Great Central Railways 'War Weekend' - 13th & 14th June 2009

Hopefully we'll be back down to the GCR for the War Weekend, but does anyone know what could be running? What's currently available at the GCR? 63601, 48305, 78019 & 30777???

When is 69523 due to enter service? And also 42085?

Many thanks in advance... Si

 

69523, or rather 1744, was steaming up and down the yard at Loughborough yesterday in-between adjustments... the paintwork is still far from finished though, so whether it will be painted in time, I don't know.

Phil

 

Locos rostered should be 63601 and 8F 48305. The third locomotive should be drawn from 30777 Sir Lamiel, N2 1744, or Fairburn 42085. Not 78019.

It should also feature NRM Class 33 33116 (D6535) and the 4 BiG or Class 101 DMU on shuttle trains with buffet car service provided on the 4BiG if operating.

 

Thanks Really looking forward to another trip down, all we need now is the weather .

May see some of you around.
Si

 

The event will now feature the National Railway Museum's Class 33 33116 (D6535) and 4BiG 7059 (1393) replacing the Class 101 DMU on the shuttle trains. The 4BiG will be providinig a Buffet service. The test run that was carried out on the 4BiG/Class 33 last Sunday were successful and is now passed for passenger operation . This is the debut for the refurbished 4BiG on the Great Central Railway.

It is hoped we will use National Railway Museum GCR O4 63601 and Roger Hibbert's LMS Stanier 8F 48305 (as they were war locomotives. The 04 was used during World War 1 and 2 and 8F was built in 1943 during World War 2) and the third locomotive should be GNR N2 1744 if completed in time, Southern Railway King Arthur Class no 30777 'Sir Lamiel' or Fairburn 42085.

 

Locomotives confirmed for this weekend

National Railway Museum owned:

Southern Railway 'King Arthur; 30777 Sir Lamiel
Great Central Railway 8K / LNER O4 63601
Class 33 33116 and 4BiG 7059

And Roger Hibbert's

Ex LMS Stanier 8F 48305

 

Had a good day yesterday, just getting ready to go down again today. As usual GCR have pulled out all the stops, just on minor issue, when can we get the 8F turn around! I know that is not easy with no turn table but looking at last night trains it made a real mess late saturday running.

7pm 30777, perfect.
7.30pm 8F, DOH!

then at 8.45 the 8F sets of back arriving around 9.30 while he 30777 sets of again.

Which means in practice you from 5pm departure there was only 1 steam.

I did sit around for the 7pm depature but then gave it up as a bad job.

 

Just trying to work out how Saturday evening was a 'real mess' due to the 8F facing one way or the other. There were 5.15, 7.00 and 8.45 departures from Loughborough with the RB set - all steam hauled - and the usual 7.30 diner, also steam hauled. That's four steam services after 5pm, plus the 6.00 departure with the 4-BIG. I know the 7.30 was delayed by 'issues', which threw the evening out slightly...but I can assure you it was nothing to do with the 8F needing a turntable!

 

Sorry , you missid my point interily, From a line side point of view tender first is generaly a none event, and waiting till gone 8.45 at best and probably after 9 depending on the location would mean twilight lighting conditions. Yes I know it make no difference if you are riding.

For the record I suspect I was the last one probably out there on saturday, as I waited for the 8F to come back around 7.30ish.

To be honest I understand, I know it wasn't planned for the 8F to be pointing that way, but it makes hard work trying to capture anything in action when it is coming out of the sun most of the day.

 

I see, so you are complaining about the inconvenience caused to your photographic endeavours of one engine pointing in the opposite direction to the others. Are you aware that the 8F was turned to point north precisely to give people different photographic opportunities? Clearly, we can't win... ](*,)

 

Yeah i gave up about 5ish i think it was, although was good to see the 8F facing the opposite direction giving some different shots to our shots from last year. That was our last trip down to the Great Central and i did rather enjoy it, especially seeing 30777 again

 

Well , ignoring may 6.30 am gripe (got out of bed the wrong side, Which is worse than you may thing, theres a window and 8ft drop!). Had two good days steaming mainly folming but amanged to baga few nice shots with the D40.






more in the usual place: http://kenneth-f-baker.fotopic.net/

Film in the pipe line.

 

Personally speaking, I'm rather glad that at least one loco is facing north. It breaks up the tedium of things facing south and opens up a few possibilities late afternoon - it makes a down departure from Rothley rather more interesting for example. Now if there were a few less trees alongside the down north of Swithland Lane...... then we might be in business.

 

It is rather nice to have something facing in the opposite direction to the rest. The amount of potential different photo opportunities it presents are quite numerous. At certain times of the day/year it also presents a photographic challenge which can be very rewarding if you can rise to that challenge.
Well done the GCR I say!

Cheers,

Paul

 

Like this http://railways.mjspencer.com/gallery/m ... itemId=120 .

 

I'LL SECOND THAT PAUL!!
Was there Sat morning only. Had other arrangements made for me if you know what I mean. See my efforts from around Loughborough station at
http://rickeborallphotography.fotopic.net/
Did'nt get up to Quorn or Rothley. Not enough time.
ATB RICK

 

I spent a couple of hours at Quorn on sunday morning.For once I concentrated on the people rather than the loco's. I thought the event was well organised and the re-enactors take it very seiously, I wished I'd had more time to spend .My pictures can be found at http://steamgalore.fotopic.net/c1713762_1.html I hope you enjoy them.

 

Just posted the first part of my film footage, features early morning on shed action opening with Penny doing a classic introduction on the first take, then we go in Shed to see the N2 and fairburn. Then a close look at Sir Lamiel, just catching the 8F coming of shed in the distance. Finaly we see Sir Lamiel coming of shed before cutting to swithland to see Sir Lamiel and the 8F pass.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU_5MxqE8D8

Second Part is based around Quan and will fetaure the Lancaster as well, release date will be over the weekend.

Part 3 will down at rothley for the battle, still in the editing stage but I haope to get that done later today.

 

Until you pan to the left and the huge power pylons loom overhead, your shot of Sir Lamiel passing the signal box and rolling stock is soooo authentic 1950s. Great location you found there.
Do you know which loco the new-looking firebox / boiler? next to 63601 is destined for?

 

I'm not sure precisely when the pylons were erected (I know a man who will, not sure I can be bothered to ask though) but they were certainly there before the line closed (1960s), very possibly authentic 50s or certainly not far off!

As for the "new-looking firebox / boiler", if you mean the one which has or appears to have had large parts of the outer firebox cut away (not what I'd describe as "new-looking" myself...) then it belongs to 46521.

There, I had to sit through half an hour of jumpy video (which on a decent computer should have taken 10 minutes and not been jumpy - no remark on the videographer!) to answer that.

Phil