GCR Autumn Steam Gala - 30th Sept to 3rd Oct 2021

I do not really know the answer but it may not be the most responsible use of available fuel. I have abandoned my plans to visit the MHR Gala keeping the fuel I have for far more important uses.
It also will depend if you believe things will return normally quickly or not.

 

Can't say I've noticed any sporting fixtures or any other events being cancelled as yet.....
Fuel availability may have an effect on the LTHT/GCR Quorn bus event the following Saturday, but I'm waiting to see how the situation develops over the next 7 days.

 

With respect Phil, our government asking for common sense or to buy normally tends to just aim blame away from themselves. Normality doesn't exist where the pumps are empty and roped off.
I have decided to use public transport to get to Loughborough for tomorrow but tbh, by the time I get there it will be nearly mid-day since to travel anything other than off-peak makes the cost of the gala beyond what I am prepared to spend. If one of the connections is missed then the day is pretty much wasted.
I do think though that the lack of fuel here is helping me to focus on whether burning fossil fuels where alternatives are there, is ever the right thing to do? If I could get fuel, at the moment I still wouldn't drive since I'd want that fuel to go to those that have no choice but to drive for work or keeping us going in so many other ways.

 

Well the GCR was well patronised today. The trains had people in most compartments and in most sets of seats, with spaces around, so about 50-60 % capacity - which for a rainy Thursday is good. The car parks were about 75% so people have been able to get fuel.
I do take the point about my use of petrol at this point in time...but I am using petrol bought in August as I'm not doing many miles at present - also my car is 16 years old and so I'm not contributing to CO2 by buying/manufacturing a new car every four or five years.
It was really enjoyable to stand at Loughborough and see about 7 locomotives in steam with another couple down the line.....Who would have thought that possible back in the 1970's.

 

The single chimney 9F looks right at home by Rothley shed.....

 

Well events have conspired meaning I can't get to Loughborough as I'd intended so will wish the GCR and everyone who attends a great experience. Hopefully next year will be different.
As to the question to whether it was right to go ahead, my thoughts are that yes, GCR were completely right. Leicester & Loughborough are centrally placed and accessible to many people using public transport should they chose to do so.

 

Couple from today.

We went by train (as we don't drive anyway).
Shuttle bus from Loughborough Midland was in a slightly different place from expected as someone had tried to nick the station ATM and part of the car park was cordoned off!

Good to see lots of big locos in steam and the freight out as well.
Trains busy but not packed, had to share a compartment a couple of times, but no standing in the aisles!

Pretty much everything was on time until around 5:30pm when a points failure (apparently) put everything out of whack.
We were on a heavily delayed northbound train planning to connect with the Fish & Chip train at Loughborough. Thankfully it was held for us and was back on time by the end of the evening, so no worries about the train back to Brum!

Was good getting to hear about progress on 'the Gap' from volunteers and we even got sweet-talked into joining the Friends!

Only small criticism was that there was not much going on at stations other than Loughborough, apart from food /drink outlets.

Appreciate that Fridays are a more difficult day to staff side attractions (stalls, exhibitions demonstrations, models etc) but I felt it was something the SVR gala did well, giving you a reason to get off the train at each station.

Now time for a few hours sleep before VT to Cardiff tomorrow!

 

Points failure at Loughborough means that the loco allocations and the subsequent timetable has gone completely to pot

 

Is it likely to be fixed for Sunday? How much is the timetable impacted? Are freights being cancelled? Don’t want to make a 300 mile round trip if the timetable is severely compromised.

 

Freights ran but delayed with roster alterations. (As such 46521 did pretty much nothing today as a consequence) Timetable went out bu about 30 mins to begin with but caught closer to time a little later in the afternoon. Freights was caped a little earlier as a result. Weather was the main issue. The points was fixed both ends but as I say allocations went out a bit

 

UPDATE

 

46521 did nothing today you say? Wrong it was double headed with 78018 from Loughborough to Leicester return on the 16:45 running half hour late so it's done 16 miles the highlight of the day for me besides going on 3802 G.W.R. 2.8.0. at 9am and seeing the double headed 9F,s but I dident go on that trip with getting 92134 and 92214 separately earlier today. Anyhow despite the points failure at Loughborough down loop still a jolly good steam gala either way for me and I hope many other rail enthusiasts who attended today on this rainy day in Leicestershire. My pics of 3802 at 9:30am and 46521 and 78018 at 17:15pm both at Leicester N.
Davo 56F

 

The event seemed fairly well attended on Saturday- though not as wedged with passengers on the trains as some of the Galas there that I have attended in the past. The rain arriving a couple of hours earlier than expected was the biggest problem as far as I was concerned, as I had planned to spend a couple of hours at Quorn in the middle of the day, so got rather wet taking these...





The rearrangement of the loco workings in the afternoon at least gave me more miles behind the visiting 9F that I had expected and by 17.00 it had brightened up quite a lot (but I caught up with it all again on the way home, and the conditions on the A1 around the Wansford area were diabolical).

 

Thanks for posting those pics Johann - Obviously I liked the second one!
From the third pic we were obviously quite close to meeting....I was up at the Shed for "Boscastle Shed Tours"!

 

Spent a very wet but very enjoyable 5 hours at the GCR gala on Saturday
Saw and photographed all the locos in operation apart from 78018 this was due to a points failure and I was on a returning train from Leicester North and got held up for ages due to a points problem at Loughborough
Missed the double headers as had to leave at 3pm for a 4 hour+ bus/train/bus journey home
45305 In its final gala appearance before overhaul
https://tinyurl.com/2e4x5fwy
Neil

 

Problems with the water supply st Loughborough today. All passenger trains planned to run but most freights cancelled - it may actually make it a better day from the passengers point of view!

 

Not a bad way to end the gala !

 

A 9F at Kinchley Lane:



Richard

 

Thanks for posting that picture Richard. Does anybody know if the "other" 9F 92134, has headed the Windcutter rake?.......Silly me with blurry eyes!! Yes that is a picture of No 92134 pulling the Windcutters.

 

Err....that is a photo of 92134 !!! (although, I admit, it does have a bit of a green tinge in that picture....)