Well several locomotives will be running tomorrow for the Bonfire night specials and 78019 was in steam during this week as was the 9F 92214 together with the 8F 48305 I believe.Any idea of this weekend’s loco roster at all?
Staff with appropriate permission or for a significant donation a trip can sometimes be arranged, sorted in advance via the railway's management, in a nutshell!FP, May one enquire just who is able to ride in the brake vans??
Would love to spend a day with the duty guard if this were allowed.
Is this a privilege only open to a select few?
Hi TeaboyFP, May one enquire just who is able to ride in the brake vans??
Would love to spend a day with the duty guard if this were allowed.
Is this a privilege only open to a select few?
Beautiful engine. Glad to hear itIn other news BR Std class 2 N0 78019 has been overhauled and is now back in operation on the GCR.
Malcolm has a lot of experience on the railway both in operational roles (he was a senior conductor/train manager at Intercity and then Midland Mainline) and management (with various TOCs and latterly the West Mids local government) so hopefully he should be a steady hand on the tiller during some difficult times. Best of luck to him!From the latest GCR Rail Mail is the news that
..." the Board of directors is now very pleased to announce that Malcolm Holmes will be joining GCR as General Manager in March.
Malcolm has been associated with GCR in a number of volunteer roles for 28 years and, to that extent, his face will be a familiar one. His professional life has largely been in the public transport sector, particularly rail operations, most recently as Executive Director, West Midlands Rail Executive.
The whole Railway will warmly welcome Malcolm to GCR and the experience he will bring to the General Manager role".
Built ta the end of my street in Darlo in 1954. Nice to see it back chugging.In other news BR Std class 2 N0 78019 has been overhauled and is now back in operation on the GCR.
Our "Lengthy train" of 16T Mineral wagons....The Windcutters, from the brake van exiting Swithland sidings.
We had 23 minerals and two brake vans, so 25 in all. We had hoped to have at least another three, but it was not to be. Still many people said it was an impressive sight - and sound! It will be running tomorrow as well.
Great news in a press release from the GCR
"92214 to remain at the Great Central Railway!
We’re delighted to announce the successful outcome of negotiations enabling prized loco no 92214 to remain at its Great Central Railway home.
In mid-2022, the loco’s owner, indicated a wish to secure its longer term future. As a result, negotiations began with a view to 92214 staying at GCR. Chairman Richard Patching comments: “Negotiations can’t always be rapid and maintaining confidentiality for everyone is paramount; nevertheless, the discussions proved to be positive and cordial throughout, leading to a most successful outcome for all parties. Patience pays off and I’m sure all GCR supporters will welcome the result.”
The owner felt an important factor was that 92214 should remain at GCR where it will be well looked after and continue to play its part as a true main line loco on a double track railway.
The loco is an ex British Railways 9F 2-10-0 tender loco – a type designed in the 1950s specifically for hauling heavy freight trains, but also often used on passenger trains. Locos of this class were employed extensively on GCR until the mid-1960s which coincided with the line’s rundown/ closure by British Railways.
The acquisition has been achieved by the GCR’s supporting charity David Clarke Railway Trust becoming its owner, and financed with the help of a benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous".
This locomotive looks so good in front of our Windcutter wagons.
Nowhere has any practical use for a 9F or any other heavy freight loco. However for demonstration purposes there's no reason not to have at least one or two working and the GCR is as good a place as any to see one.Many will not like this but for me a tourist/leisure line has about as much need for one of these as the proverbial fish for a bicycle. Railways please learn to control your expenses for it's curtains if you don't.
There's rather more use/need for a working 9F than there is for a Castle that both duplicates other locos and hasn't run in 50 years. I rather think you have the wrong target.Many will not like this but for me a tourist/leisure line has about as much need for one of these as the proverbial fish for a bicycle. Railways please learn to control your expenses for it's curtains if you don't.
This is a very valid point of view ....But - when significant funding is coming from various sources which emphasise "Educational" aspects of railways as well as donations from enthusiasts, large freight locomotives are an essential element. Many visitors also travel to see such locomotives. Witness the changing fortunes of the Spa Valley line since the arrival of a large green engine - to be followed by another! It should be noted that the GCR is, of course, a preserved Main Line.....Many will not like this but for me a tourist/leisure line has about as much need for one of these as the proverbial fish for a bicycle. Railways please learn to control your expenses for it's curtains if you don't.
Read this bit again:Many will not like this but for me a tourist/leisure line has about as much need for one of these as the proverbial fish for a bicycle. Railways please learn to control your expenses for it's curtains if you don't.
The GCR is the most appropriate preserved railway of all for a 9F.92214 should remain at GCR where it will be well looked after and continue to play its part as a true main line loco on a double track railway.
The loco is an ex British Railways 9F 2-10-0 tender loco – a type designed in the 1950s specifically for hauling heavy freight trains, but also often used on passenger trains. Locos of this class were employed extensively on GCR until the mid-1960s which coincided with the line’s rundown/ closure by British Railways.
Read this bit again:
The GCR is the most appropriate preserved railway of all for a 9F.
Oh come on. All 9Fs should have stayed in Barry...
9Fs are a hugely important part of our railway history. We need a working example of something that we still thought was a good idea to build in 1959. If we could only save one BR Standard steam loco it would need to be a 9F.
This is terrific but the one aspect that could make it look true to form would be to have only a brakevan at the rear, and for the loco to shunt that vehicle from one end of the train to the other at each terminus. This takes extra time, but goods trains in the days of old weren't renowned for speed.
It always looks silly to my eyes to see a brakevan immediately behind the loco(s).
Well, GCR hasn’t wasted any time repainting the 9F, which is now BR lined black. Hopefully the inauthentic “City of Leicester“ nameplates will also be a thing of the past soon, if not already.
Isn’t BR Lined Black as inaccurate as BR Green for 92214? (And yes I know it carried lined black at the start of its current ticket under its previous owner)Well, GCR hasn’t wasted any time repainting the 9F, which is now BR lined black. Hopefully the inauthentic “City of Leicester“ nameplates will also be a thing of the past soon, if not already.