GCR enthusiast's weekend 19/20 November 2011

UPDATE 9th November 2011: 30777 Sir Lamiel will no longer be available for the event and will be replaced by Ex LMS 8F 8624

Over the weekend we'll be running a special all-steam service, with an intensive timetable.

The locos are expected to be BR Standard Class 2 78019, ex GWR Hall 4953 "Pitchford Hall" and ex LMS 8F 8624.

The first steam hauled service on both days will leave Loughborough Central at 10.05 am and then at frequent intervals throughout the day until 3.45 pm.

A loco will be put on our new turntable at Quorn each day and turned at 11.30 am approximately.

There will also be a Travelling Post Office run each day, which is scheduled to pass Quorn at 2.47 pm


4953 Pitchford Hall will be turned on the turntable to face north and haul the TPO on Sunday 20 November
8624 will be turned to face north and haul the TPO on Saturday 19 November.

Michael

Pitchford Hall Society

 

The GC website refers to the 8F as 48624. Is this a typo or has the loco been re-painted?

Regards

 

I'll be out for the panniers on the 19th. I need to get to the gala, lived in Leicester for over a year and not been to one!

 

lol I thought just about every weekend at the GC was an enthusiast's weekend...!

 

The enthusiasts travel between Loughborough and Leicester, and prompty sit and wait for 2.5 hours for the panniers to be serviced..
Pity the It is such, but less than 15 minutes difference at loughborough they could have opted to spend their 3 hours riding the GCR and then taking a service train to Leicester to return to the panniers..

It's not only network rail that misses opportunities, photographers however get benefit of both for free.

 

So if I read that correctly, both TPOs will be hauled by engines running tender-first.
Surely that can't be the plan?
Phil

 

Wouldn't be the first time, but does certainly sound odd! Maybe the WSR have been giving lectures on the use of turntables? :lol:

 

Would be better to spin them 360, one thing is the novelty of turning an engine, but another is to end up with it facing the wrong way for the rest of the day or even worse the event.

 

Hmmmm thats what I thought but thats what the website has written, wouldnt be the first time.

 

Perhaps the reason for turning them is that they are already facing north, and are being turned so that they are facing south for the TPO drops? (Now that the turntable's in regular use it's difficult to track which loco is facing which direction at any particular time).

Also, just wondered why 30777 is now not running? It was running for the October Gala and the recent 'Southern Weekend' with Wadebridge. There haven't been any recent updates on the 5305la website, but perhaps it's been withdrawn just for routine winter maintenance? I hope it's nothing more serious that that.

 

We had planned to turn 4953 Pitchford Hall as the GCR want to operate her for the Santa Special train's. This will enable us to use her over the winter rather then putting her into storage and winterising her. 4953 is only fitted with one steam heat bag which is fitted on the tender and is not ideal to operate her on a round trip fpr example travelling tender first she cant supply steam heating but smokebox first she can. The santa special's operate top and tail with a diesel locomotive i.e. Class 45, Class 20 Class 27 and possibly the Class 31 as standby diesel on the south end of the stock and steam on the north end. If she needs water she can hook off replenish her water at the column and hook back on without having to run round her stock. Same applies to 8624 though she has two steam heat bags and can do a round trip through the winter and still heat trains.


47406 and 1744 will share duties on the Santa Deluxe set, which is steam hauled throughout.

Hope this helps

Michael

 

Due to the unavailable NRM SR King Arthur Class 4-6-0 30777 Sir Lamiel this is replaced by Stanier 8F 2-8-0 8624.

Now due to the failure of Riddles BR Standard 2 2-6-0 78019, this locomotive is now covered by LMS Fowler 3F 'Jinty' 47406.

GWR Hall 4-6-0 4953 Pitchford Hall is still advertised and will definetely run this weekend and will now haul the TPO on both Saturday and Sunday instead.

 

Went to the GCR today Pitchford Hall failed so the 1220 departure from Loughborough was the Dmu it looked as if they were preparing 63601 for Sunday.

 

I called in briefly to see the last train depart behind the red 8F which looked reasonably loaded with passengers which was good to see

 

Me the Pitchford Hall Society and the owner JFK are dissapointed that 4953 Pitchford Hall failed today with a wash out plug being the cause, GCR 8K/O4 63601 is replacing it. We hope 4953 will be fixed and ready to go ASAP.

Michae;

 

I assume 63601 won't be doing the TPO, however?

 

8624 did the honours today on the TPO, supported by the O4 and the Jinty. We hope to get Pitchford Hall back into traffic very shortly, apologies for any enthusiasts who wanted to ride behind her this weekend but we not able to, best chance to ride behind her again is at the January Steam Gala 2012.

Michael

 

63601 - is the date of the January Gala confirmed yet?

Cheers

 

GCR Winter Gala is Friday 27th - Sunday 29th January, I believe.

It will be the O4 63601's 100th birthday and I understand it is being repainted into original GCR livery for the event. No doubt there will be further details about possible visitors later.