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

From what I saw very busy all round. The 2857 Society took just shy of £1400 which is a good gala weekend for us.

 

I was also at Kinchley Lane on Saturday. Wonderful trains, fantastic weather and friendly company while waiting for the trains.
Thank you to the railway and volunteers for laying on such a prestigious and successful event. A token of my appreciation is on it's way. <BJ>

 

For those put off by the busy trains and platforms, I think this was pretty easy to predict given Saturday's weather compared to on other days. Also given three good visiting locos recently overhauled & on the circuit.

I don't usually chose the Saturday preferring less busy winter gala days on the Thursday or Friday but couldn't do this year, hence I made the call to start at Loughborough to enable getting a pair of seats and not alighting at Quorn or Rothley as I might ordinarily do. The compromise was less photographs taken and less swapping of trains. Those most impacted that I saw were passengers who wanted to join the busy 09.45 service from LO with Betton Grange at Quorn or Rothley (and return to LO) and could only find standing room. Nothing really unexpected imo.

 

GC reporting on Social Media that it was record numbers.

 

I went yesterday (Sunday) for my first proper visit to the GCR, what a fantastic event and IMO really excellent value for money for a day rover. The intensive timetable allowed by the double track is very impressive with something turning up literally every 10 minutes. Even some rain didn't dampen the event in the afternoon (I took refuge on a shed tour), and I was able to get in some excellent runs behind the standard 2's, 6880, and a spirited final run from Leicester to Quorn with 6990 in the dark.

It was certainly busy, but I've been to events where crowding was more of a problem (SVR and even KWVR with certain visitors). Loadings were heavy, but to be honest, I usually stand by a window or hop on or off at intermediate stops so a seat doesn't always bother me. As others have pointed out, I encountered only a really friendly atmosphere and didn't hear a single complaint all day. Thanks to everyone at the GCR for a fabulous event, I will definitely be back.

 

Positive feedback from the 6880 Betton Grange society. <BJ>

''A marvellous day at the Great Central Railway, lovely to see everyone at the stall and added a good amount to the tender funds,
Betton performed very well and looks wonderful in the sunshine, happy footplate crew too. Thanks for all your lovely comments about her!''

 

Great Central have done it again!
Another splendiferous gala!

 

Confirmation that the 3 x GWR visitors will be running this weekend on a 45-min timetable...
https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-cont..._Timetable-tt-39720-20241126102532-7062-1.pdf
For those who didn't enjoy the packed trains at the Gala last weekend, this should be much quieter

 

And to help anyone plan their day if they’re planning on coming (subject to usual caveats), the allocations currently are:
S1 - 6695 S2 - 3850 S3 - 6880

 

Had a grand day at the GCR on Sunday. A trip behind the Grange, some excellent photographic conditions and some good banter.

 

A selection from the saturday of the event: