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14 June 2008 War WeekendI planned to go to the SVR, but sheer laziness found me at the GCR. Once again the skies were bright, but much of the action took place under cloud. On a bright note, there were plenty of visitors, many of whom were dressed in period costume. I met a work colleague who explained that he regularly attended the event with his lady friend to mark the anniversary of their meeting at the event of 4 years ago. Unfortunately, he spotted my hi-viz inadequately concealed in a trouser pocket.....aaargh... Clive will have plenty of pictures of the scenes around the stations on his site, including a shot of the newly arrived Fairburn Tank: he believes everything he's told!
A good start to the day: standard 2 78019 makes a fine sight and sound as she leaves Loughborough with the first train of the day in sunshine. (2.4mB)
Back to normal. The sun disappears as 30777 Sir Lamiel chugs through Swithland with the lunch train to the accompaniment of a Spitfire which was terrorising Quorn. (2.7mB)
Standard 2 78019 departs a heaving Quorn platform with the 3:45. (4.1mB)
30777 Sir Lamiel rounds the curve at Kinchley Lane, surprising us with her turn of speed. (1.6mB) 17 May 2008 Stars of the 60s EventAnother chance to see National Rail Museum loco 70013 "Oliver Cromwell" in action before she departs for York. For those who have been on planet Zog for the past few weeks, Cromwell has been brilliantly restored to schedule by the GCR. However, after four days of intense sunshine in Paris it was back to familiar British weather for me at the GCR with dull skies and intermittent drizzle. Once again I was in the entertaining company of Clive Hanley who is able to get out a bit more these days, having encaserated his charming wife in the cellar of their Warwickshire home. Good idea Clive, but is it entirely original?
Getting itself into a spin, an enraged Cromwell storms out of Loughborough after being delayed by the arrival of the Standard. (3.6mB)
The other NRM loco, the splendid SR King Arthur Class 30777 "Sir Lamiel", makes stately progress through the Kinchley curve. The slight wind was tending to blow the exhaust westwards towards the favoured photographic positions. (2.0mB)
Wot no whistle! But exhaust aplenty as 70013 passes under Woodthorpe bridge heading towards Quorn. (2.4mB)
A considerable amount of work has been undertaken by the AT&T team in the area around Swithland in recent weeks. Here 78019 has restarted the lunch train after allowing negligible time to serve the soup course and heads past Swithland sidings towards Rothley. If I had used my main microphone you would hear the sounds of smashing crockery, the splashes of boiling liquids and the blood curdling screams of scalded passengers. (1.9mB) NB For the literalists among you, or those engaged in the pursuit of the breaches in our ever-tightening health and safety procedures (and I know there are many of you!) I hastily admit that I was joking in my comments above. I know for a fact that staff training and soup handling are performed to the highest standards on the GCR and only very few passengers on each trip are subjected to scalds which require subsequent medical treatment, facial re-building or long sojourns in the burns units of the nearby hospitals: many eventually recover to lead normal lives. Humble and grovelling apologies for any offence I may have inadvertently caused.
70013 Oliver Cromwell heads its first goods train in preservation. The location is the so-called Rabbit Bridge south of Kinchley Lane. (1.9mB) 3 May 2008 May Day Special WeekendCongratulations and many thanks to the engineering team at the GCR so ably led by Tom Tighe and Craig Stinchcombe who completed the restoration of Britannia Class 4-6-2 locomotive Oliver Cromwell more or less on schedule. There were slight problems after the test runs on Friday - a hot big end bearing - which delayed the first run hauling a passenger train until 5:10, as three light engine test runs were required during the day to ensure the problem had been cured. A disturbing jangling sound on the final test run caused a little consternation, but was evidently of little consequence. One could say that this Ollie had rather more success than another Ollie at the Walkers Stadium (Leicester City FC) whose inept team have made our lives such a misery in Leicester during these past few months. I spent an enjoyable day in the company of Clive Hanley and Peter Boggis in pleasant spring weather even if the sunshine was rather muted.
70013 steamed out of the shed at 10am and was surrounded by a large team of cleaners, repairers and enthusiasts. The man on top is Craig Stinchcombe, second in command at the GCR shed. During the day we saw 3 test runs which were deemed satisfactory and culminated in a first run hauling passengers since 1968. It was particularly good to meet a couple of Canadians, on a tour of preserved lines in the UK, among the large gallery at Kinchley Lane for this historic run. The arrival of the sheepdog caused much excitement, but sadly no sheep showed up. (6.9mB)
GWR Large Prairie 4141 pulls the lunch train past Woodthorpe. For once we didn't chase the train down to Birstall to ensure that we did not miss another light engine run by 70013 (2.2mB)
SR "King Arthur" 4-6-0 30777 departs Loughborough with the re-timetabled 10:15. The sun had yet to make a full appearance at this stage. (3.2mB). 1 March 2008A demoralising and largely wasted day with fleeting sunshine and heavy winds. The sun shone within a couple of minutes of the train's arrival on 7/8 shots (including 71000 on the mainline) but in each case the sun had disappeared as the train passed through, re-appearing soon afterwards. The 8th shot? No sun before, during or after. I debated whether to update the site at all this weekend. The GCR ran two extra trains during the morning featuring the green set. 48305 did the honours, but I never found out why Sir Lamiel did not run. Repainting these coaches seems a complete waste of time, money and effort as they are never used with a southern engine.
Standard 2 78019 heads towards the A6 bridge with the dining train. We begin with a wake-up call for the railway cat which had been sitting nonchalantly on the track in the sunshine. It was reluctant to move even as the train approached. Staring through the viewfinder, which gives an 87% view, I saw nothing of the cat's escape! Bl**dy animals! Earlier, waiting for the train in bright sunshine, I debated whether to pan the train as she passed into the shadow of the bridge, but such thoughts were irrelevant in the end. (2.3mB)
An unusual angle from a location that I have not used since 2004. 78019 leaves Rothley with the dining train on the single track section. After a hold up behind two buses (it just wasn't my day!) I just arrived at the location as she pulled in which made setting up a little fraught. (3.4mB)
8F 48305 hauls 12:30 past Epinal Way Bridge with the green set and without any noticeable effort. (2.0mB) 9 February 2008I was intending to have a break this weekend, but could not resist the promise of a lovely sunny day and duly headed for the GCR once again. Locomotives on duty were the visiting 4F 0-6-0 44422 and King Arthur Class 4-6-0 30777 Sir Lamiel.
Producing an impressive display of clag, 44422 heads the first train of the day out of Loughborough (2.2mB)
Running late 44422 speeds past Woodthorpe with the last train of the day. Later we see her heading towards Swithland at the Rabbit Bridge location earlier in the day! (2.8mB)
Firstly we see 30777 "Sir Lamiel" being watered at Loughborough with GCR Chief Mechanical Engineer Tom Tighe displaying great concentration as he pulls the chain. The engine was used for most of the day on "Driver Experience" runs, but eventually appeared on the 2:15 ex Loughborough. Having heard reports of a magnificent performance at Kinchley Lane, I hope that Warwick Falconer, who had waited all day at that location for this one opportunity, achieved his well-earned 'master shot'. (4.1mB) Editor's Note: local authority Charnwood BC, obviously with plenty of local council tax payers money to spend and a budget to achieve by 31 March, have installed an expensive kissing gate at the entrance of the footpath which commences at the Kinchley Lane "Gallery". This is despite several large gaps in the fence very close to the site of the gate and a permanent absence of animals to be restrained in the enclosed field. One of the gaps in the fence can clearly be seen in the picture below. Hopefully entry onto the gallery will not be blocked in future by embracing rail enthusiasts who misunderstand the function of a kissing gate. Let us hope that not too many essential local services were sacrificed to create the funds for this. Editor's Further Note: I was informed the other day by a Mr Easter that Kinchley Lane is incorrect nomenclature for this location, which is actually sited on Rushey Lane. My research on old and new maps of the area supports his view. Evidence suggests that Rushey Lane used to continue over what is now the reservoir and that Kinchley Lane began where the old Rushey Lane formed a junction with it on what is now the opposite bank. Now did you know that the bridge south of here known as Rabbit Bridge is not Rabbit Bridge at all....the locals refer to the above bridge, at Rushey Lane, as Rabbit Bridge, and who are we to argue. Confused...you should be! Pancake Festival 2 February 2008With the snow lying south of Leicester and the sun shining, here was the opportunity for a classic days filming at the GCR. It was not to be: as I moved further north the snow disappeared and as the time for the first departure approached so had the sun! Luckily it returned for the later trains. Locomotives in service were Gala guest 4F 44422 and old faithful 8F 48305. Pitchford Hall sat un-steamed in the shed, maybe understandably two steaming fees were seen as extravagant. I met up with Clive Hanley at Loughborough and spent the day with him. A couple of photographers from the South, regular visitor Warwick Falconer and Ed Hurst, who had been lured by the prospect of green coaches. Gentleman and master photographer Malcolm Ranieri was also present, exercising a digital camera (god forbid!).
Initially we find 4F 44422 under the Empress Road Bridge being prepared for the day (forgive my artistic licence here). (2.9mB). It is difficult to imagine from this scene, but this bridge was the site of an accident 75 years ago when a northbound express collided with a goods train which was being shunted into the sidings just north of the bridge. The fireman jumped clear at Empress Road Bridge, but struck the pier with fatal results. More details can be gleaned from the linked report (thanks to Ian Kemp). http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/MoT_Loughborough1933.pdf
44422 leaves Quorn with the 2:15 in beautiful lighting conditions. (3.3mB)
Later in the day we made a rare foray to the Swithland area to assess a potential new location. We happened across a work party who had been organised by GCR volunteer Steve Cramp to clear the former Mountsorrel branch line; part of the Nunckley Hill Project. Unfortunately planning permission for the new carriage shed, which was its raison d'etre, was denied, but they are pressing on with the new objective of re-opening the former branch line. They have made startling progress in clearing 40 years of accumulated undergrowth for several hundred yards and welcomed us with great politeness. Clive has some pictures of the work party on his site. Here 8F 48305 steams past Swithland sidings with the 3:35 heading towards Rothley (not the new location!). (2.7mB) Winter Steam Gala 26/27 January 2008What a great weekend! Immaculate organisation and sunny, fine weather made for a memorable Winter Gala. Many thanks to all those involved. This Gala was very popular, the train loadings were extremely high and there were crowds on the lineside. I met many familiar faces as I moved around. I spent much of Saturday in the entertaining company of Brian Burrows, bumping into Steve Bottrill and Warwick Falconer at regular intervals. Glamorous celebrity photographer Dee Davison was present on both days with her entourage - chief manicurist, bodyguard and chauffeur Henry Elliott (known to his closest friends as 'Smithy'), technical and artistic advisor Gordon McCulloch and agent Graham Briggs. I also had the pleasure of bumping into ace Norfolk videographer Peter Boggis and his son Ben, a top notch photographer who also finds the time to fire the odd loco on the NNR. Clive Hanley made a couple of fleeting appearances with his wife Janet either side of his well-earned footplate ride on Pitchford Hall. Cliff Jones was spied around Quorn station and Paul Martin and Chris, regulars on the Gloucester Warwicks enthused about the Gala at Loughborough. Needless to say John Marriott had plenty to say for himself as always! Six Locos in steam (and no diesels!) - see below. After the great efforts of the Pitchford Hall Engine Society members, the epynonymous guest loco looked immaculate. A real thoroughbred.
For many, 4953 "Pitchford Hall" was the star of the Gala, performing an exciting run with a depleted TPO each evening with steam to spare. First we see the Sunday run which was set against the backdrop of a world-renowned Quorn sunset. There is an 8mph difference between the runs, but which run is the faster? (3.8mB)
By late Sunday afternoon many of the photographers were beginning to wilt after endeavouring to keep up with the remorseless pace of the event with all runs 15 or 30 minutes apart. Nevertheless an enormous gallery was present to see the final run of 30777 "Sir Lamiel" at Woodthorpe. There is also a chance to compare "Lammy's" performance near Quorn on the TPO earlier in the day with that of "Pitchford Hall". 30777 does not appear to be "doing much", but to cover this stretch in less than 20 seconds is very impressive, the same time as a thrilling run by 45305 in 2004! (2.7mB) Editors Note: who says video is difficult; fellow Canon XM2 owner Mark takes things easy. But why is he using an older and smaller machine....You guessed it his new XM2 is with the overworked Canon repairers...suffering from the old transport problem I too suffered only last year!
Sunday 27th: a second attempt to capture the double headed combination of local Standard 2 78019 and visiting 4F 0-6-0 44422 after a poor run the day before. (1.8mB)
By lunch time on Saturday the sun had disappeared behind the clouds. Here visiting 4F 44422 rounds a barren-looking Kinchley curve with the 3:15 mineral train. (2.0mB)
8F 48305, the GCR's racer, was reined in by the necessity of looking the part on the goods trains: sadly, the recent bid to haul the TPO had clearly failed! The first run with the minerals is at Loughborough on Saturday, the second with the mixed is at Woodthorpe on Sunday afternoon. (2.7mB)
A loco my wife describes as the Large Prairie, 4141, passes 78019 at the Epinal Way Bridge possibly much to the chagrin of the videographer in front of me. The loco has recently received a 2 year extension to its boiler certificate and is resplendent with a newly repainted smokebox. Unfortunately the sun had disappeared from the cutting, but a pass on the double track is worth the loss of quality in the compressed image. (2.3mB) 12 January 2008Clive Hanley managed to escape his shackles for the day and joined me at the GCR on a beautiful sunny Spring (sorry Winter's) day. An initial disappointment was the replacement of Sir Lamiel, which had been scheduled to run, by Standard 2 78019. We later discovered that the loco had been steamed only for a leak to be found in the firebox. The shed staff moved with remarkable alacrity to prepare the 8F, 48305, from cold. Clive has some lovely pictures on his website, especially those taken in the more remote locations south of Rothley, and some interesting shots in the sheds where there was much activity involved in relocating locomotives. Anticipating 30777 on the first train, I had already chosen Woodthorpe for my opening location. The low sun provided some harsh lighting for 78019. (2.6mB)
We moved to the other side of Woodthorpe bridge for the 78019 on the lunch train and were rewarded with some fine lighting. (2.0mB)
The Great Central's very own Ferrari V8 (8F for short) 48305 shows some sharp acceleration with the 2:15 as she moves away from an unscheduled stop at the faulty Rothley distant signal. (3.8mB) 5-6 January 2008The lure of cold and sunny weather was too much and I spent a day and a half in sunny weather at the Great Central. Disappointingly "Sir Lamiel" didn't run and 48305 and 78019 took on the duties for the weekend. 78019 spent most of its time running light engine on the Driver Experience, so 48305 rather dominates. |
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Warning: The files are of substantial size and will take a considerable time to download for non-broadband users. All photographs and videos copyright © Mike Snow
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