Great Central Railway- Autumn Steam Gala 5th-8th October 2023

- 7714 (from SVR)
- 2999 "Lady of Legend" (from Didcot)
- 6990 "Witherslack Hall" (running as 6988 "Swithland Hall")
- 48305
- 78018
- 78019
- 92214 (one of its final gala appearances - ticket expires early 2024)
- 73156

Full details to appear at https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/special-events/autumn-steam-gala/ in due course.

Information taken from their Diesel Gala brochure as well as the Rail Mail newsletter

 

Timetables now live on the link

 

"Lady of Legend" has already arrived on the GCR.

 

92214 has arrived back from the NYMR facing North. Unless the Ops department have taken something for a spin in the week, everything else is facing South currently (7714 included as just arrived).

 

Any indications that there will be a bus shuttle between the 2 Loughborough stations, I did email the GCR but no-one bothered to reply
Thanks

 

Hi Neil
I wonder if the bus shuttle information has been delayed awaiting knowledge of possible rail disruption ( Strikes?).

 

As it's only a few days until the gala here's a few snippets of info for you:

Thursday

First departure: 1000
Last departure: 1600
45 minute interval service with two full line carriage sets
Locos in use: 2999, 6990 (as 6988), 7714
1600 departure double headed

Friday

First move: 0840
First passenger departure: 0945
Last passenger departure: 2000
Two full line carriage sets, two locals and a DMU along with two demo freight sets
Locos in service: 2999, 6990 (as 6988), 7714, 48305, 73156, 78018, 78019, 92214, D6700 and a DMU
Double headers at 0945, 1345 & 1730
Non-stop express at 1345
Heritage bus shuttle between Loughborough Midland station and Lovatt House (for the GCR)

Saturday

First move: 0815
First passenger departure: 0900
Last passenger departure: 1815
Two full line carriage sets, two locals and a DMU along with two demo freight sets
Locos in service: 2999, 6990 (as 6988), 7714, 48305, 73156, 78018, 78019, 92214, D6700 & a DMU
Double headers at 1245 & 1430
Non-stop express at 1345

Sunday

First move: 0840
First passenger departure: 0945
Last passenger departure: 1645
Two full line carriage sets, one local, a DMU and two demo freight sets
Locos in service: 2999, 6990 (as 6988), 7714, 48305, 73156, 78018, 78019, 92214 & a DMU
Double headers at 1200 & 1430
Non-stop express at 1345
DMU running Mountsorrel Branch services at 1020, 1215 & 1415

Hope this is of some use to those of you thinking of visiting, all being well it should be a good event!

 

all rail strikes have to give 2 weeks notice, so that theory is now out of date

 

heritage bus running fri/sat see above post

 

Would anyone please be able to advise exactly what diagrams
the 37 will be working on Fri & Sat??
MANY thanks
N

 

It looks like the GCR are following normal practice and only releasing the passenger rosters free; I'd expect the non-passenger workings to be in the event guide.

Looking at my print out of the Saturday timetable, D6700 looks like it's working the 11:06 from Rothley to Loughborough, but is otherwise not working any passenger duties.

Someone closer to the GCR may be able to give fuller information.

 

The pannier tank was parked outside the shed on Saturday......


My camera obviously isn't a fan of the "Brown region" either as both the photos I took of Lady of Legend parked opposite Loughboro' signal box on Saturday came out blurred!

 

Well the Pannier is from the "Brown region" so maybe it is just new builds.

 

Ah, but the pannier is in BR black !!!!

 

That's spot on! All the passenger workings the locos are booked for are shown on the timetables available on the website. In the case of the 37 that's just the one trip on Saturday morning as it stands (although it will also be out and about on Friday as per my previous post).

 

Can't wait for this one!

 

To whet your appetite...

 

At present the free bus shuttle will be running only on the Friday of the gala due to resourcing issues. Timings are now available on the gala web page.

As far as I'm aware all locos face South with the exception of 92214.

 

One alteration to Friday's timetable:

D6700 now works the 1647 from Rothley to Loughborough vice 73156.

 

A few images from Friday at the GCR Autumn Gala with thanks to all who made it happen.



A few more images can be seen on my website at: Mick Rogers | GCR Autumn Steam Gala, 6th October 2023 (zenfolio.com)

Cheers,