Great Central Railway, Autumn Steam Gala - 3rd-6th October 2024

And the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway's on that weekend.

 

Which does at least provide a decent geographical spread. I noticed a few weeks ago that the Severn Valley, Didcot and Chinnor galas were all being held on the same weekend, three places which feel like they might be trying to appeal to areas which at the very least overlap.

 

and Bo'ness

 

I don't suppose anyone knows if Odney was turned back to facing Leicester North or not after the charter?

Cheers,

 

The Chinnor gala was moved forward a week, I believe to avoid these clashes.
(Handy for me as I was busy at galas on the other side of the channel on the original weekend!)

 

7828 faces Leicester on the GCR shed works post from this evening

 

I think the person who decided to plant that tree in one of the between-track planting areas at Leicester North must deserve some sort of award.........



Certainly got some comments from passengers on the first train yesterday morning as it completely bu**ers up the shot from the end of the short "platform" there of the train before the loco is detached.......

 

........and if anyone doubts the above.....



Photo taken holding my camera at full arms length to my right, using the display screen on the back rather than the viewfinder!

"See the tree, how big its grown....." as Bobby Goldsboro once sang - and its only going to get worse.....

 

A few snippets from the gala.

 

I wouldn't worry too much about that tree at Leicester North. The whole station is a dog's dinner anyway. Nicer photos can be taken at other stations.

 

I don't think we have a thread specific to the "Last Hurrah" gala at the GCR this weekend but noticed that on this occasion the website mentions Shed tours taking place which is unusual for Galas. Not sure what times and whether this is the Boscastle team? @Flying Phil - anything to add?

 

Yes according to his post on the Boscastle thread https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/34039-boscastle-wc-class.1325994/page-15 scroll down.

 

I don't think they were doing specific times, as I was part of one tour that took place after another tour was in progress. I'm not sure if @Flying Phil was the guide on mine, but an offer for contributions for Boscastle were asked for (which I did, as well as another for the Gap).

 

Hi misspentyouth
Yes we have been doing Boscastle Shed Tours on Gala Weekends this year (rather than the previous second weekend of each month). We try to have three guides each day, so that one group is in the yard having a safety briefing and talk about boilers etc, the second group is going up inside the shed as the third group is leaving the shed. The tours generally last about 30 mins.
Yesterday was very busy non stop from 10.30 to 4pm (and Yes I was one of the guides Dan - thanks for your donation!)

 

Thank you Phil - I've not been around the sheds at Loughborough for a few years and was please to join one of the very popular tours yesterday.