Great Central Railway General Matters

The two bridges either side of Quorn have been lifted out and the new bridge sections can be seen in the Quorn yard. I was told that a large rail crane was coming to lift them into place this weekend.


Parts of the old bridge in Rothley yard.


New bridge sections at Quorn.

 

Those main bridge beams (the one at the rear) have certainly seen better days

 

I see the April diesel weekend, which seemed to have been downgraded to a "home fleet" event in earlier publicity has now returned to being a "Diesel Gala" with a "very exciting" visiting locomotive promised....
https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/special-events/spring-diesel-gala/
.......as well as the ubiquitous railcar "Iris" which doesn't seem to be in a hurry to return home to the Ecclesbourne line!

 

This has appeared on YT with some shots of the Quorn bridge replacement work.....

 

I guess you got Volker's Kirow crane to site, by road? Hell of a move, that.
Pat

 

...and it's the Class 17 as the guest loco according to the GCR website!

 

Nice piece of kit that

 

Were you at Loughborough on Saturday 14th January? If so, you may be able to help the Rail Accident Investigation Branch with their inquiries into an accident that day:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/raib-witness-appeal-loughborough

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...borough-central-station-great-central-railway

 

The two new Quorn bridges have been put back and track is in place, but ballasting and tamping was still being done over the weekend.

 

On Saturday there was a meeting of GCR staff and volunteers and it was said that, as part of the GCR 50 Anniversary weekend 17-18th June, there was to be a freight working - Windcutters plus vans etc. for a 50 wagon train! This time it is 50@50. There are several other events planned for that special weekend.

 

Semi-fair point, but I'd make two observations in return. The first is that this risk is less common, and therefore less observed. The second is that, in full knowledge of that extra step at Loughborough, I have found myself nearly missing my step before now.

 

It is reported that trains are now running over the two new bridges at Quorn so a return to normal full line between Loughborough and Leicester North. Another 2 major projects completed on time, so well done to All involved.

 

A great achievement indeed to have been able to reopen as scheduled. I’m sure lots of hard work went into the planning and execution! Still some finishing work to be completed on the 2, but the hard part has been done.

Worth the early start as always!

 

They cerainly seem to be providing a lot more information on what's going on at the GCR at the moment.....

 

There was an unusual day at the GCR yesterday when a group of over 100, first and second year Nottingham Trent University engineering students were able to see how a heritage railway operates and the many aspects of engineering involved. They spoke with many volunteers and paid staff in the Locomotive shed, machine shop, Quorn signal box and station. They also went into the Ex BR Test Car 2, Quorn Wagon and Wagon site, Rothley C & W shed and saw Windcutter restoration work.

At the end of the day there was a Q & A session with our new General Manager and other senior staff.

 

It is the Spring Diesel Gala this weekend as Johann highlighted earlier in this thread. There is also a "special" class 37 on show at Quorn - which has just arrived on the GCR. Details and timetables on the GCR website.

 

Seemed reasonably busy there yesterday for the Diesel Gala and the weather turned out to be a lot better than the BBC forecast I looked at before leaving home in the morning as well. Only problem encountered was the failure of D123 which resulted in the cancellation of one of the "local" Loughboro' to Rothley return services just after 14.00, but were given sufficient warning to transfer directly to an immenently departing service on the other platform so it had little effect on our plans.

A few pictures from the day....

 

Three of mine from yesterday at Quorn.

 

The 1st Picture looks like D6700, but the tarpaulined class 37 in Quorn yard does not seem to have a number and which class 37 is that approaching Quorn please?

 

There were 3 class 37s present. D6700 and 37714 were in traffic, 37207 was under tarpaulin at Quorn, where to quote the gala guide it is awaiting "the next stage of its transformation having spent last summer testing Meteor's latest 08 electric powertrain, and is now ready to receive its own electric conversion"