Great Central Railway Autumn Steam Gala 2-5 Oct

As its a volunteer operated link by LTHT, they may only have people available to staff it on the Saturday. Would have thought the Saturday was the better one to have it anyway as thats the more intensive GCR timetable day.

 

8F 48305 withdrawn from service and the gala line up. I expect an updated passenger timetable will be uploaded as a result....

 

Does anyone happen to know which way round locos will be facing - from memory 1054 is the only thing currently facing South?

 

Remains to be seen which way round the Standard 2s end up after returning to the railway.

But currently (subject to the Ops Department turning things in the next couple of days if they fancy), 68067 and 1054 face north (Loughborough) with everything else facing south (Leicester).

 

The BBC weather forecast for Loughboro' on the Saturday of the Gala looks "interesting". Certainly didn't look like that when I checked it yesterday........

 

6990 has been turned to face north, 78018 arrived facing north. I expect 78019 will also arrive north

 

So there’s the possibility of a fair few locos facing north this time. That will upset the “sun on the smoke box door” brigade.

 

Don't worry, it's meant to rain on Friday and the wind will be blowing everyone horizontal on Saturday!

 

Hi all,

With the gala now fast approaching here's a few snippets of info which will hopefully help if you're planning a visit.

Thursday

12 departures scheduled from Loughborough throughout the day
First departure from Loughborough at 1000, last departure 1605
Locos in service: 1054, 13268, 45596, 68067
Trip workings taking place between Loughborough and Rothley in addition to the passenger services.

Friday

33 departures scheduled from Loughborough throughout the day
First movement from Loughborough at 0825 with first passenger departure at 0900, last departure at 1830
Locos in service: 1054, 6990, 13268, 45596, 68067, 73156, 78018, 78019 & Iris
Non-stop express runs at 1345 with 45596 & 1830 with 13268
Double header at 1600 with 13268 & 45596
Demonstration Windcutter and Box Van trains along with a Mixed freight
Free bus shuttles between Loughborough Midland and Lovatt House for Loughborough Central courtesy of Leicester Transport Heritage Trust. Planned vehicle: Leyland Olympian B190 BLG

Saturday

33 departures scheduled from Loughborough throughout the day
First movement from Loughborough at 0825 with first passenger departure at 0900, last departure at 1815
Locos in service: 1054, 6990, 13268, 45596, 68067, 73156, 78018, 78019 & Iris
Non-stop express run at 1345 with 45596
Double header at 1600 with 13268 & 45596
Demonstration Windcutter and Box Van trains along with a Mixed freight
Free bus shuttles between Leicester London Road and Leicester North courtesy of Leicester Transport Heritage Trust. Please note the intended low floor vehicle is now unavailable, I'm not sure what the replacement will be at this stage.

Sunday

30 departures scheduled from Loughborough throughout the day
First movement from Loughborough at 0845 with first passenger departure at 0900, last departure at 1645
Locos in service: 1054, 6990, 13268, 45596, 68067, 73156, 78018, 78019 & Iris
Non-stop express run at 1345 with 13268
Double header at 1515 with 1054 & 45596
Demonstration Windcutter and Box Van trains along with a Mixed freight

Locomotive Directions

At present the locos are currently expected to be facing as follows:

North (towards Loughborough)
1054
6990
68067
78018
78019

South (towards Leicester)
13268
45596
73156

A very rare occasion when we have more North facing locos than South!

Locomotive Allocation Changes

You'll probably be aware by now that 48305 has unfortunately had to be withdrawn from traffic so will not be in action at this event. I'm not sure why the amended loco allocations have not yet appeared on the website but this is the current plan:

Thursday

No changes

Friday & Saturday

Loughborough Departures
1000: 68067
1030: 6990
1430: 78018 solo

Leicester Departures
1115: 6990
1515: 78018 solo

Rothley Brook Departures
1028: 78018
1533: 78019

Sunday

Loughborough Departures
1000: 68067
1030: 6990
1430: 78019
1600: 13268 solo

Leicester Departures
1115: 6990
1515: 78019
1650: 13268 solo

Rothley Brook departures
1028: 78018

Hope this helps, as ever everything is subject to availability and all the usual caveats. Fingers crossed for a good weekend!

 

Just in case anyone else might be interested, I spotted that it is a "Railway Day" event at Abbey Pumping Station in Leicester on the Saturday of the GCR Gala, 1130-1600.
Looks about a mile walk from Leicester North to the Pumping Station..........

 

Mr. Angry is in full flow at Woodthorpe this morning.

 

For those of who are unable to attend the Gala this weekend like myself, a look on the GCR website says the GCR is running a Bahamas Farewell weekend on October 11/12 with visitors 45596 and 13268 running with resident 73156.

Luckily there is no engineering works that weekend, so I should be able to attend next weekend fortunately.