Great Central Railway News and Updates

[neil65]

Phone video of Tulyar stating up at Leicester North and a couple of phone pics

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Neil

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Sep 2026 ==

I went down to the GCR Autumn Diesel Gala yesterday Thursday 3rd September 2026, most of the day was spent at Leicester North, where just for the Thursday's time table, locos were changed at Leicester North

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Stabled at Loughborough early morning before there workings were D6700 & D9015 Tulyar

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

I travelled to Leicester North behind 20227 which when arriving at Rothley the loco was switched off, i found out a tree had fallen across the line between Rothley and Leicester North, the crewes from the 1 st train of the day the 2 class 33's were able to remove it and done so quickly (Network Rail would have shut the line down for the day if on the main line probably!!!) we were off about 20 minutes late, great work by the class 33's crews

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Some photos taken at Leicester of the various change overs
D6700 & 20227

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

D9015 Tulyar & D6700

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

D9015 Tulyar at Leicester North

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

33103 Swordfish & D9525

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

I then travelled back to Quorn for photos of D6700 arriving and a bit later D9015 Tulyar
D6700 arriving at Quorn

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Next up was D9015 Tulyar, but was held at the signals outside the station, eventually the signal man arrived with a set of clamps which he attached to the points into Quorn yard

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Then it was back to Loughborough station and this photo of 20227 with a 'Dalek' headbord

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Neil

 

[duffield]

...

I travelled to Leicester North behind 20227 which when arriving at Rothley the loco was switched off, i found out a tree had fallen across the line between Rothley and Leicester North, the crewes from the 1 st train of the day the 2 class 33's were able to remove it and done so quickly (Network Rail would have shut the line down for the day if on the main line probably!!!) we were off about 20 minutes late, great work by the class 33's crews
...

Funnily enough I was on a train between Blythe Bridge and Uttoxeter a few days ago when we were stopped due to a tree on the line. It was removed and we were back on the move after 25 minutes, with the cut up bits of tree visible by the lineside. So the national network isn't always a slow moving lumbering giant!

 

[Amos390]

Dos anyone know why on the timetable 33103, 20227 and D9525 has been highlighted red on a bunch of services across the weekend, heres the new schedule that I saw this on: https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-cont...el_Gala_Working_Timetable_All_Days_040926.pdf

 

[SW Rover]

Dos anyone know why on the timetable 33103, 20227 and D9525 has been highlighted red on a bunch of services across the weekend, heres the new schedule that I saw this on: https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-cont...el_Gala_Working_Timetable_All_Days_040926.pdf

This was posted on the WNXX forum
"Unfortunately the class 14 has NOT been route cleared for the branch line. Timetable has been updated for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 33103 will now work services on the branch line with 20227."

Thanks for the link to the timetable. I will need to change my plans for tomorrow as the second branch train has been changed to go to Leicester North instead.

 

[neil65]

Steam locos on view at the GCR during the diesel gala 3rd September 2026
73156, 68067 & 92214 Loughborough shed yard

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

68067 Loughborough shed yard

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

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92214 (awaiting overhaul) Loughborough shed yard

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

92214 (awaiting overhaul) with 68067 & 73156 Loughborough shed yard

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Neil

 

[WesternLancer]

Steam locos on view at the GCR during the diesel gala 3rd September 2026
73156, 68067 & 92214 Loughborough shed yard

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

68067 Loughborough shed yard

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

92214 (awaiting overhaul) Loughborough shed yard

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

92214 (awaiting overhaul) with 68067 & 73156 Loughborough shed yard

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Neil

Great pictures.

Been there today and on the last round trip. Very enjoyable and all ran to time on services I used.

 

[Violette]

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/3...ailway-musem/story-29729494-detail/story.html

I love railway museums. How many are there in England? I feel like I should try to visit as many as possible.

 

[Amos390]

Brilliant gala today, had its trials and tribulations, such as the points failure at Swithland Down Loop that caused a little mayhem with all the services having to get guided signal by signal causing delays. Also, unfortunately the Deltic did conk out at the end of the day, both engines gone, only one service it missed out on, subbed on by the 20 (which in my opinion is the best loco at the gala, sounded beautiful and looks stunning too.

Highlight of the gala was the 1745 service with D6700 and 37714 double headed, both locos doing a lot of work on that which sounded (and smelled) beautiful. I have some images of the day that will come shortly.

 

[WesternLancer]

I love railway museums. How many are there in England? I feel like I should try to visit as many as possible.

A considerable number!
Not so many static museums but of those there are some good ones eg York and Swindon Railway museums.

But a large number of Heritage Railways of various sizes where historic trains are operating lines of varying lengths do living museums as it were with trains to see and travel on.

It depends which part of the uk you are in as to which are easier to get to.

Perhaps you should start a thread to ask people for ideas and suggestions of railway museums and heritage railways to visit that would help you decide which to head to.
There are some quite famous ones which offer a very good visitor experience

 

[neil65]

Another great day spent down at the GCR Autumn Diesel Gala yesterday Saturday 5th September 2026, travelled behind a few locos at spent a few hours at Rothley especially up on the roadbridge

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Saturday 5th September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

I took photos of D9015 Tulyar at Trackside earlier at Rothley

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Saturday 5th September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

then later from the road bridge

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Saturday 5th September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

here we see in this photo D9015 Tulyar waiting to depart for Leicester and D123 Leicestershire & Derbyshire Yeomanry arriving from Leicester North, you can also see 27056 in the yard

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Saturday 5th September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

More photos from Rothley bridge
D6700 approaching Rothley station with a service to Leicester North 37714 Cardiff Canton is on the rear

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Saturday 5th September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

D123 Leicestershire & Derbyshire Yeomanry

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Saturday 5th September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

27056 with the windcutter mineral wagons

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Saturday 5th September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Then with 20227 returning them back to Loughborough

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Saturday 5th September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

M79900 'Iris' & D9015 Tulyar just outside Loughborough station

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Saturday 5th September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

D6700 with 'The Windsorian' headboard arrives at Rothley with a service to Loughborough from Leicester North

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Saturday 5th September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Loads more photos of the day starting here

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Saturday 5th September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Neil

 

[Amos390]

Here's a small handful of my better pics from yesterday all uploaded to Flickr, these ones are off my camera, might add some off my phone later if there's anything worth it: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjD48TF

 

[xotGD]

Here's a small handful of my better pics from yesterday all uploaded to Flickr, these ones are off my camera, might add some off my phone later if there's anything worth it: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjD48TF

Great shot of the Deltic!

 

[Amos390]

Great shot of the Deltic!

Thanks, was very happy with how it turned out too

 

[Violette]

Another great day spent down at the GCR Autumn Diesel Gala yesterday Saturday 5th September 2026, travelled behind a few locos at spent a few hours at Rothley especially up on the roadbridge

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Saturday 5th September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

I took photos of D9015 Tulyar at Trackside earlier at Rothley

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Saturday 5th September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

then later from the road bridge

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Saturday 5th September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

here we see in this photo D9015 Tulyar waiting to depart for Leicester and D123 Leicestershire & Derbyshire Yeomanry arriving from Leicester North, you can also see 27056 in the yard

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Saturday 5th September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

More photos from Rothley bridge
D6700 approaching Rothley station with a service to Leicester North 37714 Cardiff Canton is on the rear

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Saturday 5th September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

D123 Leicestershire & Derbyshire Yeomanry

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Saturday 5th September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

27056 with the windcutter mineral wagons

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Saturday 5th September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Then with 20227 returning them back to Loughborough

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Saturday 5th September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

M79900 'Iris' & D9015 Tulyar just outside Loughborough station

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Saturday 5th September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

D6700 with 'The Windsorian' headboard arrives at Rothley with a service to Loughborough from Leicester North

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Saturday 5th September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Loads more photos of the day starting here

GCR Autumn Diesel Gala Saturday 5th September 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Neil

Those are some really cool train pictures. Where you standing on a bridge, when you took the pictures?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Sep 2026 ==

A considerable number!
Not so many static museums but of those there are some good ones eg York and Swindon Railway museums.

But a large number of Heritage Railways of various sizes where historic trains are operating lines of varying lengths do living museums as it were with trains to see and travel on.

It depends which part of the uk you are in as to which are easier to get to.

Perhaps you should start a thread to ask people for ideas and suggestions of railway museums and heritage railways to visit that would help you decide which to head to.
There are some quite famous ones which offer a very good visitor experience

Awh, thanks for sharing. That sounds awesome, I could start a thread lol Once I figure it out.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Sep 2026 ==

The 'vision' for the museum seems to be all about modern architecture, fancy shiny buildings and not a hint of heritage except for the collection of locomotives within. Such a shame, as the site has so much potential to integrate the museum and the operational railway into an impressive and historically relevant setting.

What do railway museums normally look like?

 

[Forty29]

The Great Central l think gives the best 60's reenactment of any of the heritage lines especially the Deltic and Peak photos. Probably the double track is the clincher. Can't wait for the reunification with GC(N).

 

[Flying Phil]

Talking of Reunification, there is a new video about the next phase (Factory Flyover) going out to tender. They hope to decide in Oct/November and construction starting just after Christmas.

 

[SW Rover]

Attended the first day of the steam gala yesterday with some spirited runs behind 9681, 813 and 16440.

Passing Swithland sidings 37207 was partially visible with roof sections removed and open to the elements. Apologies for the poor photos but the best I could get.

 

[50002Superb]

Thanks for that, 37207 is still one I need to see, is it more visible from the Mountsorrel branch perhaps?

 

[SW Rover]

Thanks for that, 37207 is still one I need to see, is it more visible from the Mountsorrel branch perhaps?

I think 37207 can only be seen from a passing train. When travelling from Quorn to Rothley it is briefly visible just before and after the Swithland signal box and is surrounded by rolling stock. The Mountsorrel branch trains do stop to reverse next to the Swithland signal box so you would get a longer time to see the 37.

It does appear on Google Maps. Try this link Google Maps Satellite View Its the white roof near the bottom end of the shed.

 

[50002Superb]

I think 37207 can only be seen from a passing train. When travelling from Quorn to Rothley it is briefly visible just before and after the Swithland signal box and is surrounded by rolling stock. The Mountsorrel branch trains do stop to reverse next to the Swithland signal box so you would get a longer time to see the 37.

It does appear on Google Maps. Try this link Google Maps Satellite View Its the white roof near the bottom end of the shed.

Great, thanks

 

[Amos390]

Ruddington have got a new kettle in for the month to replace Austerity whilst it’s out of action, it’s No.7

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Saturday at 17:46 ==

Also making an appearance in the yard today was a 31 in a very smart looking BR blue, no numbers on it though so not sure which one?

 

[Tony2]

Ruddington have got a new kettle in for the month to replace Austerity whilst it’s out of action, it’s No.7View attachment 212712View attachment 212711View attachment 212710

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Saturday at 17:46 ==

Also making an appearance in the yard today was a 31 in a very smart looking BR blue, no numbers on it though so not sure which one?View attachment 212728

It has an ETH jumper so it is a 31/4, probably 31463?

31463 Ruddington

Explore Ryan Tranmer's 193673 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

 

[gtis]

Hi
I am thinking about going to the
Diesel mileage weekend in
November I will be travelling by train
From Sheffield do they do a
Shuttle service from Loughborough to
GCR
Neil

 

[Amos390]

I have just seen that GCR have put out the page for the Winter Steam Gala in Jan, and they have already attached a timetable that appears to be the same locos as last year. I am presuming this is just a mistake and it will be new locos, but can anyone confirm that? I have attached the linked timetable here: Timetable

TIA,
Amos