Great Central Railway- Winter Steam Gala - 26th-28th January 2024

That's up for debate.
Anyhow, I noticed as a little blurb that a van train and tanker train are running, I would assume they are going to use some windcutters as barrier vehicles? You know, for authenticity.

Ah, a true taste of LMS East Midlands, this is looking to be a good event.
Yes I know 75069 is the Southern variant but, its Midland variant was often seen in and around the area.

 

Just a heads up that the bus from Loughborough Midland appears to be cancelled today.

 

Currently on 75069 to Leicester North. Constant stopping around Rothley (problems with signal?) Already nearly 30 mins late

 

Timetable somewhat clawed back a tad.

One of the van trains brake vans have failed so locos being used for the "van" hauled trains so far this morning has been moving light engine.

 

I went down to the GCR Winter Steam Gala today Friday 26th January 2024, Blue Sky and lovely sunny day though cold

Mainly Black BR Stds 75069,73156,78018,78019 & 92214, with Black LMS 52322 & 48305, only colour was from 6990 Witherslack Hall, the NER Autocar & Iris
75069 & 73156 double head at Loughborough
https://railway-photography.smugmug...inter-Gala-Friday-26th-January-2024/i-VqTF9V3

Neil
https://railway-photography.smugmug...inter-Gala-Friday-26th-January-2024/i-VqTF9V3

 

Duplicate

 

Good day yesterday, absolutely gorgeous weather.
There's very few heritage railways where every few minutes you get a train coming one way or another, something pretty much unique to the GCR!
Trains were well filled but not heaving, and the timetable didn't go too far astray by Gala standards.

Was great to see and ride behind 52322, made an interesting contrast to the range of much more 'modern' steam locos.

Did the heritage bus get up and running in the evening? We didn't see any information to say it was, so I walked the dog to the main line station while my partner (who has mobility problems) took a taxi, only to see a heritage bus go past just as I arrived at Loughborough Midland.
If it was running again, an announcement on the platform when trains arrived would've been helpful.

A couple of pics:

 

Yes, the bus did run in the afternoon. There was a notice in Loughborough booking hall saying that it was running.

 

OK, with my poor eyesight I must have just missed that then.
By the point we'd got up the stairs the taxi was already booked anyway and I was rushing to the station.

 

while i was at the GCR gala on Friday i had a visit into the shed
these are a few photos of what was easily available to photograph
https://railway-photography.smugmug...inter-Gala-Friday-26th-January-2024/i-76F9sjR

Neil

 

A Good Day. Trains well loaded and mostly on time.

 

Indeed. The only time I couldn't get a seat was on the NER Autocar, where the 12:15 departure was full and standing before 12:00.

 

Spent a few hours at Kinchley Lane yesterday - for the first time ever - after spending a couple of hours at Mountsorrel Heritage Centre. I think Freud (not Clement) would have had something to say regarding the enormity of some of the lenses being used by the assembled multitude, but my 17 year old Fuji Finepix worked just as well.......

 

My 2nd visit to the gala on Saturday i spent most of the day at Rothley and Leicester North, and a few hours at Loughborough

75069 & 73156 storming departure photo taken through the fencing above on the bridge over Loughborough station
https://railway-photography.smugmug...ter-Gala-Saturday-27th-January-2024/i-fsK9kXB
https://railway-photography.smugmug...ter-Gala-Saturday-27th-January-2024/i-wWL3nt7

Neil

 

11 minute video from my visit on Friday from a gorgeous day on the GC. Fantastic gala with the A Class and the 75 looking the part on the line.

 

Nicely done Matt, good to catch up on Friday morning

 

Trains are currently being held at stations, due to a medical emergency at Rothley.

UPDATE 1430 departed Loughborough 26 minutes late.

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A few images from Saturday at the gala.



Cheers,

 

Video sequences from Friday morning and Saturday morning - and converted to black and white.

 

And you Matt & James. Hope you had a good rest of the day, I think you might of though


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