GCR Autumn Gala - 4-7 October 2018

Gala very well attended for a Thursday! Services ran late early on after the first departure was stopped on the outskirts of Leicester following the discovery of debris thrown off a bridge blocking the track... all services now back on time.

 

Here today, 46521 is the only loco facing Loughborough. Also some kind of Northern EMU Hybrid thing at Quorn which is being tested here.

 

The new 'Train from Spain' ?

 

I'd wager it's a Class 769, which is an ex-319 emu with diesel engines stuck under the floors so it can also run away from wires and 3rd rail. They are being modified at Brush / Wabtec and tested on the GCR.

 

Surely they all face Loughborough, depending on which side of the station they are?

 

I stand corrected, 78018 has now been turned on the turntable to also face north.

 

By that logic they’re all facing Loughborough depending which way round the world you travel

 

Looks like it!

 

Think there is a beer festival on in Quorn village hall - you can always take shelter there !

 

I've decided to go on Sunday instead, which is a much better forecast.
Gives a slightly longer break after long day trip to the SVR Class 50 Gala yesterday as well.............
At least I won't be getting up at 02.45 to go to the GCR, which is what I ended up doing yesterday!

 

Some pics from today:

 

Anyone got the TPO allocations ?

 

A few shots from Friday

 

hello
i managed to get there by 1.00pm and spent the afternoon at rabbit bridge the vans looked and sounded great !!
as did wells and the B1
some pictures at
https://www.flickr.com/photos/15931796@N00/

 

70013 on the vans at Kinchley Lane yesterday

 

70013 in the Morning and 1264 in the Afternoon

 

Video from today, apologies for the rain drops on the lens the weather was certainly not favourable! 70013 and 1264 certainly made up for it on the TPOs though.

 

Only my second trip to the Great Central yesterday and well worth it despite the inclement weather. Actually I thought considering the rain that it was very well attended. Great lineup of locos. Apart from the visitors it was worth going just for the home fleet - how many railways can put out 8 of their own locos at once? With the double track section from Loughborough to Rothley and with the ability to put out 2 freight trains and a TPO this is really the ultimate place to stage a steam gala. There appeared to be a few operational problems which caused the timetable to slip a bit but it didn't matter. Many thanks to all concerned for a good show! The beer in the tin shed was good too

 

Did City of Wells have a run on the TPO too?

Chris

 

No