GCR Winter Gala 28th - 30th January 2011 - The Banbury Cross

Lovely to finally see a GWR freight loco doing what it was meant to do in hauling around long lines of Wagons, weather wasnt really the best but not a lot you can do about that , thanks to the GCR and all involved for keeping the boredom at bay for another January, here's my efforts from the Sunday: http://david1984.fotopic.net/c1938062.html

 

Have now uploade my photos from the event on www.dave-ballard.co.uk/GreatCentral2.htm

Well done to all at the GCR for another superb event. The praise on this forum has been well deserved

 

Yes another top gala from the Great Central Railway congratulations to all concerned and my thanks for putting on a fabulous event as usual.Friday was the best day for sun just after dinner it was out all day got a nice silhouette before going down to the shed for late evening shots.Saturday started off great the light was superb especially for the double head with 4953 & 45305 caught at Quorn.Just a couple of shots from the weekend from me don't want to bombared you with them all.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10257146@N05/5398459503/ Friday evening silhouette with 5526 into Quorn

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10257146@N05/5398712794/ double head with 4953 & 45305 near Quorn

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10257146@N05/5399003950/ limited passenger service with 61994

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10257146@N05/5405285976/ 1450 near Swithland freight

Thanks for looking Simon.

 

Neil, it is normal practice at galas to charge extra for auto train travel, certainly the SVR has be known to ask 3 or 4 quid on top of rover fare one way Bewdley to Kidder! Yes it helps cover costs but it can be argued it also stops overcrowding which would occur at a gala and make the auto experience pointless. Think the West Somerset includes it it in the ticket but then usually the set is employed on the Norton Fitzwarren section and is separate from the mainline, as did the Gloucs Warks on their new Broadway section last year. Personally, i've always found that asking for supplementary fares is a bit steep when enhanced fares are already in operation, but the auto train always attracts passengers so it could be argued that it's supply and demand and it is an expensive piece of kit to hire in.

 

Have to echo everyone's comments, another fine gala from the GCR, thanks to all involved. My video, with footage from Saturday and Sunday may be found here;

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

 

Very nice, Austin; most enjoyable

Regards

 

To answer the question about the autocoach a very reasonable price of £2 was charged for travelling in it. Thought the gala was really good, especially enjoyed it around Loughborough at 4.00pm when I managed to get the majority of my photos for the day. Thanks to everyone who put the gala on, was very much enjoyed

 

Great Event, my first Gala at the GCR and well worth it.

A few pics here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29448896@N04/sets/72157625823352323/

 

just uploaded the first part of our footage from the gala.
[video=youtube;sUtUwWlQ7S0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUtUwWlQ7S0&hd=1[/video]

 

Another good one from the GCR, but to say it was packed to the gunwales would be an understatement! I arrived at Quorn on the saturday at 10.15 (I always aim to get there for the first Postal drop to start the day) to find the car park already full and closed, ended up parked about 300 yards down the road from Rothley station.
The sheer number of visitors detracted from my enjoyment of the day somewhat, I must be honest, (the TPO viewing area was crazy!) although of course that is no reflection on the GCR, and I am glad that so many attended to fill their coffers!
It was amazing to note the number of linesiders, and the cohort at Kinchley Lane was almost amusing it was so big, so many trying to get the same picture!
In future I'm going to have to do these events over two days, a day is just not long enough to see everything.

 

Imagine how busy it would have been with a better forecast? Couldn't make this one but very glad it was a success for all involved.

 

I went on Friday and Sunday. Travelled all day Friday, linesided on Sunday. Judging by how packed the trains were on Sunday I did the right thing! Like everyone else has said, shame the weather didn't play ball. I only saw 2 trains in full sun, and wasn't in a good position to phot them anyway. 3850 on the minerals looked especially good, far better in black on freight than in green on choc and cream Mk 1s!

If Sky ever get round to sorting out my internet I'll post some photos. It's only been 2 months since they promised it would be working, hey ho!

 

It was quite quieter on the Sunday but Saturday was mobbed. I headed back from Quorn with a train behind the K4 and was crushed into a Mk1 along with many others! The lineside at Quorn on Saturday morning was packed full of photters, it was almost impossible to get a shot without them in it.

 

Was there for both days, and really enjoyed the gala, all locos were in fine form, but yes it was busy, not a bad thing though. Only gripe i had was the pricing, i only wanted to travel to Loughborough from Quorn and Wooshouse to renew my Lineside pass, that cost me 16 quid as they were not doing single or return fairs, bit steep in my opinon, but other then that minor gripe i had really good weekend Pics as below, many many more on flickr site:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewtomsphotography/


3850 rolls through the countryside by Matthew Toms, on Flickr


45305 rolls by the camera at Kinchley Lane by Matthew Toms, on Flickr


3717 City of Truro heads for Quorn and Woodhouse by Matthew Toms, on Flickr

Many more on my flickr site, have a ganders and any feedback would be awsome, enjoy

Matt

 

Just went down on sunday dropping my better half at my sons in Leicester and arrived mid morning at Woodthorpe before travelling to Kinchley lane in the afternoon till the light was too bad to carry on about 16.30 after 3717 went by slightly late.
Excellent gala - as usual - Fantastic sight of the doubleheader and the freight trains plus the 14xx - 1450 was a little gem on the autotrain & mixed freight plus the two coach stock
Noticed alot have found my gallery of the event before it was finished,

I have posted my top forty here - http://john-robinson.fotopic.net/c1938051.html

have a look !

John

 

Was anyone on here at Quorn on Sunday morning? I was there getting ready for a shot of either 61994 or 3850 when I'm sure someone (who had set-up a video camera on the Down side) took a photo of me sitting on the fence. Anyone on here own up to doing that?

 

Hello Guys,

Had an extremely good weekend down at the GCR last weekend and got some great results over the two days. It was great to see Pitchford Hall in such good form once again, as well as seeing 30777 in action!

My photos can be found on here : http://www.flickr.com/photos/24483638@N08/ hope you like them =)

 

Here are some of my photos from Sunday...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebeccajane7777/sets/72157625948139306/

 

A few of mine from Sunday, will post my video to Youtube later this week as well...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/sets/72157625838240085/

 

part 2 now up.
[video=youtube;2PmPRHDTX9E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PmPRHDTX9E&hd=1[/video]