GCR Winter Steam Gala- 28th-30th January 2022

Many thanks for your prompt reply, really appreciated.

 

Is anyone able to confirm whether 34072 will be running at the GCR before the gala weekend? I assume from the earlier post that she is already at Loughborough?
Unfortunately I am unlikely to be available to visit during the gala weekend.

 

She is now at Loughborough, but she isn't planned to be used on any services until the gala unfortunately.

 

The bus shuttle from Loughborough Midland to Loughborough GCR Station timetable also is now available.

A downloadable PDf is available on the associated gala webpage

 

Ahead of the Winter Gala (starting tomorrow) it's great to see that Std 2 78018 has had a repaint and looks the business. Image courtesy of the GCR Shed Works FB page - which is a superb page with updates and reports from all the work going on in the shed...

 

Sorry if this is a stupid question,but am I correct in thinking theres no TPO trains at this event? Not been keeping up with happenings,happily I'll be able to make it to the Winter Gala for the first time in about 10 years!

 

Yeah you're correct. No TPOs at this one - looks like a good gala though.

 

What is the car parking like at Quorn these days?

 

She is looking stunning, has she had a full repaint or a partial and a revarnish?

Either way- looks great!

Chris

 

From the GCR website...
Car parking
Loughborough: LE11 1RW. On street parking is available but the surrounding roads will be busy. Many double yellow lines have been added to roads in the area, so parking is increasingly scarce; you may need to park some distance from the station and neighbouring residents don't necessarily welcome you doing this!
Quorn: LE12 8AG.This is GCR's main car parking area. Thursday to Sunday: the station yard car park will be available free of charge. An area will be reserved in Quorn station yard for holders of registered disabled passes (free - see below).
On-street parking in the immediate vicinity of Quorn station is subject to Council operated parking restrictions.
Rothley: LE7 7LD. There is very limited car parking in the station yard. Also, on-street parking in the immediate vicinity of Rothley station is very limited with Council operated parking restrictions.
Leicester North: LE4 3BR. There is limited car parking on the immediate approach to the station.

DISABLED PARKING: The station yard at Quorn will be available for blue badge holders and our less able-bodied visitors who do not have a blue badge. To reserve your space, please email marketing@gcrailway.co.uk with your name and vehicle registration details.

 

Hi Phil

Yes I'm aware of that I'm more thinking about how quickly the station car park fills up (the last time I visited, a long time ago, it filled up very quickly) and whether they still use the farmer's field a bit further on over the bridge over the railway - I'm guessing that is no longer available?

So I guess I'll just have to get there as early as poss.

 

Film Stars always have to look their best when out in public!

 

I had the same thought. A couple of winter galas before the turntable went in the car park was full by about 1030. That was also before the outbreak of yellow lines in Loughborough and the cones outside the large houses on the dead end road by Rothley Station.
Hope it all goes well for them.

 

Had a trip down to Loughborough today for the Great Central Railway Winter Steam Gala
Just stayed on Loughborough station today, Rover ticket bought for Saturday
2 visiting locos
34072 257 Squadron from Swanage & 80080 from M.R.C.
https://tinyurl.com/p4nn67st
Neil

 

Why is there no tpo’s? Is the rake having maintenance?

 

Last time I took a photo of the rake in operation was back in October 2018. Don't know if it was used at the 2019 Winter Gala as I didn't go to that event, but it doesn't seem to have been used since then....

 

Going by the videos already loaded onto YouTube, attendance looks to be very good on the Friday. Some of the loco's and rolling stock look in fabulous condition. I am going today and very much looking forward to it.

 

The TPO set was used at both Winter (45305 and 7802l and Autumn (73156, 926 and 6990) 2019 galas.

The Winter Gala in 2020 there was no TPOs due to a 10mph speed restriction on the bridge north of the station. This was replaced in September 2020. However Autumn Gala 2021 and there was also no TPOs I believe this is due to EITHER Covid playing a factor somewhere, stock under maintenance or hasn't returned to traffic, the people involved in doing the TPO. Or the 5mph TSR speed limit at Swithland I am told it could be either of these reasons from close mates associated with GCR however I don't know the full official reason....So don't take that as 100% gospel

 

Attendance is healthy today with trains pretty full but not heaving. At Quorn, most people have parked in the farmers field and as a result there are still plenty of parking spaces in the station yard at lunchtime.