Great Central Winter steam gala

47383 on SVR - 21st May 1989 - YouTube

 

Saturday roster printed off for me.

 

Looking forward to spending a few pleasant hours at Quorn on the Saturday, looks BUSY!!

 

Looking forward to riding behind the Blue King, it looked gorgeous last time I was over and 3803 is another cop engine for me (you simply can't have too many freight engines - well that's my view anyway). Hopefully the mixed freight will be a bit longer than the one at the Autumn Gala, it's one of my favourite things about GCR galas and the more wagons the better for me. Or does the use of the loops at Swithland limit the length of the mixed freight?

 

The loops at Swithland are plenty long enough. The number of serviceable wagons limits the length of the mixed freight...

At the last gala, some were chopped out of the train early on the first day because of defects. When this sort of thing happens you can be sure that any 'spare' vehicles, which could make up the numbers, will never be in a place where they can be added into the train quickly, so you're stuck with a short train.

We hope to have a few more in traffic this time next year, however as with all these things the availability of money and volunteers will limit the rate of progress. I can think of at least 12 goods vehicles which are likely to have some work done on them in the next year. Whether they'll all be finished and operating, is another matter...

Phil

 

Really looking forward to this. What we need most is for the weather to warm up a bit by the Thursday before.

 

The timetables for Saturday and Sunday have been altered. By the looks of things, 6023 won't be performing a TPO on Saturday, haven't checked Sunday yet. The King works the 9:45, the 12:00 service, the 13:45 service and the 16:45 service train. The TPO now runs at 10:25, 13:25 and 16:40, as well as the night time run.

Oh...

Is this the case, or have I just misread the timetable.

James at SVN

 

I was under the impression the King would be doing the after-dark TPO run?

 

So was I. The new timetable suggests that it won't run a TPO at all now. The GCR website has also been updated and the information regarding the evening TPO with 6023 has gone, only 3803 is mentioned.

James at SVN

 

Haven't seen any confirmation saying as much on the 6023 thread yet, hopefully it doesn't need any other adjustments once steamed as time is getting on now.

 

I won't now be sadly going now as I have something come up on the day I planned to visit so will have to hope to see 6023 and visit the GCR at another date.

 

Hi
Hi planning a visit ne t weekend to see 6023 but want to ride one day and photograph another day does anyone know of somewhere you can park along the line or at stations to photograph the engines directions or information on this would be greatly appreciated

 

My map of photo locations @ the Great Central.
http://goo.gl/maps/3W49R

 

Fair points Phil. I think everyone recognises the age of the Locos etc but its easy to forget that the rolling stock is also getting on / wearing out a bit. I've thought about volunteering but I live about 2 hours away from Rothley which with an each way journey would make a very long day. Do the wagon group still get financial support from the Dave Clarke Trust?

 

Is it me or am i the only one worrying about the lack of update on 6023?

I suppose no news is good news..........right?

Martyn63601

 

Many of the wagons are privately owned so funding for those is generally from their owners, although the DCRT do help out with specific things from time to time, where appropriate. Tools, for example. The Windcutter wagons are DCRT owned so most of their funding comes from DCRT, although I'm sure the Windcutter volunteers would say that it is never enough! Donations can be to the 'Windcutter Fund', the 'Wagon Fund' or whatever specific vehicle floats your boat really. http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/support-us/

I drive about 100 miles each way... but I have the advantage of having my parents living near the GCR, so I go for the weekend.

I can't give any more info on the King (not having been there this weekend) but when I last asked it was going to be very tight, so I doubt you'll get confirmation or otherwise before about Thursday.

 

Both 6023 and 3803 are due to turn at Quorn on the Friday. Assuming the King faces south at present, not sure about 3803. The online timetable shows turntable demonstrations on Saturday at 11.00, 3.00 and 5.20 and 11.00 and 3.00 on Sunday. Does anyone know if Friday is their only appearance on the turntable or will both face north for most of the gala.

 

Any clue what the most likely stand-in loco will be for Friday if 6023 isn't ready? I'm coming up for day one regardless of the line-up, never been to the GCR before and looking forward to it.

 

Examination of the published passenger timetable indicates that 6023 will be on the Loughborough Central - Leicester North passenger turns at the scheduled times of the turntable demonstrations on both Saturday and Sunday, so it looks like 6023 will be facing the same way throughout the weekend. By the same measure, 3803 is otherwise engaged at the time of each of the turntable demonstrations on Saturday, but MAY be turned at 15:00 on Sunday as it is not shown as working a passenger turn at that time.

The full WTT in the gala guide given to ticket purchasers should provide the definitive answer.

Cheers,