Great Central Railway News and Updates

[railfan99]

Realistic, even down to the packages having string around them.

Maybe one year with a recreation of yet another era, a YouTube/Facebook/TikTok "influencer" or two might be interested to participate?

That could be a good way of GCR reaching a new, younger audience.

A YouTube video posted in recent days showed at least one very well patronised train so great that numbers were pleasing.

What does 'Vanfit' stencilled on the wagon in the second photo mean?

 

[Speed43125]

What does 'Vanfit' stencilled on the wagon in the second photo mean?

That its 'fitted' with vacuum brakes. Ie. the train is through braked from the locomotive - or at least the first few wagons as part of a 'fitted head.'

 

[merry]

This weekend (31 Aug - 1 Sep), Tornado (60163) is running on the GCR for the first time after overhaul. Some extra passenger services running in the daytime, with 3 passenger sets in service.
Also, it will be hauling the evening dining service, and bookings are still open, so if you fancy combining excellent food (it really is good cuisine) with a special loco's haulage, call the booking office!

 

[railfan99]

Are the GCR main lines 60kg/metre rail?

 

[Denis103]

Really excellent day at the diesel gala today. Timekeeping very good with everything on time or within just a couple of minutes, good mixture of trains with dmu drags and parcel trains (with passenger coaches in the formation along with freight wagons and brake van) as well as the usual services. No trains packed to overloading. Well done GCR.

 

[satisnek]

Really excellent day at the diesel gala today. Timekeeping very good with everything on time or within just a couple of minutes, good mixture of trains with dmu drags and parcel trains (with passenger coaches in the formation along with freight wagons and brake van) as well as the usual services. No trains packed to overloading. Well done GCR.

Seconded. It was good to have a ride in the blue DMU and the Deltic driver was really playing to the gallery, applying the brakes in the middle of every section, slowing to a crawl and then giving it max - needless to say we were back up to 25mph in seconds! I also took the opportunity to go up to Ruddington, probably the first time I had been on a Routemaster since I was a kid!

 

[Flying Phil]

Are the GCR main lines 60kg/metre rail?

I seem to recall a figure of 106?? Lb per yard....but they may actually be a mix. However there is a section Quorn to Swithland which is passed for high speed running (under test conditions) 60mph steam and 75mph diesel which must be to NR standard (112 lb/yard???). I am happy to be corrected though!

 

[paul1609]

The standard for mainline Britain was 113AFB which had a mass of 113.694 lb/yard this is what most heritage Railways will be using in current relays. There were earlier standards of flat bottom of 110A FB, 109lb FB and 98lb FB plus of course 95lb bullhead rail.
The current standard for high speed lines is 60 E1 which is for all intents the equivalent of UIC 60 (kg/m) which Railfan 99 refers to, this would be considered overkill for a heritage railway (and very expensive). In proper British measurements 60E1 has a mass per yard of 121.376 lb.

 

[Flying Phil]

Thanks Paul for your detailed reply to Railfan's query.

 

[railfan99]

The standard for mainline Britain was 113AFB which had a mass of 113.694 lb/yard this is what most heritage Railways will be using in current relays. There were earlier standards of flat bottom of 110A FB, 109lb FB and 98lb FB plus of course 95lb bullhead rail.
The current standard for high speed lines is 60 E1 which is for all intents the equivalent of UIC 60 (kg/m) which Railfan 99 refers to, this would be considered overkill for a heritage railway (and very expensive). In proper British measurements 60E1 has a mass per yard of 121.376 lb.

Great reply!

 

[Ploughman]

There is one stretch of about 1/4 mile of UIC 60 in place on the NYMR between Beck Hole and Green End acquired at a very reasonable cost.
I do not know of any other UIC 60 on a Heritage line.

 

[WesternLancer]

Had some good reports about how good the GCR beer festival was today.

 

[duffield]

Unfortunately it clashes with the Bluebell beer festival; I'm too old to manage two in one weekend!

 

[WolvertonWorks]

I had a wonderful day out here on Saturday - I had a big smile on my face all day

We had a booking for the Elizabethan at lunchtime so arrived at Loughborough Central about 9:45 and had a look around, then rode the 10:10 diesel railcar which went down the branch line, and back. I don't think I've ever riden on a railcar before so this was a treat.

We then had a cuppa and then a wander down to see what we could see down at the "shed" (not sure if that's the correct word) end of the site and then a look in the Emporium where I bought a couple of books, which are very interesting reading.

The next ride was our excellent lunch on the Elizabethan service.

On our return we then spent ages in the museum - some very interesting items in there - and then took the final journey of the day from Loughborough to Leicester and return.

We didn't alight at any intermediate stations but enjoyed the day so much we are planning a return visit next year with a view to having a good look at these.

I loved seeing the 1950s/60s prams on the stations - reminded me of when my younger sister was still using a pram and we would go from Newport Pagnell to Wolverton on Nobby Newport complete with pram, and then take the creaky old lift from the platform up to road level to exit the station and walk to my grandparent's house. Brought back memories of the lift but I have no memories of how the pram got into and out of the guard's van at either end.

Thanks to everyone involved who makes the day at the GCR such a worthwhile visit.

 

[railfan99]

WolvertonWorks, was there any menu item that you especially enjoyed?

GCR is a classy operation.

 

[WolvertonWorks]

The mushroom soup was delicious - I sent my compliments to the chef.

The veg with my pork were very well cooked, not mushy but just right.

 

[duffield]

It looks like the GCR "Last Hurrah" next weekend is just about the only heritage railway "event" left before the Xmas events.

I wonder if the "Tin Shed" bar will be open? Anyhow, I expect I'll visit on either Saturday or Sunday, there's a fairly varied and intensive timetable planned.

Edit:
Added link to GCR "Last Hurrah" event, below.

Last Hurrah Gala

Join us for our Last Hurrah Gala, an intensive timetable of passenger and freight services will delight and entertain you throughout this two-day event.

tickets.gcrailway.co.uk

Further edit:
Got a quick reply back from emailing the GCR, so if it's of any interest to anyone the "Tin Shed" bar will be open from 09:30 on Saturday for the gala.

 

[50002Superb]

It looks like the GCR "Last Hurrah" next weekend is just about the only heritage railway "event" left before the Xmas events.

I wonder if the "Tin Shed" bar will be open? Anyhow, I expect I'll visit on either Saturday or Sunday, there's a fairly varied and intensive timetable planned.

Edit:
Added link to GCR "Last Hurrah" event, below.

Last Hurrah Gala

Join us for our Last Hurrah Gala, an intensive timetable of passenger and freight services will delight and entertain you throughout this two-day event.

tickets.gcrailway.co.uk

I think MRC have a diesel gala on?

 

[midland1]

I think MRC have a diesel gala on?

Just had a quick look cannot see anything.

 

[D.K.TAYLOR]

I think MRC have a diesel gala on?

Believe it was cancelled

 

[Flying Phil]

There will be "Boscastle Guided Shed Tours" on the Saturday and Sunday of the Last Hurrah Gala this weekend.

 

[WesternLancer]

Any comments or reviews from anyone who has been to the last hurrah today? Thinking of making a visit as couldn’t fit it in today.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

08784 is at the Telford Steam Railway to help with the Polar Express this Christmas is anyone is wondering where it has gone.

 

[Denis103]

Any comments or reviews from anyone who has been to the last hurrah today? Thinking of making a visit as couldn’t fit it in today.
Thanks in advance.

I can't understand the reluctance to use the yard for parking at Quorn and insist on using the field the other side of the railway. Even with stalls and the beer tent, i am sure there is enough room to park a lot of cars there. It was the same with the steam gala a couple of months ago. I ended up using a taxi from the main line station as the bus connection did'nt fit with plans. I would have driven but decided against as there had been a few days rain previous. Been suffering with a nasty cold so did not attend today as the weather was not very warm and too cold to stand round waiting for buses but would have preferred to park in the yard as it's easier access for me rather than the stairs.

 

[WesternLancer]

I can't understand the reluctance to use the yard for parking at Quorn and insist on using the field the other side of the railway. Even with stalls and the beer tent, i am sure there is enough room to park a lot of cars there. It was the same with the steam gala a couple of months ago. I ended up using a taxi from the main line station as the bus connection did'nt fit with plans. I would have driven but decided against as there had been a few days rain previous. Been suffering with a nasty cold so did not attend today as the weather was not very warm and too cold to stand round waiting for buses but would have preferred to park in the yard as it's easier access for me rather than the stairs.

I’ll be going by train so luckily such issues won’t impact.

 

[duffield]

It was pretty busy on the services I travelled on on Saturday, good to see, lots of the compartments on the local set were full and Iris was well loaded. It looks like it's a good idea holding this gala when pretty much nothing else is on, and that having four different passenger services** running all day was well justified.

** The dining set was also scheduled to be out in the evening.

The timetable went somewhat askew in the afternoon, and I ended up stuck on Iris at Swithland (1320 from Rothley) for an extended period (no toilet of course, eek!), but nonetheless a fun day, plenty of passing goods trains for extra interest beyond the four different passenger services..

Small but excellent selection of ciders in the "Tin Shed" bar. Weather variable, some drizzle but also some pleasant sunshine, sitting outside the Tin Shed was fine. Unfortunately there are only two outside tables now, i seem to remember there were three or maybe four previously.
More outside seating there is badly needed, if it's not too cold or wet people will really want to sit out and watch the action.

Good to see the reunification collectors making their present felt.

 

[Flying Phil]

It was good to see the updated "N" scale Gap model, showing how the Urban Viaduct will look.

 

[duffield]

It was good to see the updated "N" scale Gap model, showing how the Urban Viaduct will look.

I hadn't appreciated quite how long it was until I saw the model.

 

[Flying Phil]

I can't understand the reluctance to use the yard for parking at Quorn and insist on using the field the other side of the railway. Even with stalls and the beer tent, i am sure there is enough room to park a lot of cars there. It was the same with the steam gala a couple of months ago. I ended up using a taxi from the main line station as the bus connection did'nt fit with plans. I would have driven but decided against as there had been a few days rain previous. Been suffering with a nasty cold so did not attend today as the weather was not very warm and too cold to stand round waiting for buses but would have preferred to park in the yard as it's easier access for me rather than the stairs.

Hi Denis
I think the problem is that during Galas they use the sidings at Quorn and so have to fence off a lot of the yard. They also have space set aside for disabled parking in the yard (as access from the field is more difficult). Another factor is that they have to have a good access for emergency vehicles. There is parking at Rothley station.

 

[WesternLancer]

Sunday was very good in my view despite a bit of rain later in the afternoon. Lots going on (too much to fit in to one day if you want to do everything!) very good shed tour too.

With one of the freight trains in Quorn yard siding after running that probably impacts on parking as explained - but does allow a closer look at the wagons concerned in more detail and from ground as opposed to platform level.

Well worth the entrance price IMHO.