GCR WINTER GALA - FRIDAY 27 JANUARY 2012 TO SUNDAY 29 JANUARY 2012

Well one of the big promises of this event is that locos are turned during the day so they will be switching at some point! I guess the "headliners" would always face south so possibly 4953 and 47406 will be turned to face south at some point and perhaps the 8F and something else turned to face north? Complete guess btw. Hopefully loco facings will be on the WTT as at the WSR.

 

cromwell will always be facing south cos its too big for the table.

 

Unless engines run light engine to Quorn in between trains locos would not be turned according to the timetable.Would imagine only the freight engines might turn .

 

Not that unbelievable, there are plenty of spare paths between the passenger/TPO times to allow light engine moves to Quorn in addition to the freights... I haven't seen a WTT though, only guessing!

 

Yep, plenty of light engine moves to Quorn during the day. Whether they are turned 360 degrees or 180 it doesn't say. The M7 was turned to face south at lunch today.

I went today. I don't know if the stock was a cunning ploy to get freeloading photters on to the trains, but in my case it worked. The teak buffet was on the south end of one set of stock, 5 maroon Mk 1s. The other set was 3 Cromwell Pullmans and 3 blood and custard Mk 1s. The teak buffet looked lovely, but totally out of place between 70013 and maroon Mk 1s! And the less said about the ficticious pullman liveried coaches the better! I photted the O4 at Woodthorpe, saw what the stock looked like, then drove to Loughborough to travel for the day. Trains were fairly busy, but maybe that was because on the maroon set there was a buffet, a kitchen car and a brake with no seats!

 

Becoming a regular feature of galas, no idea why! :lol: Has it got an interior yet?

 

At a guess it was perhaps vital to place the coaches where they were, I would've thought the colossal operating department are in need something to occupy a day or three's shunting and unshunting next week.:cool1:

 

We had a very enjoyable day Yesterday and were surprised how many turned up.
Thank you to all involved at the Gala.

Here are a few 'snaps' = Great Central Winter Gala 27.01.2012 - a set on Flickr

 

Heres my first gallery from this fantastic gala. Its fair to say there are more photos to come.

ChrisKempster Photography | GCR - 'The Big One' 2012 Winter Gala - Early Morning at Loughborough MPD

 

I went and had a great time dont like the pullman liveried mk1 but guess thats a comercial decision by the railway and it works for them.
I like the mix of frieght trains and the TPO is always good a well organised event with good variety of haulauge something for everyone well done.

 

Back from a great day today. Some sun at times but with most of the fleet as residents it took some of the pressure off trying to take pictures so we rode up and down a bit. It seemed just about the right number of people there, and never was there any serious overcrowding like you tend to get at the Autumn Gala. The twilight steam show was great as well especially 70013 on the TPO although the 8F clattering through with the Freight set with cinders raining down was also impressive. Best GCR gala I've been to, and thats saying something! Very much looking forward to next year!

 

went to this gala today my phots can be found here

Flickr: 37427's Photostream

 

Todays photographs at GCR: GCR Steam Gala, 28/01/12. - a set on Flickr

Cheers to all involved!

 

Just got in (4 hour drive home....Grrrrrr)

Yep, it was a pretty good do on Saturday. There always seemed to be something going on at Loughborough. To be honest, you could just buy a platform ticket and still have a really great day without riding a single train, such is the amount of activity there. Loved the broad choice of engines, something for just about everyone I would have thought. I was a little frustrated at having to stand more than I would normally do for a winter Gala, but I guess thats an indication of just how successful the day was. An observation for the GCR management, you probably lost some revenue today as I was told that the Quorn car park was about half full before anyone turned up to start to charge for admission.

It was a real shame that the timetable slipped by about 45 minutes, but it didn't spoil the fun. Will definitely be back in the autumn as its such a great day out.

Quote of the day for me, was a guy in the new Butler Henderson building whom was using the facilities. He said that while he very much appreciated the brand-new sparkly clean Gents toilets there, he felt that they didn't quite have the 'ambience' or indeed the smell of the traditional Gents on the Quorn platform. Made me smile ......

 

One of the most stressful journeys to get to a railway, but it was worth it


1744 by Teenage Steam Photography, on Flickr

The rest will be up tomorrow

Thanks,
Lewis

 

Good two days, some interesting pics. Nice day riding with a friend around the stations. Cromwell on the TPO was fantastic!

I had a 30 minute cycle home, compared to 4 hours ;-)

 

Quite a varied afternoon out, regardless of the delays, though (and I hate to sound like a broken record, as I know it comes up after every GC gala, but...) my ticket remained unchecked all afternoon... Now, I'm sure most of us are honest enough to buy a ticket if we intend to travel, and it's probably preferable to a Nazi-esque grip every 10 minutes, but not once from 1500 to the last train back from Quorn was it checked! I can't help wondering if others may have got away without a ticket at all... Given the huge coal bill which must have been faced (not least with Cromwell sat blowing off at Loughborough non-stop for over half an hour from 18:00 :lol one would expect something a bit more pro-active in this respect! Given the discussion that always comes up about 'freeloading photographers' and the like, should more be done to reduce the risk of freeloading passengers? To end on a positive, however, it was good to see nothing being caped despite the delays, I think the 'everything according to plan, albeit late' system is preferable to situations which can arise on other lines of noone knowing what's going on in a bid to make up time!

 

Excellent photograph Lewis. The light was awesome. I was just below you and filmed the Hall heading towards Loughborough passing the N2 on the curve (just out of range in your image).
I thought the gala was as good as it gets. Superb locos, goods trains, mineral trains and the mails .....and a very busy timetable. <BJ>

 

I was more than pleased to give to the collection at Kinchley Lane (or Rushey Lane) with the proceeds, I understand, going to the replacement station canopy at Loughborough. <BJ>