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

One of the issues I find is that the bulk of the coaching used during the GCR Gala's is compartment stock, which I'm not sure helps when it's overcrowded, with narrow corridors and small compartments, though that could be for various circumstances.

Mind you when I went to the Last Hurrah Gala back in 2024, it wasn't too busy and getting a seat was quite easy, as was the Bahamas Farewell Weekend.

I'm in a fortunate position (being on the younger end of enthusiasm, albeit with knee issues that can cause some discomfort), so I'm ok with standing up and I do enjoy the GCR Gala events despite the crowds, but I do sympathise with those who are older or have mobility issues.

 

From observation walking past it today, it did appear to contain a certain amount of what looked to be fixed seating although there were a few standing as well.

 

I was there today with my daughter and it was very busy but never uncomfortably so. At this time of year it’s the only big event in town so is almost guaranteed to be popular. If being too busy is a genuine problem for the railway (I don’t think it is, just a made up problem by sone on here who wouldn’t attend anyway), then the answer is to increase capacity, not limit tickets.

 

We travelled all day Saturday, starting with the 09.45 from Loughborough and just managed to get seating for two boarding at 09.30, by departure it was standing in the aisles. More crowded in at the intermediate stops making it very crowded by the time we reached Leicester. Rooted in our seats we stayed put, the numbers started to thin a little after lunch, we managed to get our hot drinks and bacon baps at the return second trip out of Leicester, no queue at the griddle by then.
One thing we have realised is that photography is quite difficult whilst travelling, if we go down for the February event I think i will probably for linesiding.
A few rather average shots from run rounds at each end.

 

There's nothing made up about standing, or sitting on a plastic chair in the BG, staring at the internal walls... been there, got the t-shirt. That aint value for money, the GC need to maximise seating capacity for these events - three six coach rakes would be a good aspiration (ditching the BG and the premium saloon), but I'm guessing they don't have much spare stock?

 

You could pay on the day at Shuttleworth last year. They dropped “advance bookings only” after the 2024 season. I’ll need to check if pay on the day is available again this year though.

 

The fact its being talked about means that there is a perception that it is crowded. That's what's important regardless of whether its so called 'made up' as ultimately dissuades people from attending.

I'd love to have attended this year but in the end due to family commitments couldn't make it over. I attended in 2022 when I think Covid was still evident as it wasn't overly busy (other than circa 100 people on top of one another at Kinchley Lane) but a very enjoyable gala with a mix of riding and walking. I now have a young child and would love for them to see a mix of goods and passenger work but also don't wish to plan a day out in a busy environment as far as can be helped, hence the followup questions to people that had attended who'd stated how busy they felt it was.

 

If by "BG", you mean 9316, this is the wheelchair accessible coach. It's intended to give wheelchair-bound passengers a more pleasant journey that just being stuck in the brake van, although I did notice once on Saturday that a passenger in a wheelchair declined to travel in it due to it being full and standing with able-bodied passengers. I believe it it the only such coach on the GCR and, I have to say, it's not ideal as it is very "open" and, on gala days, can be very cold as passengers (and, by necessity, the guard) will have the droplight windows open.