GCR Winter Gala. 27-29 January 2023

Thanks, I don’t think I’ll be able to make the gala and wondered if they were working any passenger services the weekend after.

 

Just checking, the trains that reverse at Rothley Brook are available as passenger services presumably?

I.e. Can join 10:00 off Loughborough at either Loughborough or Quorn and then stay on it all the way through to Rothley at 10:52?

 

If its the same as previous gala's ,its non stop thro; Rothley on the up ,reverses at Rothley Brook with a different engine going what will be then the front ,stops at Rothley on the way back to Loughborough. Passengers remain on the train. Good choice of engines ,78018/9.

 

With the gala now a few days away here's a bit of confirmation as to what will be happening over the various days.

Friday

• 5 locos in steam: 506, 73082, 73156, 78018 & 78019.
• 21 departures from Loughborough throughout the day.
• 2 full line passenger sets and 1 local set shuttling between Loughborough and Rothley.
• 1 demo freight set running between Loughborough and Rothley.
• First movement from Loughborough at 09:25 with the first passenger departure at 10:00 & last daytime departure at 17:00.
• Double headed standard 5s leaving Loughborough at 17:00 and Leicester North at 17:45.
• 2 evening full line non-stop (minus an operational stop at Rothley to pick up the single line token in the Up direction) return trips at 18:30 and 20:00 each with a guest loco. Pre-booked fish and chips served on the 18:30 departure but anybody with a day rover can travel on these trains. Note that the outstations will be closed by this point in the day!
• Heritage bus shuttles from Loughborough Midland station to Lovatt House provided by Leicester Transport Heritage Trust (LTHT) during the day. There is now a weight restriction on the station overbridge at Loughborough Central so the bus will drop you a bit further down the hill but only a short walk away. Bus rides are free for anyone who wants to partake. First departure from Loughborough Midland at 09:35 and last from Lovatt House at 17:45. Journey time 5-10 mins.

Saturday

• 7 locos in steam: 506, 48305, 73082, 73156, 78018, 78019 & 92214.
• 32 departures from Loughborough throughout the day.
• 1 diesel in use: Peak D123. I should explain the use of the diesel is due to requiring 8 locos to allow for the high frequency timetable. If we didn't have 8 diagrams covered we'd have to remove some trains.
• 1 diesel railcar in operation: Derby Lightweight 'Iris'.
• 2 full line passenger sets, 2 local sets and Iris shuttling between Loughborough and Rothley.
• 2 demo freight sets running between Loughborough and Rothley with the exception of an early morning run to Leicester North.
• First movement from Loughborough at 08:15 with the first passenger departure at 09:00 & last at 16:45.
• Double headed standard 5s leaving Loughborough on a non-stop run at 13:45, returning as a stopping service from Leicester North at 14:30.
• Debut of 92214 after it's repaint into BR black livery.
• Heritage bus shuttles between Loughborough Midland and Lovatt House once again provided by LTHT. First departure from Loughborough Midland at 08:30 and last from Lovatt House at 18:15.

Sunday

• Basically as per Saturday but no bus shuttles.
• 31 departures from Loughborough throughout the day.

From what I have been told this will be the only time that the two visiting locos will be hauling public passenger services during their stay at the railway.

Hope those of you that pay us a visit over the weekend have a great time!

 

Looking forward to this weekend! Can someone confirm which way the locos face please?

 

From page 2 of this thread
"And for those that like knowing loco facings:
- the 8F and 9F both face north (Loughborough)
- rest of the home fleet face south (Leicester)
- both visiting engines are expected to face south also". Note from the pictures on their Instagram account the visitong locos are facing South.

 

That's spot on, you can remain on the train as it goes down to Rothley Brook to re-engine then alight at Rothley in the Northbound direction if you wish.

 

As far as I'm aware the only North facing loco is now the 9F as the 8F was turned South last weekend during a photo charter.

 

Thank you! I know with the turntable it changes around quite a bit.

 

Latest info now suggests 78019 will join 92214 in facing North for the event.

 

I went down to Loughborough for a few hours today to get some photos around the station/shed area, (Saturday I have a day rover ticket)

92214 back in black
https://tinyurl.com/3xzzvtav
92214 & 48305
https://tinyurl.com/mvwv9tsc

Neil

 

Action at Quorn

 

Well, I can't say I rated today as one of my better GCR Gala experiences. Nothing wrong with the motive power provision, but when the first train of the day turns up 15 late at Rothley with standing room only, it could only get worse...and it did.
Trains well and truly wedged and the last one I got off after giving up earlier than planned was running 63 minutes late. Travelled on 10 different trains and never had any form of ticket check undertaken, which was another first for a GCR Gala. Even had to abandon any attempt at having the usual breakfast in the Griddle Car as well, due to the numbers travelling!

 

We enjoyed today although definitely surprised just how busy it was. Every time Iris appeared the announcement was this train doesn’t take many passengers please wait for the next one so guess that didn’t help, nor did the diesel failing so a two car DMU running instead of normal stock. On that note Will tomorrow see the 8f on the diesels freight like today?

 

Johann's experience exactly matches my own. I have been to many GCR winter galas and today was not a vintage one. I know the GCR were forced into running two very small DMU's due to a loco failure and it clearly reduced the number of available seats. I found it impossible get to ride behind all the loco's that I wanted to, so had to satisfy myself with just seeing them pass by or in the distance. There were quite a few long waits at signals, which can be painful when you are standing. I normally stay from the first to the last train but also threw in the towel early when it was clear they were 60 minutes down and the next train was going to be another crowded DMU. Its a shame, as its one of my favorite gala's. Hopefully tomorrow they will have more seats available.

 

I've not long since got back from my visit. I really enjoyed my day, despite the late running and how congested most trains were (possibly the busiest gala I've been to).

Highlights included the very nice bacon roll I had at Loughborough from the stall, watching the 9F pass through Quorn on the freight heading for Rothley and the 2 Std 5"s double heading the Windcutters the other way not that long after, also had a good run behind 506 towards the end of the day (506 did dragging the DMU from Rothley to Loughborough prior to that trip). Managed to get behind all but the Std 5's and the 2 Std 2's, although I didn't manage to get any pictures of 78018 as it always seemed to be on the line somewhere when I was on another train.

Despite the problems, I'm already looking forward to making another trip soon (preferably not another 29 years or so this time!)

 

I would have to agree with all the above. It was an ambitious event that promised a lot, and it was great to see the railway busy but I think it was just a little too busy to be comfortable.
I was on my own and managed to squeeze onto all the trains I wanted to get on, but if I was with my partner (who needs a seat due to dodgy leg) and dog (which was the original plan until another unrelated issue came up), I think we'd have struggled.

I think the timetable issues didn't help, as with some bigger than planned gaps between trains and the local set being taken out of use for a while, it did mean that waiting passenger numbers built up and there was less willingness to wait for the next train when you have no idea how long that would be.
I did manage to get onto the S15-hauled DMU though, which was a nice surprise.

I think the catering outlets also weren't expecting it to be quite so busy. The BBQ at Loughborough had run out of both bacon and cheese by about 1pm!

Still, I'm looking forward to my next visit, and hopefully no longer having to crawl at walking pace over that bridge at Quorn!

 

A few photos from yesterday......The 9F looks good in black.....

 

Some great pics, lol ooking at that last picture I must have been stood almost next to you, if that was when 506 and 78019 swapped on the Windcutters at Rothley.

 

Yes, that would have been that changeover - I took the photo at 14.52 having just arrived there on the 101 unit - which then ended up as a "drag" by 506 back to Loughborough, which I hadn't realised they were going to do.....