GCR diesel gala

[Andy]

At the moment this is just a maybe. But is anyone intressted in going to the GCR diesel gala on the 28th april.

Please let me know bellow

Thanks Andy

[Jamie]

I would say I'm interested in going, but I've made myself available for working both days of the event as a guard, so I think it goes without saying that I shall quite possibly be present.

Just as a little aside, here's a little information regarding the event.

The Great Central Railway is unveiling its Spring Diesel Gala line up - with the news that the brand new Hitachi battery/diesel hybrid High Speed Train will be making some public runs at the event.

The HST will mingle amongst a terrific line up of heritage diesel traction, including special visitor, Class 27 D5401. The two power cars and a number of Mk III coaches will be arriving at the GCR soon as part of a testing contract to prove the power saving technology.

The gala takes place in late April, over the weekend 27th / 28th April.

The rest of the line up includes star visitor, Class 27 D5401 which is at the Leicestershire line for the season and resident Class 20s D8089 and D8048, Class 25 D5185, Class 31 D5830, Class 33 D6535, Class 45 D123 and Class 47 D1705.

It's hoped that 37 255 will also be fit for action even though faded rail blue liveried Class 25 265 will not. The lines resident 101 DMU will should also see some mileage. There will be an intensive passenger timetable and a 'curtain raising' beer-ex on the Friday evening before the gala starts.


*Locomotives*
British Railways Class 20 No.D8048
British Railways Class 20 No.D8098
British Railways Class 25 No.D5185
British Railways Class 27 No.D5401
British Railways Class 31 No.D5830
British Railways Class 33 No.6535
British Railways Class 37 No.37255 (To be confirmed)
British Rail Class 43 No.43089*
British Rail Class 43 No.43160*
British Railways Class 45 No.D123 Leicestershire & Derbyshire Yeomanry
British Railways Class 47 No.D1705 Sparrowhawk
British Railways Class 101 Nos.E50321+E51427

* - Not in passenger service, train will be the Hitachi Hybrid HST test train.


What to see and do?

• Intensive service of trains on the double track between Loughborough and Rothley.
• Two visiting engines (Hitachi HST and D5401)
• Evening beer trains.

[Andy]

Thanks for the information. Well even if you are working we may still see you.

[Dave]

We are comsidering doing this, we have'nt been to the GCR yet.

Dave

[salopiangrowler2]

I have and its Cool. its weird running up and down a fully semaphore signalled double track mainline.

[zoro]

sounds like it might be very good

[Jamie]

I have and its Cool. its weird running up and down a fully semaphore signalled double track mainline.

Not to me it isnt

It's very weird running wrong line though, everything is closer than it should be, and the track joints are wrong.

I'm completely the opposite I'm afraid, whenever I go to other railways I'm always dissapointed at the timetable, I remember my line manager said he was going to the Nene Valley Railways gala, and they had an intensive service running, then he commented that we were running two more passenger services than them, not including our four non-passenger trains.

I think that we're spoiled by our operational capacity.

[salopiangrowler2]

oh well you work there but seeing ditcheat manor storming through Quorn and Woodhouses at a touch over the 25mph limit (more like 60mph to me) on a driving experience the other year really impressed me.

[Andy]

Sorry to spoil things, but can we get back to the subject in matter. Can i have number please?

[Jamie]

oh well you work there but seeing ditcheat manor storming through Quorn and Woodhouses at a touch over the 25mph limit (more like 60mph to me) on a driving experience the other year really impressed me.

I don't think that happened. Our drivers would never do anything like that, unless it was for testing purposes and the railway was shut to the public.