GCR First Hurrah now pencilled in for 4th-6th June 2021

Locos in use:

• 45305 Alderman A.E. Draper
• 48305
• 78018
• 92214 Leicester City
• D123 Leicestershire & Derbyshire Yeomanry (Saturday only)
• D8098 (Sunday only)

Plus a DMU.

Info from https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/special-events/first-hurrah-2020/

 

Their FB page indicates that full details of the event should be posted on the GCR website today (Tue 13/10) and tickets will be available for purchase as well.
It also mentions that the DMU will be being used on the Mountsorrel branch that weekend as part of the event.

 

Details are now posted on the GCR website.
Not quite what I was expecting, but its basically a 2.5 hour trip originating at Quorn and hauled by the 4 steam locos at various times during the trip. They are operating a train of open stock as well as a compartment rake.
Mountsorrel DMU trips are available as a seperate add-on.

 

Its a different way of doing things with almost a days worth of travelling condensed into 2.5 hours. Presumably at the end of your journey, you'll be expected to leave the site and make space for the next set of passengers?

 

I assume there will be attractions in Quorn yard - ie the Beer tent - to occupy visitors after or before their trips, but I expect you will have to vacate the platform area once your train arrives. There is supposed to be a goods train running as well, so that is presumably primarily being put on for customers at Quorn to watch as an added attraction rather than for anyone lurking elsewhere along the lineside and not travelling on the trains.
Hopefully it will be able to go ahead, but if BoJo the Clown decides to have a 2 week "circuit break" lockdown to encompass the school holiday period, then it's going to end up being seriously affected/axed.....

 

Bookings now open: https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/special-events/first-hurrah-2020/

 

Booked a couple of tickets for the Saturday, so lets hope it all goes ahead now.....

 

The Windcutter rake is due to run on Nov 7th, diesel hauled.

 

But is the event actually going to happen?
All eyes on BoJo the Clown at 17.00 today I think.....

 

Not surprisingly....

National "lockdown" from 5th November to 2nd December 2020
Following the Prime Minister's announcement of a new national lockdown beginning on 5th November, our First Hurrah event is postponed.Customers who have booked online for this event will be contacted by e-mail before the close of business on Monday 2nd November with options regarding their booking.Thank you for your support during these difficult times and we look forward to welcoming you back to the railway soon as the situation improves.

 

According to the e-mail received today, the GCR are hoping to reschedule the event for sometime in January 2021 - along with the "Storming Stanier" event as well.

 

They appear to be aiming the resceduled "First Hurrah" event for the last weekend in January - 30/31 Jan - which would have been the usual weekend for the Winter Gala.

 

Latest e-newsletter puts the First Hurrah event pencilled in for 4th-6th June 2021.

 

Is it just the resident locos?

 

That was the intention for the event when it should have been held back in November, so I'm guessing that remains the same

 

Just got a phone call from the GCR to reconfirm details for the event. There are some minor t/t changes from those proposed last December, but nothing too great from what I had pre-booked back then.
Presumably details will be updated on their website soon, once they have contacted everyone who booked for it last year.

 

Details now on their website...
https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/special-events/the-first-hurrah/

I did spot something that I wasn't told in this mornings phone call - the DMU isn't running up the Mountsorrel Branch !
The line is described as "Currently Unavailable" which possibly sounds like a Staff Competence/Training issue,

 

So no passenger can stay on the train all day like on a day rover ticket? It,s just choose from 1 of the 4 departure times from Quorn and Woodhouse it's over 2 and a half hours journey time with 3 loco changes inbetween from the home fleet sounds ok for £19 fare for 1 adult or £15 for a members ticket.
Davo 56F

 

My reading of the website is that there are 4 journey options, each lasting about 2.5 hours and each costing £19. So if you want to spend all day on the train you need to buy two journey options at £19 each.

 

Update : Just seen that the GCR have had to withdraw Black 5 45305 from the event.
It's not for mechanical reasons: they have a blackbird nesting on the cab manifold and it can't be disturbed . Hence they have a black bird on a Black 5.
Replacement loco will be advised, but I guess they have a selection to choose from.