GCR Railways at Work - 10/11 August 24

Seems to be morphing into something other than a freight related event this year....



They started that with the "Beeching" sideshow last year but the emphasis has changed more this time round if you go by the Video.

 

Each to their own! Not my cup of tea but I hope it's fun and is a successful weekend for the railway. I will try to make it up for the Autumn Steam Gala as I usually do.

 

They have released an updated promo which features a soundtrack of Tony Blackburn on Radio Caroline now......
https://www.youtube.com/live/OXUxs8qHQvE
Funny, I was going to wear one of the retro fundraising 1960's style Caroline T-shirts (with the current am frequency on) to the event!

 

Looking forward to this event, we will be having a Windcutter Information and Sales Stand outside Rothley shed on both days, so please come along to say hello and look for that special book!
There are also Boscastle Guided tours in the locomotive shed at Loughborough from 10.30 to 3.30 at regular intervals during both days.

 

Seemed rather well attended today, even if the weather wasn't exactly brilliant around the late morning period.
A few shots from the day.....

 

"Railways at work" doesn't have to just mean freight though. And they had lots of that.

I think it worked - why not give people a show, using the resources you have? Run "special" trains, have the Scammels out. Period vehicles. And having period-costumed people around is so much more interesting in the photos than endless crowds of people in fleeces with backpacks

 

I liked the fact that someone had put some effort into coming up with a Gala timetable for the event that looked like this.....

 

Some footage covering the various reenactments at Railways at Work 2024 at the Great Central Railway this weekend

 

Spent a few hours at Quorn today, with my wife, daughter and Dad - 3 generations and all with differing interests. Apart from the blistering heat, all of them thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Clearly a lot of thought and effort had gone into this event and the period BBC style commentary was a masterstoke, adding context and history (plus a little humour!) to what was going on.
Plus it shone a spotlight on the fantastic restoration of freight waggons and demonstrated their use and context. In 30 odd years of attending railway galas I have never seen a pick up goods emptied / loaded and the Scammel mechanical horses in action - fabulous! So much more than a token demonstration goods seen at most galas. We actually saw the purpose of these vehicles.
Of course, no railway can rival the GCR for action. My wife asked at the start did we need a timetable, she thought there might be an hour between trains - I told her that wouldnt be necessary! The timetable was incredibly imaginative, as were the looping and marshalling of freight trains. Something happening every 10 minutes - the signalman had a very busy shift!!
My daughter enjoyed the troublesome football fans and the police attendance! Plus the 'flying' tractor in the crane demonstration.
Quite possibly one of the most unique and enjoyable events I have attended at a heritage railway - I can see why it has won awards. The fact all of us enjoyed it shows the railway has a winning format, well done GCR!!