GCR | Last Hurrah Steam Gala | 14th-15th November 2026

There is a restriction on trains operating between Nunckley Hill & Mountsorrel which requires the coaches to be fitted with window bars or restrictors due to the very limited clearance of the overbridge at Nunckley Hill. Iris has windows with restricted opening so can go all the way to Mountsorrel. The suburban coaches are not so fitted so the loco hauled services will terminate at Nunckley Hill on this occasion.

As regards Butler Henderson I'm not sure what the food offering will be I'm afraid. I've not been in for a fair while, apologies.

Some good news in that 92134 has now arrived at the railway so we're hopeful it should be able to be ready for it's first working at 1405 on Saturday afternoon.

 

Bit of a daft question but is it not a bit strange to have a gala featuring both an 8F and a 9F as well as a tanker freight service yet use neither for this work - largely a Class 14 instead?

 

Mainly because it frees up the steam locos (with steam heat) to work the main passenger services. You could probably ask the same question in regards to Ann hauling the DMU around.

So no specific reason other than it's a gala and we're trying to provide lots of (warm) trains for people to see and ride on. Not everything on offer will be to everyone's tastes but hopefully there's enough variety for those that are visiting to have a decent time

 

It was a special request of the 14 crew to work a tank train, and the tank train has won an award. As Ann is a slower moving vehicle than others it has taken a bigger 'path' than usual, 12mins versus 7mins in section so eats up a lot of slots in the WTT. The priority for us was to get the steam locos on the passenger sets as there's a diesel running weekend next week.

Other ideas not used...
- Ann double heading with the 9F.
- Ann on a single tank and brake van.
- Ann going to Leicester
- Ann and Colin McAndrew on the branch shuttle

 

From our experience so far, I'd suggest next time a special booking for the branch trains, as people are just staying on them at the termini, and filling them up. Maybe with Iris shuttling from Nunckley to Mountsorrel as a separate operation? And Ann on shunting ops at various stations using the GCRs excellent wagon collection
The tank train is magnificent!

 

Using the Subs and Iris maximises capacity on the branch, aside from using a 2 or 3 car railcar set, but we opted to put the 101 on the Ann shuttle for capacity there.

We couldn't contain Iris to just Nunckley to Mountsorrel as she's far too lovely to keep cooped up, and we'd lose 3 or 4 branch trains as a result.

 

Hall taking 4:30 ex-Loughborough solo.

Leaving 35 minutes late

5pm 20227/D9525 has also been cancelled I believe

 

Not the best day at the GCR with unexplained delays all day. Very busy with set A nice and warm but overall somewhat disappointing.

 

Allegedly The delays this morning was due to "late shunting"

 

Star of the show ?

 

Not our finest hour today, issues getting locos off shed in good time this morning (due to a bit of a logistical nightmare) led to the 0910 double header departing 22 minutes late. The lack of the 9F in the morning meant some tighter run-rounds than originally planned which didn't help (but thankfully it was fit to enter service this afternoon). Whilst we managed at one point to get the delay back to 11 minutes we were then plagued by interlocking issues with the groundframe at Rothley Brook which led to multiple further delays and no chance of getting the time back. This then led to the cancellation of the 1600 and 1700 services from Loughborough to Rothley/Leicester and return and the afternoon double headers not being able to go ahead quite as planned. The only consolation is the final train departed Loughborough 9 minutes late so hopefully those staying till the end of the day won't be too late back!

Apologies to those you who have attended today and been understandably disappointed. We'll try again tomorrow and hopefully do a bit better (appreciate that's no consolation to those of you who've been here today however!).

A couple of alterations tomorrow afternoon due to crew availability (providing we're doing better than today!):

1545 Loughborough to Leicester North & 1635 return now 6990+92134

1630 Loughborough to Leicester North & 1720 return now 48305+73156

 

I suspect the mark 1 with the veranda being left in the run round loop at Loughborough this morning didn't help.

Apart from the late running I had an enjoyable day travelling behind a variety of traction.

 

Many thanks for your detailed explanation of today's events. Here's hoping you'll have a better day tomorrow!

 

I went down to the GCR on Saturday for the Last Hurrah gala which featured the return to GCR service of home based locos 48305 & 6990 Witherslack Hall after extended work that needed carrying out, also in steam was 73156, visiting locos were little and large!!!
Ann the sentinel loco from the KWVR & 92134 visiting from the NYMR, plus Class 20 20227 Sherlock Holmes worked T'n'T with Austerity 68067, and finally IRIS the single Rail car.
9F's on shed!!, 92134 & 92214 seen alongside each other on Loughborough shed



6990 Witherslack Hall after arriving at Leicester North



73156 was waiting at Leicester North to T'n'T with 6990 back to Rothley




48305 arriving at Leicester North station




Ann was couple to a 2 car dmu all day




Loads more photos of the day start here
https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Days-out/2026/November-2026/Last-Hurrah/i-DJnQVQW

Neil

 

I very much enjoyed my trip to the GCR yesterday, had my first ride ever ride up the Mountsorrel branch on Iris, and a second with the top & tailed set as darkness fell. The return run back from Rothley back to Quorn was certainly 'spirited' with a lot of noise from the Austerity.

I'm pleased that the team managed to get 92134 ready for her runs in the afternoon. I'd had a ride behind her at Chinnor a couple of weeks ago, but the GCR is a very different prospect with much longer trains and faster running.

The late running didn't really bother me too much, I pretty much expect it at a gala and with timetables at the GCR being so intense, there's always something going on and it's easy to re-plan.
In fact, I could've done with one train running a bit later, as it rolled into Rothley while I was still stuck in a very slow-moving queue in the cafe across the car park, so I did end up stuck there in a gap between trains.

The line felt busy, but not unpleasantly so. I was generally able to get a table or pair of seats, though the trips on Iris did get a bit cosy, still far better than the EMR train to get to Loughborough in the morning!

Thanks to everyone involved on putting the event. Galas at the GCR are like nothing else and it's nice having something to do in a normally quiet time of the year.

Looking forward to the Winter Gala.

 

The timetable ran pretty much like clockwork today until approx 1530ish when some delays were experienced around Rothley due to issues with the freight. Unfortunately due to a shortage of staff a backup plan to cycle the locomotives via Swithland was in place instead of Rothley C&W but this didn't work out as expected with 6990 making a trip via Quorn instead and some other delays ensuing.

However it does show the timetable works and feedback has been resoundingly positive.

 

My footage of 48305 charging past Woodthorpe yesterday afternoon.