Great Central Railway General Matters

I was looking on the Internet for information on the LNER (GC) Heritage Trust which is/was the supporting charity for the GCR(N), but their website now seems to be unavailable and there is no longer any link to them from the GCR(N) webpage. Have their activities now been absorbed by the DCRT ?
Can't say I remember seeing anything about that happening though....

 

Really a rolling stock movement, but having seen only one of the 2 class 127 DMU cars at Quorn during the recent Winter Gala, I did a bit of searching on the internet this morning and they appear to have been sold to the Helston Railway in Cornwall.
Are they having the Class 120 car that ran with the other two as well though?

 

Class 120 meant to be staying.

 

K1 and the Autocar are due to be out on 15/16 Feb at an "Eastern Weekend" according to the GCR e-newsletter that has just arrived!

 

"Eastern Weekend" details published..
http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/special-events/eastern-weekend-with-k1-62005-15th-16th-february-2020/
Participation of the Autocar is supposed to be confirmed today (11.2) according to that webpage. Presumably that is addition to the diagrammed "Railcar" turn shown on the t/t?

 

The weather forecast for the weekend is not good unfortunately due to Storm Dennis crossing the country. Nevertheless here is the published timetable. <BJ>

''We're running an earlier first departure this weekend from Loughborough Central offering an additional trip with 62005''.



The plate a fork symbol indicates a Griddle Car is operating on this steam-hauled train. Trains with an asterisk (*) are operated by a diesel railcar.

 

I just had a look at the 2019 accounts, and as a complete idiot in such matters it looked good - 33K profit, *and* £1Million spent on projects/acquisitions.
It all seems good and positive at the GCR financially (unless I'm missing something?)

 

The Autocar is apparently working the "Railcar" diagram shown in that timetable rather than a short working additional service. At least the forecast for the weekend may keep the numbers trying to travel on it a bit more manageable!

 

My latest footage, enjoy

 

Just seen a couple of photos of some Balfour Beatty Track Machines from Ashford OTPD, reported as being at Quorn on 8th March 2020.
Are these just being stored prior to scrapping or are they for eventual use by the GCR?
Looks like a Ballast Regulator 77316, a 12t Plasser crane 81507 and a Track layer 78223.
There is a comment that each is scrapped at Beeston or Rotherham in March 2020

 

From the GCR website today...
Trains still running but the Goods Galore Event is Postponed due to Coronavirus situation. Sad but sensible.

 

If anyone was planning a visit to the GCR this weekend this may be of use. <BJ>

''Coronavirus - Update 20th March 2020

Overnight, I have looked again at our plans for this weekend’s operation and have, very reluctantly, taken the decision to suspend running. The minimal levels of staff that we can gather for the weekend, present a potential challenge in terms of maintaining the highest level of hygiene and social separation that we would need to achieve and it is too big a risk to take this weekend.

I am sorry that this will disappoint some and that it is contrary to my Railmail message of yesterday but I am sure that everyone will appreciate that the Railway and I must put the health and safety of our visitors and workers above everything. It is also relevant to point out, again, that our actions are very much in line with those of most of our peer group around the UK.

Further updates will continue next week. Stay safe!''

 

It is good to see that the GCR website is being updated daily with a selection of photographs taken over the years. I never knew that the Furness 0-4-0 had visited!

 

Along with Rocket, Planet, 32662 and Bellyflop a few years ago. Golden Oldies gala?

 

I remember "Planet's" visit......

And I had a ride behind it!

 

In the latest "Rail Mail" from the GCR....."On a positive note, we have been able to safely continue with a number of developments during lock down involving 3rd party contractors; this has included the construction of the new ramp and patio areas at Rothley (due to be completed in 2 weeks’ time), the extensive platform surface repairs at Loughborough which are a week away from completion and the commencement of a huge safety fencing project at numerous locations on the Railway’s perimeter."
They are planning on a very slow build up from lockdown, but do hope to "Un-furlough" a few staff, soon, for work on different sites around the railway.

 

“huge safety fencing project “... does that mean even fewer places where those without lineside passes can stand to get photos without trespassing?

 

I thought there were no longer lineside passes at the GCR apart from a "selected few"

 

Yes, that’s right, making vantage points alongside the railway all the more precious to those of us who no longer have one

 

Surely fencing in the railway is a statutory requirement here in the UK (unlike other countries), so the currently "open" areas that are obvious when seen from the train between Quorn & Loughborough actually need to be fenced in to comply?
There have been occaions where trespassers have been injured on the National Network and the railway has been found to be the guilty party as they should have been securely fenced to stop people gaining access.
Todays "blame culture" reinforces the need to ensure suitable fencing is in place.