GCR Winter Gala 28th - 30th January 2011 - The Banbury Cross

Re: GCR Winter Gala 2011 - The Banbury Cross

City of Truro? see this http://217.158.157.207/railways/GCRN/index.htm for details.

 

Re: GCR Winter Gala 2011 - The Banbury Cross

5526 has arrived at the GCR according to videos on Youtube showing her facing NORTH...

Furthermore, the web page for the gala has been updated

Lewis

 

Re: GCR Winter Gala 2011 - The Banbury Cross

Nice that we will have something facing Lougho rather than the all one way scenerio. Who is for running 48305 as well?

 

Re: GCR Winter Gala 2011 - The Banbury Cross

Plus as its on the auto-trains its authentic for it to be pushing anyway, plus facing north adds a bit of variety.

 

Re: GCR Winter Gala 2011 - The Banbury Cross

Despite the effort the GC's volunteers to go to recreate a main line, it's still possible to find some nice GWR branch line-esque locations if you look hard enough :lol:.

 

Re: GCR Winter Gala 2011 - The Banbury Cross

Is that autocoach 178?

 

Re: GCR Winter Gala 2011 - The Banbury Cross

Taxing the memory, but I THINK so, aye.

 

Re: GCR Winter Gala 2011 - The Banbury Cross

Surprising they haven't gone for one of the SDR two.

 

Re: GCR Winter Gala 2011 - The Banbury Cross

I can recollect that GW Autotrains ran on main lines too

Regards

 

Re: GCR Winter Gala 2011 - The Banbury Cross

The Chalford Auto springs to mind.

 

New announcement from the GCR's website;

"ADDITIONAL GUEST LOCOMOTIVES TO ATTEND!! TO BE ANNOUNCED ON 1ST JAN 2011"

All is very exciting!

Lewis

 

Additional locos have now been announced...a VERY exciting gala for the GC;

"ALL CHANGE FOR BANBURY!
FINAL LOCO LINE UP REVEALED FOR GCR WINTER GALA

THREE DAYS: 28th, 29th, 30th JANUARY 2011

Autocoach working for the first time at the GCR

Visiting engines and an autocoach make the GCR’s Winter Gala one of the first must see steam spectacles of 2011. The theme of the gala is Banbury in the late 50s, allowing an exciting variety of motive power to take part.

The Great Central Railway is unveiling a ‘guest heavy’ engine line up for a spectacular three day Winter Gala in January 2011. Five non resident locomotives will be in action and an ‘autocoach’ is also visiting!

Themed around the key junction of Banbury each of the’Big 4’ companies will be represented, with no locomotive dating from after nationalisation.The accent will be firmly on the Great Western.

Topping the bill is the national collections GWR ‘City’ No 3440 ‘City of Truro’. It is coming to the GCR’s Leicestershire metals after a Christmas spell at sister company GCRN in Nottinghamshire.

Already at the railway is GWR 4575 class No. 5526 which along with another guest, GWR 1400 class No. 1450 will operate on a visiting autocoach (W178). Appearing in black livery for the first time is GWR 2800 class No. 3850.

Adding a dash of LNER flavour will be K4 No. 61994, ‘The Great Marquess’, it’s last appearance in action at the GCR after a four month visit.

From the home fleet, the Southern Railway is represented by King Arthur class No. 30777 ‘Sir Lamiel’. Ever popular Black 5 No. 45305 flies the LMS flag and resident GWR Hall No 4593,‘Pitchford Hall’ is expected to complete the line up.

Bill Ford, President of the Great Central Railway said, “Our gala team have pulled out the stops again, producing yet more firsts for what is sure to be an incredible event.As a key junction where region’s overlapped, the Banbury theme gives us licence to showcase all sorts of classes.The GCR was of course connected to Banbury, allowing it to be used as a through route for cross country traffic, so it feels like a natural fit for one of our galas.”

Two gala highlights will undoubtedly be the autocoach in action on the double track (making a perfect vantage point to watch passing trains) and the appearance of the heavy freight 2800 No. 3850 on the GCRs famous mineral wagon train, a once everyday sight recreated for the first time.

The event will start on Friday with three locomotives, No. 3850, No.5526 and No. 45305 in action on passenger trains. In the evening the shed apron will be open from 5pm to 8pm to see the locomotives being prepared for the following day.Please note this is not an illuminated photographers evening (though photography is welcome!) Also on Friday evening there is a special enthusiasts dining train, with a reduced rate available to anyone with a travel ticket for any three days of the gala.

The full fleet of up to eight locomotives will be in action on Saturday and Sunday working to an intensive timetable, which will include two demonstration mail drops each day.There will be guided tours of the Loughborough shed on each day of the event." (taken from the GCR's website)

Lewis

 

Any idea what direction the home fleet faces?

 

Apart from the 8F (which isn't running) they all face Leicester North.

 

Is that south or north?

 

South. <BJ>

 

Cheers.

 

but the prairie tank is facing the wrong way round.

 

You wouldn't have said that if it were perma-coulped to the autocoach, as I believe was the original plan? :lol:

 

It was never the plan George :-/ lol, 1450 will run with the autocoach at the gala, In the meantime 5526 will operate the auto train.
And the website is wrong, Pitchford Hall is numbered 4953, not 4593.