Great Central Railway Autumn Steam Gala 2-5 Oct

First visitor announced: 45596 Bahamas

More info https://tickets.gcrailway.co.uk/events/126071

 

As I put in the GCR thread a couple of weeks ago, that was actually announced at the GCR AGM along with the fact that the LNWR "Coal Tank" was also likely to be the second of four visitors in total.

 

1054 has now been confirmed as the 2nd visitor.

 

Boscastle Shed Tours will be taking place on Sat and Sun of this event. They do not need booking just walk up to the engine shed, where regular tours are in operation from 10.30 to 3.30. They take about 30 mins and are free, but donations towards the overhaul of Boscastle are appreciated.

 

Stanier Mogul 13268 announced as third visitor

 

Really looking forward to this one, looks like I'll only be able to attend the Sunday (assuming there isn't Engineer works that weekend on the BML or MML). Not travelled behind the 3 visitors before (but think I've seen all 3, 45596 and 1054 I definitely saw at York for Railfest 2012 and think I saw the mogul out of service on my only visit to the SVR). With another visitor tba it might be interesting trying to get behind them all!

 

Engineering works: Nottingham and Leicester | National Rail

 

Looks like I might have to back out of attending now, as there's also Engineering works between Haywards Heath and Three Bridges as well.

Having done a quick look, the earliest I can get to Loughborough Midland is after 11:15 and that's with a train from Three Bridges at 7am and not many other services prior . Every time I look at doing the GCR Autumn Gala there's engineering works, especially on the MML.

I'll have to hope that like the Winter Gala, some of the visitors may stay on for another week after.

 

Bahamas is definitely staying on for a bit, it's down for a Driving Experience train on the 9th and a Dining Train on the 10th, I would guess it could operate the following weekend and that'll serve as it's final steaming but I'm unsure.

 

A shame if you can't make it down for the main event, with Friday/Saturday/Sunday having 9 engines in steam and the DMU out, so plenty of activity all throughout the day! Thursday being similar to previous years will have a reduced number of locos out.

But regarding the following weekend from the gala, Bahamas is definitely pencilled in to be running both days, and I believe at least one of the other visitors as well, as well as one of the home fleet (subject to all the usual caveats on availability etc. etc.).

 

With those engineering works it's makes it very difficult to enjoy a whole day getting there that late in the morning, which is a shame because I've enjoyed my visits to GCR Galas in the last few years and with a group of locos i'm interested in seeing, but I shouldn't have any issues the following weekend looking on National Rail so hopefully I should be able to see 45596 and whatever else may be running

 

There will be Boscastle Shed Tours on Saturday and Sunday for this event. No booking needed, just walk up to the locomotive shed and join the next tour. They start at 10.30 and run until 3.30. They are free, but a donation towards Boscastle's overhaul is appreciated.

 

New web page https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/visit/events/20251002-autumn-steam-gala/

A free shuttle bus will operate on 3rd October between Loughborough EMR & GCR. On 5th October the shuttle bus will operate between Leicester EMR & Leicester North.

 

With it running into Leicester on the Sunday, I might end up using that to take a break from the Gala for a bit! (Am there for most of the 4 days it's on.....)

 

Is 73156 not making an appearance at the gala?