GCR Winter Gala - 24-26 Jan 2020

Point of order. Strictly speaking, there is a ground frame at the south end of Loughborough. The fact that it is decommissioned and has not been connected to anything for a quarter of a century, is extremely relevant, but does not negate its existence.

 

Perhaps the youths were encouraged to trespass and disrupt traffic by the actions of the group of idiots who organised a mass trespass around the same location at the last gala, and then smugly posted the results all over social media ?

Who knows, perhaps they were the *same* group of idiots . . .

 

You were on the same service as my dad then. He was keeping me updated, as his last train home was 19.47 from Loughborough Midland. I think he was aiming for the one 2 hours earlier!

 

Here's my video from Saturday at the gala.

 

We were on that one too and had guessed what the problem likely was before the guard got round to us.
We guessed because we were on the earlier suburban that had to stop and retrieve the engine cover of a bus on the line (just before the railcar passed us) on the way back to Loughborough. Still. at least it was nice and warm

A few shots from Saturday...


British Railways Standard 9F - 92214 by Tim White, on Flickr


Bown Autocycle by Tim White, on Flickr


LMS Black 5 : 45305 by Tim White, on Flickr


GWR Hall - 6990 - Witherslack Hall by Tim White, on Flickr

 

Funny that....cos they weren't there yesterday....and I know the "idiots" well.

 

According to a thread on Facebook. 4953 failed late last night with a leaking clack joint hence the substitution of the Ivatt mogul today.

 

One image of many of 4953 on shed yesterday morning.....was probably my personal favourite locomotive of the event

 

True that. I’ve walked past it so many times it has blended into the scenery, so I forgot. I don’t think many people would mistake it for a commissioned one though, seeing as it’s been uprooted.


EDIT: As a point of order, Drop_Shunt has reminded me that the decommissioned Loughborough South GF is in fact still firmly planted in the ground. I must have been thinking of another one.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Full video now online, featuring all 9 steam locos (+ railcar) which were in action on the Sunday of the gala


And also a small gallery:
http://preservedrailway.weebly.com/great-cent…

 

My take on the weekend's gala at the Great Central.

 

My humble offering from the Saturday of the gala. Hope you enjoy it

 

From Saturday three slightly different, but the light was grim.

 

An enjoyable, if not slightly damp Sunday. Talking to various volunteers it sounds like it was a testament that things were only 15 minutes late on Sunday.

I've yet to properly sort through photos, but a few snaps trying to get something a bit different:

The K1 on the first passenger of the day:

Signalling the next departure


Rain Spotters


Proof you can escape the crowds if you try hard enough

 

Footage from the GCR gala
Also included in the main video (and now seperately) Is 4953 and 6990 with the express through Quorn.