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Great Central Railway General Matters

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Reading General, Nov 11, 2017.

  1. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    I assume if the talked about Leicester lock down were to happen this would impact on any reopening plans?
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-53206506
     
  2. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Obviously the GCR management will be looking at all the relevant guidance and act accordingly.....as they say on their website and in communications to their workers and volunteers.
    So it is a case of continued "wait and see" but carry on to prepare for opening if possible and safe.
     
  3. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    It was very nice to see the 9F 92214 steaming through Quorn with 4 coaches this afternoon. Presumably it will be running over the weekend on empty stock recommissioning runs.
     
  4. Davo

    Davo Well-Known Member

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    Is this for crew training as well phil running 92214 with empty stock coaches in preperation for reopening to run passenger trains in late july?
     
  5. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Hi Davo
    I would think so. I think it will be done in stages so keep checking the GCR website.
     
  6. Davo

    Davo Well-Known Member

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    Its ok phil i know leicester is going through hard times at the moment with having to lockdown for 2 weeks at least due to this dreaded covid 19, ile keep checking the G.C.R. website for updates and nat pres and see what its like in just over 3 weeks from now.
    Davo 56F
     
  7. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Although Leicester is being locally locked down, the GCR (apart from Leicester North) is outside that area and so at Quorn the Butler Henderson cafe opens today with Rothley, Ellis Tea room planned opening July 11th (Edit :- now July 15th). There are test trains running now at various times/days.
     
    Last edited: Jul 12, 2020
  8. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Ellis Tea Room opening has been delayed slightly to July 15th
    In other bridge news from GCR Rail Mail....


    "We have now awarded the contract for the replacement of Bridge 341, north of Quorn to Cleveland Bridge UK Ltd. and worked started this week on the removal of the coping stones topping the brick pilasters and transporting them to safe storage using Type 1 8098 and the Sheldon rail crane.
    Dismantling of the pilasters will commence next week. We are confident that the replacement of the bridge will be completed by the second week of September and further updates on progress will be provided in Railmail over the coming weeks..."
     
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  9. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    It was again good to see the 9F steaming through Quorn on Thursday....with 6 coaches this time! DSC00137ss.jpg
     
  10. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Re bridge 341

    The pilasters (Lattice Girders) have been removed and were taken away - (presumably to South Wales as per the canal bridge girders) for refurbishment. DSC00141s.jpg
     
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  11. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    There was a special test train running today, with GCR working members invited to try out the arrangements for travel, before next weekend's opening. It was very good to be back in a Mk1 travelling through the countryside.

    It was all pre-booked with a compartment allocated to each group. The platforms were well organised to maintain social distancing. face masks were in use on the platforms but not whilst in the compartment. It all was well thought out and felt very safe. It ran from Quorn to Leicester North and people could get out there. Return to Quorn and then the empty stock went to Loughborough for cleaning/sanitize.

    It was very good to see that Swithland Sidings have been re-organised and looks a lot smarter with 4 coaches now covered in green heavy duty PVC hiding the unrestored stock. Also at Leicester North was quite a large quantity of track, including a point......could there be something happening there soon?
     
  12. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    Just out of interest did the railway have to get special dispensation to run into Leicester North which I understood was still part of the lock down area until the following Tuesday, or was it OK if no one was allowed off the station?
     
  13. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Hi Gladiator, I don't know for sure but as the station is still closed, I think there is no problem about trains going there and passengers getting out on the platform, wearing masks.
     
  14. Davo

    Davo Well-Known Member

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    How long will it be until trains are able to run again to loughborough central when bridge 341 is refurbised/replaced phil?
     
  15. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Hi Davo
    I don't know, but I believe trains are still running through to Loughborough for cleaning at the weekend. I suspect the bridge lift and replacement will be done quite quickly and the finishing works will take place weekdays, so the line will not be significantly closed at all, remember, they can operate one side at a time I would expect, once the new bridge is back in place.
     
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  16. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    from the GCR website:-
    Autumn Steam Gala – Thurs 1st to Sun 4th October 2020
    Our Autumn Steam Gala takes place from 1st to 4th October 2020, with a busy passenger service on Thursday, stepping up a gear on Friday with the addition of freight trains, and on Saturday and Sunday a very intensive timetable indeed, including a very frequent passenger service with goods trains and Travelling Post Office demonstrations. An event not to missed!

    Up to 9 locomotives in steam!

    Further details will be published here closer to the event.
     
  17. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    Well I am somewhat staggered that any line is anticipating a gala this year. I will be interested to see how they propose to handle the crowds this event normally attracts, but marks for positivity.
    If it does go ahead I will be viewing it from the videos and images on NP not in person.
     
  18. Johann Marsbar

    Johann Marsbar Well-Known Member

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    That has been on the GCR website for some time and all the other events that were listed with it have since been removed (the last one other than that being the September diesel gala that vanished off there within the last couple of weeks).
    My guess is that it has remained there with the assumption that things might have changed for the better by October, which, to be honest, I can't see with the way things appear to be going again.....
     
  19. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    This weekend's passenger trains went well and there was a good, well spaced, number of people at Quorn. The Butler Henderson cafe was busy, as was the beer tent. Witherslack Hall was sparkling in the sunshine hauling 6 coaches. The NER railcar was also running. It was possible to buy tickets on the day, as there were some vacancies on the trains.
     
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  20. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    DSC00184.JPG
    Witherslack Hall arriving at Quorn with 45305 simmering in the yard. Both yard locomotives were offering cab visits for donations. There was also a display in the yard of a variety of railway goods vehicles, together with some classic cars.
     

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