brake vans at the front in addition to the normal one on the rear. They also appeared on both fitted and unfiitted trains. Others have quoted rules regarding brake vans on fitted trains but wasn't it also a sop to the unions who were unhappy with guards being dispensed with on fitted freights? Either way it is not untypical to have a brake van on a fitted freight.

 

Not quite correct about brakevans on the mainline. There was a chemicals train that ran between Anglesey and Stanlow until it was discontinued in the 1990s. The rules stipulated that this train must have a brakevan at the rear.