GCR this weekend 8th and 9th Jan

GCR ''5526 and Autocoach weekend'' 8th and 9th January.

The autotrain is replacing the DMU train this weekend. Black '5' 45305 is also in service. There is no timetable information available on the GCR website. Does anyone know the frequency of trains for tomorrow, 9th Jan?

Many thanks ,<BJ>

 

Yes,it's on their website.

 

The autotrain is running in the DMU timings, columns headed "R" in the timetable.

 

http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/Timetables/Winter_Weekend_Low_2011.pdf

 

Went up on Sunday. At last some winter sunshine!

http://rickeborallphotography.fotopic.net/ to see a few shots

Cheers...Rick

 

Great photo's Rick.E

 

I was there on Saturday - a very good day.

I have to say though that the timetable is rather poor when the DMU is running rather than the auto-train. Only three steam departures - at 10.15 (possibly a bit too early for some "normal" passengers), 13.15 (too soon after lunch) and 16.00 (far too late) with a layover of nearly 2 hours at Loughborough between the first two trains and over an hour between the second and third. Thankfully it's only for two weekends. I can understand the economics of only wanting to steam one loco at this time of year, but I think a better timetable could have been devised.

 

I agree the new winter timetable is a little sparse, I guess the current economic climate affects everything.

A couple of pics from yesterday (who says you can't be creative at Kinchley Lane!

 

The low season timetable only applies during Jan & Nov makes sense really as not that many punters around in these months.

 

As I said earlier, I accept that it makes economic sense to only use one steam loco in the low season, but I think the GCR timetable will simply result in even fewer visitors at this time of year. As I suggested, the 10.15 departure is probably too early for many families to have got their act together to come out for a ride on the railway, the 13.15 is too near lunch time and the 16.00 is too late (who is going to turn out for a ride in the dark?).

 

I find the GCR timetable to be rather odd, with very early first train and the service also ending early too. There isn't a train between 2.14 and 4. It would make more sense to start at around 11 and then have an even interval service until around 4. Sunset today is around 4.15 and there will be a reasonable amount of light until 4.45.

This pecular timetable is, for me, the main reason the GCR is unattractive as a venue excepting the steam galas which are well worth visiting the railway for.

http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/Timetables/Winter_Weekend_Low_2011.pdf

Regards

 

That timetable is only in operation for a few weeks. From February its back up to hourly departures with the DMU, two steam locos and a diesel
http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/Timetables/Winter_Weekend_2011.pdf

 

Following on from this, does anyone know what steam loco will be operating at GCR this Saturday? I'm visiting for the first time with tickets for the lunchtime dining train so hoping for a good day! Also will the loco shed etc be open?

 

Don't know yet which loco is rostered for the coming weekend. The shed guys are very helpful and usually post the loco roster each week on around the Thursday or Friday. If they post it I will pass it on.

As previously mentioned here, it is the low season so don't expect too much action - but at least the GCR is still running when there's very little steam action around elsewhere.

Visitors are welcome to visit the Shed apron area where a few locos (and mostly the guest engines) are standing. However, due to a spate of thefts last year GCR management had to close public access to the shed itself, where you can see many of the locos in various states or repair and dis-repair. This is a real shame (as I used to love wandering around the shed) but understandable given the circumstances. They do organised guided tours of the shed during galas and other bigger events.

There are some excellent photos from inside the shed last weekend courtesy of Clive Hanley (including 70013 'Oliver Cromwell' under repair) here....

http://clive-hanley.fotopic.net/c1933559.html

Hope this helps.

 

Loco rostered for this weekend should be 61994 The Great Marquess subject to availability.

Hope this helps

 

Hope that's true - would love to see The Great Marquess before she vanishes back north )

 

Will there be another too?

Regards

 

The DMU probably the same as last weekend

 

Thank you for that.

Regards