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

I too will be spending Saturday along the line with my camera - and, as a GCR member, I have already been online to purchase my privilege ticket. The only thing that I need now is the copy of the full working timetable booklet that I intend to collect from the Loughborough booking office.

Fortunately, though it’s going to feel cold on Saturday, it should be dry.

Cheers

 

Good to hear the railway was busy - hopefully will translate into much needed revenue with plenty of ticket sales.

 

It was very busy and quite a few were commenting on it, but also mentioning the benefit it'll have on the railway.

I'll post some more pictures from a great day tomorrow, but here's the highlight of my mobile pictures, with some well timed lighting in the afternoon at Loughborough (albeit with a rather bitter feeling wind).

 

I was stood on Rothley platform just before the 9Fs arrived on its second trip to Leicester, and a porter called out that unless anyone got off the train, nobody would be allowed to join it because it was that full. I don't think I've ever been to a gala where such an announcement is made.

 

Here's my video from the Gala, filmed between Loughborough and Rothley. I hope you enjoy

 

Questionable then at that point whether the gala can be deemed as too successful to hinder future growth? Does the railway have capacity to add additional coaches to strengthen the services that were offered to alleviate overcrowding? What proportion of people travelling would have been either on the train or on the platform that felt uncomfortable by that announcement and would decide next year not to travel in such a uncomfortable environment?

I'd argue the lineup was close to perfection. A 9F on windcutters is irresistible on its own but coupled with a nice mix of traction that isn't class 8 express pacific as well as the freights is too much of a draw for many so can see why its been incredibly popular.

 

It happened at last year's event as well on 6880's first round trip. They were making announcements at Quorn on it's return to Loughborough that the train was full and not to join it unless people got off.

I was at Rothley at that time yesterday hoping to catch it and the porter told me as well, luckily quite a few people got off the carriage I was waiting by and I managed to get on and took the 9F down to Leicester North and back to Loughborough. Upon arrival back a huge queue had formed for the BBQ tent and when I left on the 73156/34072 double header and hour or so later, it didn't seem to have gone down!

The only train that wasn't at full capacity and with some seats available, was '68067' on the penultimate departure from Loughborough and it was still well loaded.

Here's a few more mobile pictures, unfortunately I was well positioned enough to get a full picture of the 9F passing through Quorn with the Windcutters.

 

A few of my own images from Saturday at the gala, taken between Loughborough Central station and the bypass bridge.

Weather cold and windy (bad) but also dry and sunny (good). Disappointing to see that more development is occurring south of the bypass bridge to the west of the line - how long will it be before the whole stretch between Loughborough and Quorn is hemmed in by housing, retail and industrial development?

Anyway, thanks to all whole had a hand in setting up and running this event. It was a most enjoyable day for me.

Cheers.

 

I was thinking very seriously about going but decided against on the strength of poor weather forecasts. However, looking at the excellent video published above I'm now wondering just how safe the platforms at Quorn are during these events, particularly for a reduced mobility 81 year old. The Last Hurrah Gala was a bit hectic there but this seems to be completely over the top. Perhaps the GCR needs to limit ticket sales?

 

Presumably they can limit advance sales but I don't know how much knowledge they have between booking offices. So, for instance, will Quorn know how much Loughborough has sold?

From the other example given above with the gala with 6880 pretty serious questions probably should be being asked as its only a matter of time before someone is hurt.

 

I stopped going to their big galas a while back as I was not prepared to have to stand. Now I could not physically do that all day anyway, but it sounds like the popularity has continued to grow and difficult to see what you can do to lengthen services and comply with all the ORR rules.

 

I suspect that most sales are on-line advanced sales. When I visited for the Last Hurrah Gala there was a queue of two (with me at the back) when I bought my ticket at Quorn. If this is generally the case then the railway can easily restrict sales

 

I’m there right now and it’s been busy rather than manic. I’ve found a seat in the front coach of every train I’ve been on, and the only standing I’ve seen has been from the window brigade.

 

I do sometimes wonder though if running Iris as a one car DMU shuttle is actual ample enough to suit passenger accommodation in busy galas like this. I know Iris has done it a few times as just itself since it arrived in 2022 and the three-car-DMU is currently receiving work recently but I do think GCR needs to consider running a longer capacity DMU service in order for passengers to avoid being left on platforms most of the day waiting and hoping for a slightly less busy service train. Not a complaint but a bit of constructive feedback.

 

Until people cotton on that you can still buy at stations on the day if online sales close out...

 

It should be easy enough to only do on-line sales.
During the summer I quite often go to air displays at Duxford or the Shuttleworth and sales there are only on-line. They decide how many people they can safely accommodate on site and that is the maximum number of tickets sold. It will be more complicated for the GCR because in addition to the maximum number of people on the stations there will be the maximum number of people on the trains for evacuation purposes. It might get complicated, but better that than being sued for having an unsafe environment after an accident. That doesn't bear thinking about.

 

I can definitely attest to how busy it was yesterday. Even the buses to/from Loughborough Midland were full and standing!

Managed to get a seat on most trains, but only just. Was also on the platform at Rothley when we were told we wouldn't be able to get on, but managed to grab an empty seat in a compartment. Would never have been able to manage it if I had the wife and dog with me though.

Had to queue 30mins to get my burger from the BBQ, and missed out on getting any other food/drink, because I simply couldn't guarantee I wouldn't be stuck in a queue instead of getting onboard the train I was aiming for. Would be nice to have a stand alongisde the BBQ dishing out teas and instant coffee as quickly as possible.

Overall, an excellent event, lots going on, interesting locos and actually seemed to keep to time for most of the day. I notice at one point it felt like we got put through the northbound loop at Swithland, so I don't know if there was some signalling issue, but all seemed OK on later trips.

Regarding advance tickets, I'm glad that the GCR allows you to buy your ticket online on the day, rather than cutting off sales the day before like some other railways (e.g. SVR).
When I saw how busy it was on the bus, I quickly booked the ticket on my phone, and avoided having to stand in the queue that was stretching out the door and down the road!

 

Question re overcrowding - why have a BG marshalled in one of the sets? Bet that was full of people standing, too.