GCR Winter Steam Gala | 23rd-26th January 2025

Guest 1: 6880 "Betton Grange"
Guest 2: 3850
Guest 3: 6695

Home-fleet.

6990 "Witherslack Hall"
78018
78019
73156
68067
48305 (Subject to completion of repair)

Link: https://tickets.gcrailway.co.uk/events/91505

 

Information obtained from the gala booklet.

 

FOUR DAYS??!! THREE GWR ENGINES??!!
My goodness!! Dreams do come true!!

 

It has been stated that there are planned to be three visiting locomotives. Betton Grange is the first to be announced. Plus there will be the home fleet.

 

Already done a thread page https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/gcr-winter-steam-gala-23rd-26th-january-2025.1424325/

 

I've now added the link to the gala page. Still waiting for further announcements tbc.

 

Sorry for the duplication - I did not look back far enough in the thread!

 

3850 from Glos Warks and 6695 from Swindon and Cricklade announced as other guests

 

Booked up my travel for the Saturday earlier in the week and glad I have now. Not seen any of the 3 visitors before, so looking forward to this one.

 

For an update to the home fleet:

48305 is currently out of traffic having new cylinder liners fitted, and isn’t expected to return to traffic by the Gala.

Hunslet Austerity No. 1752 / 68067 / Robert which is still Loughborough based, though often away, is returning for the Gala.

 

Timetables now on line

Thursday
https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Winter-Gala-Thursday-23rd-Passenger-TT.pdf
Friday,Saturday & Sunday
https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-cont...a-Friday-24th-to-Sunday-26th-Passenger-TT.pdf

 

6695 has arrived and was pictured on shed at Loughborough.

 

Thank you Neil, that's handy for my first ever visit, courtesy of the 6880 owners rep on the 25th.

 

does anyone know if buses will be laid on between Loughborough main line and GC station please

 

Nothing mentioned on the LTHT website as yet as to whether they are providing buses.

 

Looking at the timetable for Friday-Sunday, 68067 hauls just one train from Loughborough to Rothley (and onto Rothley Brook, so presumably it's on the Windcutters?). Are there any other plans for it during the event or does it just return to Loughborough LE afterwards?

 

One would assume with the exception of those passenger trips. It would be on freight runs throughout the rest of the day.

 

The timetables found online show passenger movements only (full WTT available as part of programme on the day), so that 1130 ex L'boro will be a shorter set that has an engine swap at Rothley Brook to then head back under the new engine.

There's no internal WTT available to me as yet so can't confirm, but as Ben says, I would expect to see it on freight sets for the rest of the day. Last years Winter Gala had 2 freight sets out, and I suspect the same again this year.

 

Thanks. I only assumed it was a freight working, as they usually swap locos at Rothley Brook, but didn't realise they weren't part of those timetables.

Coming up on the Saturday and really looking forward to this event, especially after my experience at the same event two years ago.

 

Fingers crossed the weather plays nicely, an internal WTT was made available today and looks like an exciting and busy event! I'll be around on the Friday and Saturday at the least for my turns.

It seems there will be 3 freight sets out and 68067 will be on all 3 at various points on the Sat, so will be seeing plenty of action.