Great Central Winter Steam Gala 22nd-25th January 2026

Frankly, I just took one look at the already announced guest engine and immediately booked rail tickets to Loughborough and 4 nights in a hotel there!
Anything else that appears is a bonus as far as I'm concerned........

 

Didn't Spa Valley recently announce that 828 would be staying with them for 2026? I suppose it could visit other railways and then return to Spa, but . . .

Edit: Found the link https://www.national-preservation.com/posts/2963888/

 

Austerity 3809 has been announced as visiting.

 

Has a timetable been published yet? planing to visit on the Sunday again.....

 

One more guest TBA (probably tomorrow) timetable will follow

 

It won't be 828. The owners do not want it on and off a lorry. It is staying and operating at the Spa Valley throughout 2026 and probably 2027 too.

 

Webpage announced Bulleid Pacific 34072 "257 Squadron" is the third and final visitor joining 3809 and 92134

 

Can’t beat a bit of Spam. A great announcement.

 

Latest news from SLL. <BJ>

''34072 257 Squadron has arrived at Quorn for the Great Central Railway's Winter Steam Gala, 21st to 25th January''.



Photo: Rob Porter

 

Do we know if a timetable has been finalised yet? and any idea when it will be published.
Many thanks

 

From experience, unlikely to be out till a week-10 days before the event. As others have said, the bones of the timetable are fairly consistent; certainly enough to allow bookings on EMR unless you’re needing certainty about rostering

 

Trying to book a run-a-bout ticket for one day but the site is only offering a 3 day ticket, is this correct or what am I doing wrong? thanks.
Which is the best station for parking to start the day?

 

When I select a say it offers all available 1, 2, 3 and 4 day tickets for that day. Looks like multi-day tickets have to be consecutive days, which is a pity as I may be going on Thursday and Saturday.

 

Thanks, progressive myopia and terminal decrepitude (!), didn't look far enough. Found it, but the site won't load, guess it's because it's Sunday and the load. Try again later.

 

Any word on whether there will be a shuttle bus from Loughborough Midland for the event? Can't see anything on the site yet.
Seems to be the first GCR gala in a while where there haven't been engineering works closing the MML over the weekend.

 

Booked up my train travel to come up for the event on the Saturday, although I have to come up from East Grinstead thanks to Engineering work taking place each weekend in January between Gatwick and East Croydon.

The 9F is my big draw, as I haven't seen 92134 as yet.

 

Nothing mentioned on the LTHT website as yet regarding providing buses. Normally gets a mention in their "Events" section when they are running anything.
Assuming they have been asked, its all dependent on them getting sufficient volunteers to run it as well......... (Leicester City being at home that day might have an effect on that!)

 

As I understand it the current plan is for there to be a bus shuttle from Loughborough Midland on the Friday and Saturday. I expect once vehicles and timings have been confirmed the details will appear on the webpage.

 

Is the TPO running?