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

They could've changed the spelling of Janaury though .

I wonder what'll be working freights?

 

I expect some allocations will still be altered as a result.

78018 is still on the revised version on 11:58 and 14:27 off of Rothley Brook which is a mistake

 

I hadn't noticed!

 

Card at booking office on Thursday

 

There's also a very tight turnaround with 78019 arriving at Loughborough at 16:40 on one set, then departing at 16:45 on another. I suspect a further revised version will be issued; I wonder how this affects the freight train allocations too?

 

Would appear 3850 is off the minerals in the afternoon as she is 1430 off Loughborough on a passenger now.

 

I imagine they'll mostly all get a turn on freight again, just in a different order/at different times to facilitate the required allocation shuffle.

 

I suppose what could be a possibility is 78019 uncoupling from C stock at the inner home or whatever it is signal go on front of the B stock and have whatever is available couple to the stock and draw in. But saying that, whatever is available in Loughborough at the time could be able to take the B set out at 16:45. Crew dependent of course

 

Certainly not, the signalling does not permit that.

 

More carriages needed on all the trains. Standing room only, and not just in the vestibules.

 

Well done GCR - the busiest gala day in the sunshine today - busiest I can recall!

 

I’ve not yet had to stand. Busy, but manageable on the trains I’ve been on.

I also suspect that 5 carriages is as long as we’ll see given the fall that led to an RAIB visit a few years ago. That also has the compensating advantage that there isn’t one set running much shorter than the others.

 

That explains the sets only being 4 or 5 coaches then, thanks.

The 64 seat TO I was in on the last train I travelled on from Quorn to Loughborough (1400) behind 3850, before giving up and going home, every seat was taken, the vestibules were crammed and people were standing along the whole length of the coach. The previous train id travelled on, was also standing only, but not to that extent.

Hopefully it's been a financial success for the GCR.

 

It appears this gala continues to be a victim of its own success. I wonder how many like me never now even consider going as it is too busy.

 

In went yesterday for the whole day and found that to be a very wise decision. Had the morning there today before getting the train home (had 4 nights in Loughborough for other things as well as the Gala) and frankly I just did a round trip to Rothley and that was it due to the sheer number of people there. Yesterday was certainly busy, which was a good sign, and a rather happy GM was Guard on the last train when I commented to him about the numbers of pepole who had been about !

 

Original timetable will be back in full force tomorrow. 78018 has been repaired.

 

Whether it be locking certain doors (which overhang the platforms) out of use, or some other method of work, a solution to the capacity issues really needs to be found. A five coach rake with a kitchen car also reduces seating somewhat. Otherwise, it's a consistently excellent event.

 

Some footage from the Friday and Saturday, a great event as per usual and lovely to see a good turnout on the trains (Even if services were sardines at times)!

 

What a delight to see passing Freight trains at the beginning of this video! Where else but on the GCR?

 

Oh dear, apologies, we'd never have thought our lowly goods engine would have proved to be quite so popular...!

In all seriousness the poor weather forecast for tomorrow and the strong winds yesterday will have pushed many visitors towards today I'm sure.