Great Central Railway Autumn Gala 3-6 October 2019

Some photos of the 2 guest locos. Footage and more photos to follow. 04/10/19

 

GCR Steam gala 3rd & 4th of October 2019

 

My latest footage, enjoy

 

A few of my pics of the engines ive never rode behind but got the chance at the G.C.R. today the T9 and 8F. Davo 56F

 

Also my experience today. Slight late running early in the day fully recovered.


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Yes I always enjoy them (could not go this time) and of course they are one of the few (only?) who can recover lost time with regularity during a gala. Of course having double track does help that situation.

 

4953 Pitchford Hall recently out-shopped from LMS Loughborough for running in

https://www.flickr.com/photos/113816008@N03/48847654651/in/dateposted-public/

 

Video from an enjoyable Saturday, was certainly worth waiting around for 6990 on the last TPO!

 

I could only stop at Quorn and Woodhouse for a few hours but this was the first time I'd experienced a GCR gala. I'd visited a few times before on normal days and was a bit "meh" about the double track aspect of it. I SO got it today, it was amazing! In the space of about 3 hours I saw everything go past at least twice, and because I had no programme, no ability to predict train movements based on passing loops, and only a few passenger train times known, having to watch the signals go off and waiting to see what came next with freights (plural!!), TPOs, non-stoppers every 10 minutes or so, it was probably about as close as I'll ever get to the true trainspotting experience. Doing a GCR gala proper has now risen very high on my list.

 

Footage from the Autumn Steam Gala featuring Southern Steam Guests - 30120 and 926

Filmed over Saturday 5th October 2019

 

Filmed across Saturday & Sunday of this year's Annual Autumn Steam-Fest.

 

hello
managed saturday and sunday knowing how wrong they often get it i was surprised by how few people were about on sunday due mainly it seems to the weather forcast
there was no rain and plenty of sun - some pictures at https://www.flickr.com/photos/15931796@N00/
regards

 

Visited on Saturday. Image collection can be viewed at.......... http://rickeborall.zenfolio.com/p233839703
Hope you enjoy......Regards to all.......Rick

 

Thanks all for posting such great images and videos. I was there on Sunday pm but there is so much to see and hear!

 

GCR autumn steam gala 2019 5th October 2019

 

A few from me of the Saturday, when I was there from around lunchtime to 5pm with Inside Track's Peakways Gala group.



Steven

 

Not sure I agree with that. It seems to me from reading gala threads that there are several railways where year after year there are issues with gala timekeeping, and others where it very rarely seems to be an issue. I can't believe that that is that some are inherently luckier in avoiding operating issues. My feeling is that the capacity to recover is inherent in timetable design. I'm sure we have all looked at certain gala timetables, thought about the moves planned, and thought "nope, that's not going to happen" and lo and behold the timetable collapses on the day. Double track helps but I'd suggest the ability to recover lost time is a combination of all operators (loco crew, signalmen, station staff) being on the ball and skilful (and largely hidden) timetable design, rather than being something that only one railway can manage.

Tom

 

From what I have seen I would agree with you. Two examples from recent times:

1) This year's Swanage Autumn gala got off to a bad start on the Saturday and things were running 20 minutes late by 10:30. You might have expected it to get worse after that but no, by 13:00 everything was back on schedule. All down to having a robust timetable with sufficient recovery time, plus some slick operating.

2) Last year's Great Central Autumn gala had some delays on the Saturday, which to my surprise got steadily worse until the timetable was 30-40 adrift by the end of the day. The double track didn't seem to help. I think the sheer intensity of the train service meant there was no scope for any recovery time.

 

6026 King John
I think much of last years delay was because the connection to a southbound signal just outside Loughborough had failed. I noticed two staff in contact, one just below Great Central Road Bridge and another by the signal.
This years ops were very efficient, just a minor delay mid Sunday morning that I can recall, I think because of congested platform and siding space at Loughborough.