Great Central Winter steam gala

I don't think a thread has been started on this upcoming gala. I just went to their site and they don't have any mention of visiting locomotives.

 

The GCR always leave their info until they're certai of it, but I hope we can see 6023 on the TPO, and 70013 and 777 running...

 

King confirmed...

January Steam Gala 25th, 26th and 27th Jan 2013 | The UK's Only Main Line Heritage Railway

 

That good news maybe first gala of the year

 

no the ELR is a week earlier.

 

Both of the gala's ELR and GCR look and sound very promising. This is development is great and I'm sure the 6023 folks are looking forward to their opertunnities at the Grand Central Railway regardless.

 

I meant first one i would be looking to attend

 

I wouldnt say that the ELR sounds promising, they dont have any locos confirmed etc.

 

Anyone know if a second guest is likely or will the King be it ?, the GCR has a strong home fleet at the moment to fall back on.

 

Not sure if 70013 will be completed in time as its mid way through a mid-life overhaul

 

How about 60163 to add to the Express Blue line-up? We can but dream.............. .

 

Wonder if 34046 will still be there for the January and February ELR galas?

 

Seriously intensive timetable? Or is that marketing speak for 'trains bunch up between signals'

 

"Other guest performers are expected to be announced before the event, which should also see BR Standard 2 No 78019, LMS Ivatt 2 No 46521, LMS 3F No 47406 and SR ‘Arthur Class’ No 777 “Sir lamiel” (a locomotive which is part of the national collection) taking part."

 

At the autumn gala the amount of waiting at signals was considerably reduced as you can now have the additional block section at Swithland! I believe its roughly 4-5 trains per hour on average in each direction between Rothley and Loughborough these days, and that is a reliable 4-5tph. At maximum capacity we can just about cope with 7 in each direction as far as Leicester, with a reliable 1.5tph south of there.

 

Presume you mean Swithland or Rothley, if only you were running south of Leicester.

 

At a previous event I enjoyed the trains pulling up at signals an awaiting the road. So reminiscent of the "good old days."

 

*Fingers crossed for not having to work that weekend*

 

I'm thinking of going to this perhaps the Saturday. I haven't ridden on the GCR since I was about 3 years old in about 1994 and can't remember anything about it although I me and my Grandad briefly stopped at Loughborough on the way back from a family Holiday in Yorkshire in 1998. Saw 7821 Ditcheat Manor outside the shed.

 

Things have changed a bit since then!