Dan Hill's Recent Activity
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Dan Hill replied to the thread Great Central Winter Steam Gala 22nd-25th January 2026.
The 9F is staying on the GCR until the end of March, but no idea when it might put again.
Jan 26, 2026 at 5:24 PM -
Dan Hill liked jamesd's post in the thread Great Central Winter Steam Gala 22nd-25th January 2026.
I was there today with my daughter and it was very busy but never uncomfortably so. At this time of year it’s the only big event in town so is almost guaranteed to be popular. If being too busy is a genuine problem for the railway (I don’t think...
Jan 25, 2026 at 9:18 PM -
Dan Hill replied to the thread Great Central Winter Steam Gala 22nd-25th January 2026.
One of the issues I find is that the bulk of the coaching used during the GCR Gala's is compartment stock, which I'm not sure helps when it's overcrowded, with narrow corridors and small compartments, though that could be for various...
Jan 25, 2026 at 8:10 PM -
Dan Hill liked LittleRedTrain's post in the thread Great Central Winter Steam Gala 22nd-25th January 2026.
I can definitely attest to how busy it was yesterday. Even the buses to/from Loughborough Midland were full and standing! Managed to get a seat on most trains, but only just. Was also on the platform at Rothley when we were told we wouldn't be...
Jan 25, 2026 at 7:20 PM -
Dan Hill liked frazoulaswak's post in the thread Great Central Winter Steam Gala 22nd-25th January 2026.
A few of my own images from Saturday at the gala, taken between Loughborough Central station and the bypass bridge. [ATTACH] [ATTACH] [ATTACH] [ATTACH] [ATTACH] [ATTACH] Weather cold and windy (bad) but also dry and sunny (good). Disappointing...
Jan 25, 2026 at 1:29 PM
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Dan Hill attached a file to the thread Great Central Winter Steam Gala 22nd-25th January 2026.
It happened at last year's event as well on 6880's first round trip. They were making announcements at Quorn on it's return to Loughborough that the train was full and not to join it unless people got off. I was at Rothley at that time yesterday...
Jan 25, 2026 at 10:49 AM
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Dan Hill liked Wagoniester's post in the thread Great Central Winter Steam Gala 22nd-25th January 2026.
I was stood on Rothley platform just before the 9Fs arrived on its second trip to Leicester, and a porter called out that unless anyone got off the train, nobody would be allowed to join it because it was that full. I don't think I've ever been...
Jan 25, 2026 at 10:28 AM -
Dan Hill attached a file to the thread Great Central Winter Steam Gala 22nd-25th January 2026.
It was very busy and quite a few were commenting on it, but also mentioning the benefit it'll have on the railway. I'll post some more pictures from a great day tomorrow, but here's the highlight of my mobile pictures, with some well timed...
Jan 24, 2026 at 10:05 PM
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Dan Hill liked Trevor Beglin's post in the thread Great Central Winter Steam Gala 22nd-25th January 2026.
Good to hear the railway was busy - hopefully will translate into much needed revenue with plenty of ticket sales.
Jan 24, 2026 at 10:02 PM -
Dan Hill liked Sidmouth's post in the thread Great Central Winter Steam Gala 22nd-25th January 2026.
Broadly a disasterous afternoon photographically , being a combination of wind direction, cloud and poor location choices So just the one image from the day [IMG]With a nod to the S&D by Martin Creese, on Flickr Standard five and Bulleid...
Jan 24, 2026 at 10:02 PM -
Dan Hill liked Gladiator 5076's post in the thread Saphos Trains 2026.
Although perhaps with the exception of the purely enthusiast tours the steam content either by design or NR pathing seems to be declining of course from what we were used to in the past, but with even longer days. A lot of the English Riviera...
Jan 24, 2026 at 5:43 PM -
Dan Hill replied to the thread Didcot: Heritage in Motion Gala 23-25 May.
Yes the issues have been resolved with 1466, I think it was running in the run up to Christmas. At the moment no details of locos other than 32424 have been announced.
Jan 23, 2026 at 10:23 PM -
Dan Hill replied to the thread Bluebell Railway General Discussion.
I recall one of the previous chairmen stating that the railway had turned down some offers for it, around the time the Bluebell began disposing of some of its stock a few years back, and think he mentioned it being used for spares, but things...
Jan 22, 2026 at 5:14 PM -
Dan Hill liked 5944's post in the thread 4270.
They'll fit in perfectly, what with already having a station ending in Road due to it being nearly 3 miles away from the village it's meant to serve.
Jan 21, 2026 at 6:00 AM
