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Great Central Winter Gala January
Thanks to the railway group within the local U3A i found out that they were going to the Great Central Winter Gala on Friday 24th January. Now this was news to me, not that they were going, but, that the event was taking place. I asked Pam if she would be interested in going, not with U3A but on our own and she said yes that would be nice. So I visited the web site and noted that there would be disabled parking avaialble at the Quorn station but that this would need to be booked; booking available via email. So I promptly sent off a request for disabled parking and got a reply by the next day to say that this was booked. I didn't need to book tickets as these could be purchased on the day.
So Fridaay morning we set off and on arrival at Quorn station was surprised to be allowed to sail straight in - no one at the entrance to stop you to check if you had a parking spot booked. It transpired that Tom, Dick and Harry were parking at Quorn and that it was a case of no aparent disable spots at all. Disapointed I eventually did find a spot to park, thankfully not to far from the end of the crossing and access to the platforms. Made my way to the small ticket office, queued inevitably and secured our all day tickets. These as with all events on the Great Central cover all train transport as many times as you can squeze your bum on a seat, aprt that is for eating, unless off course you do that as you travel along. Not for us today in preference we want to be able to sit down in one of the station cafes to be fed and as it turned out to get some warmth. The day was not the brightest nor the warmest.
A reasonable collection of steam trains scheduled to operate over the weekend but sadly not all on the day of our visit. Nevertheless we had 5 trains operating on which we manage to travel behind three of them without to much need to rush or panic. The fourth I think we missed as were eating and Pam bless her trying to bring life back into parts of her anatomy. I left her warming herself in the cafe at Loughborough station, by the fire, making a cake and coffee last whilst I walked off to explore the sheds
Pictures of the steam trains in action on the day of our visit. First picture is of Standard Class 5Mt number 73156. A Robin Riddles design built in 1956 at Doncaster works. The second picture is of a Western Region modified Hall class loco named "Witherslack Hall". A Collett/Hawsworth designed locomotive built in 1948 at Swindon. My third picture is of the Arthur Peppercorn desined K1 class locomotive to a 2-6-0 configuration.This is the last surviving loco of its class. The final picture of steam trains running during our visit is of a Stanier designed Class 5 number 45305. Built in 1936 in Newcastle it is of a 4-6-0 configuration and was one of the workhorses of the railways. Affectionately known as simply a "Black 5", but much loved by enthusiasts. The fifth train in operation which was scheduled prior to our arrival and that was Hall class 4953 "Ptchford Hall"
Pictures of various class of deisels that the railway own or have on loan from another preserved line and I presume occasionally operate. All looked to be in reasonable condition and operable.
Pictures taken of locomotives on shed. With there being working trains and a number being readied for the next days operations there was no access to the sheds. The only views available being from the perimiter fence. You just get glimpses of two other trains scheduled to operate over the weekend in the first picture theses being the Riddles designed Class 2MT 78018 and the Fowler Class 3F Jinty. In the second picture a different shot of Ivatt Class 2MT 46521.
Pam on the return train to the car park having a well earned warm coffee.