GCR Autumn Gala, 5-8 October 2017

34007 performance on 5 miles of 1 in 45 would suggest otherwise!

 

After a while on NP, you tend to get a feel for whose comments are worth reading (even if sometimes you disagree) and whose can go straight to the ground level recycling facility unread ...

Tom

 

More of this and I would do more than endorse the event !

 

Yes and No.

This year really will be a celebration of Southern Steam, rightly so, with the return of 35018 likely to be the cherry on the top of the proverbial cake. While theres a number of the class to meet and join each other, that's just the way that history worked out and it gives the chance to see some again together. The overhaul of engines like 34081 is done to the highest standard and really sets the bar at what many others aspire to follow.

Sometimes we all get too defensive when people read a post, and tease over engines that we think are a favourite. We jump to defend our engines and our ideas, while others still tease and compare or rebuff. Its all the banter and all the part that makes the hobby so interesting. Its certainly not negative and could be thought to reflect just as badly on those slapping down others for having what many would read as humour and wit, or are clearly playing devil's advocate. Its no worse than saying that 'All GWR engines look the same', that 'Northern engines were just all slow freight machines', that' Thompson deliberately butchered Gresleys stuff and couldn't design anything', etc, etc..

Actually, I'd very much like to see 34081 this year and will probably aim to attend the event. But not because an original spam can is an engine I quite like (its not), or because I prefer engines from other regions instead (I do), or that I have a significant interest in Southern stuff (I clearly don't). Instead, its an overhaul of an engine that I know has been done to the high standard, and thanks to a forum like this I'm met someone that I would like to call on as an acquaintance/friend if I ever meet up at events like this from time to time. I respect his knowledge, effort that he has put in and his interest in an engine and history that he and others are proud of and contributed to. It would be nice to see something different from my own interests, to share in the delight of an engine returning to steam and see their enthusiasm and learn from their knowledge.

So yes, its this year for the spot light sometimes to fall down on things that were Southern, which will be nice. But just in case, can I still borrow a flak jacket?

 

Maybe being behind Tangmere most of the times it has slipped to a stand/ failed have tainted my judgement,

 

Double yaaaaawwwnnnnn.

 

You are a troll and I claim my £5.

 

I think as much as anything there just happen to be a lot of Bulleids in preservation, for obvious reasons, and they're useful, powerful machines suited to pretty much anything a preserved railway can throw at them. One thing that is I think highly interesting is that for the talk of "a celebration of Southern steam" of the three big preserved lines on the former Southern Railway (MHR, Bluebell and Swanage) only one has any operational right now, the other two are both having to hire them in.

 

What a glorious sight and sound!
I have had many surefooted runs behind 34007 over the Hampshire Alps. The only loco's that have got into difficulty on the MHR when I have been travelling behind them are 41312 and 73096. They more or less slipped to a stand in the same place, just before Medstead coming up from Alton.

 

Great shot, nice to see Sir Keith being let off the leash!

 

Quite magnificent. The only unrebuilt Bulleid performance in preservation which beats it and which I have watched was Tangmere on Evershot four years ago. Thanks for sharing.

 

What about Tangmere on Hemerdon ? 29mph over the top !

 

Thanks. Found the video on You tube Quite amazing!

 

Reads as just a bit of banter to me, and Spamcan generally plays the game and gives as good as he gets.

 

Quite agree. Have to say I love this bit of footage. Really looks good, excellent sound on the final departure, the bit right next to camera at 7:20 really is the icing on the cake...

 

I can fully understand the ex-Southern lines having 'End of SR Steam' themed events, and how these appeal to be those who remember the event and strike an emotional cord with those not old enough to.

However, the GCR was an LNER line and I know that steam on ex-LNER lines ended in the North East in September 1967, and further south in North Eastern Region in November 1967 (don't know about when south of York), so it is perhaps a shame that the GCR isn't using their October Gala for an 'End of Eastern Steam' Event - I suppose it all depends on what they have and can hire.

Is there any 'End of Eastern Steam' events planned?

Steven

 

There are insufficient ER engines that were around at the end of ER steam to really put together such a gala without it looking like an "end of LMR/BR steam" I'd have though! What ER engines of LNER descendency (apart from 61306 and the NE region ones on the NYMR) survived into preservation and are in running order?

 

To be fair, Bulleids don't need to be sure footed on hills, they ran on lines which were built properly.

 

If you are referring to 7 September 2014 I think it was Bill Warriner Ray Churchill took the train down

 

On the subject of Bulleids and hills, I'll just leave this here, a routine day-in, day-out duty. 13 Pullmans, which I make about 520 tons tare, going up Honiton Incline, which is 7 miles of climbing, the last five mostly at 1 in 80 with about half a mile of 1 in 70 thrown in the middle - rather more taxing than Shap, I believe.



Just sayin' ...

Tom