Great Central Gallery http://greatcentral.fotopic.net/ 11 rows en-gb 60 GCR Diesel Gala, September 2009 http://greatcentral.fotopic.net/c1754597.html GCR Diesel Gala, September 2009 Sunday 13 September 2009: GCR Diesel Gala, September 2009

Short stay visitor 47714 arrives at Loughborough Central with the Rothley 'local'. 12/9/09 'Hercules', now better known as 'Sir Edward Elgar' 50007 approaches Rothley. 12/9/09 Two visitors to the GCR meet up under the bridge at Loughborough: 50007 and 37314. 12/9/09 55019 prepares to work its last train on the Saturday. 12/9/09 Waking up the neighbours (and choking them) is 55019 on departure from Rothley with the 13.37 express Leicester North - Loughborough Central. 12/9/09 The throttle of 55019 has been closed not long after departure from Rothley as it returns with the 17.01 from Leicester North. 12/9/09 D123 finds the last rays of sunshine entering the cutting at Rothley on the 17.00 out of Loughborough. 12/9/09 47714 appears to be in trouble, having D5185 coupled ahead of it at Rothley. 12/9/09 D5401 leads the 12.15 Loughborough - Leicester North past Swithland. 12/9/09 Alongside the brand new canopy at Leicester North we have resident class 31 D5830. 12/9/09 55019 'Royal Highland Fusilier' bears a 'Talisman' headboard for the 13.00 non-stop train from Loughborough Central to Leicester North. 12/9/09

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]]> Sun Sep 13 2009 Footplate Course on Oliver Cromwell http://greatcentral.fotopic.net/c1673483.html Footplate Course on Oliver Cromwell Saturday 28 March 2009: Footplate Course on Oliver Cromwell

Putting more on the fire to keep that tea hot! The old pro and the younger amateur? Approaching Quorn, bound for Marylebone... Are you watching, Jeremy Clarkson? This is real power! A thirsty beast.....and I'll drink to that.

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]]> Sat Mar 28 2009 Thurcaston http://greatcentral.fotopic.net/c871193.html Thurcaston Friday 24 February 2006: Thurcaston

After being held at Rothley's outer home signal, 8F 48305 restarts the 10.20 service from Leicester North near Thurcaston. 1/11/98 'Witherslack Hall' pounds up the grade from Rothley in a very autumnal view of lineside hips. 1/11/98 Doubling of the track between Rothley and Leicester North is often discussed. 42968 crests the rise out of Rothley on a late afternoon working. 4/2/07 D1705 'Sparrowhawk' at the foot crossing in Birstall on the 10.45 from Loughborough. 28/4/07

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]]> Fri Feb 24 2006 Kinchley Lane http://greatcentral.fotopic.net/c843012.html Kinchley Lane Sunday 29 January 2006: Kinchley Lane

Visiting 7029 'Clun Castle' has the 14.45 departure from Loughborough in tow at Kinchley Lane, just as the late afternoon sun begins to fade rapidly. 28/12/98 Being a relatively small loco, Standard Class 2 78019 can be relied upon to produce good smoke effects. 10/4/05 Sulzer Type 2 D5185 rounds the curve at Kinchley Lane with the 10.10 from Loughborough on the Sunday morning of a diesel gala weekend. 17/9/06 The rasp of a small Sulzer engine echoes through the woods at Kinchley Lane as D6535 heads the 09.40 from Loughborough. 26/4/09

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]]> Sun Jan 29 2006 Loughborough Shed http://greatcentral.fotopic.net/c837668.html Loughborough Shed Monday 23 January 2006: Loughborough Shed

A muscular beast, if ever there was. 2-8-0T No. 5224 ready for action at Loughborough shed. I'll give you water, you give me steam: 4141 at the Loughborough water column. 16/11/03 Standard 4MT 80105, visiting from the Bo'ness & Kinneil Rly, stands out of traffic alongside a loco recently returned from its travels, 48305. 30/4/06 Although D123 was probably more at home on the Midland route in the 1960s, it certainly doesn't look out of place on the Great Central. 30/4/06 48305 and 63601 rest inside the shed at Loughborough. 10/10/08 Britain's newest steam locomotive 60163 takes water from the column prior to a gala weekend. Will it be in LNER apple green for its next visit to the railway? 10/10/08

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]]> Mon Jan 23 2006 Leicester North http://greatcentral.fotopic.net/c837419.html Leicester North Monday 23 January 2006: Leicester North

A sunny morning finds 'Witherslack Hall' easing into the terminus at Leicester North. 15/7/01 A dirty job but someone's got to do it - greasing fishplates and joints at the southern terminus of the line. 15/7/01 The Peak's turn to haul the weekend freight: D123 enters the cutting at the north end of what was originally called Belgrave & Birstall station. 3/5/03

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]]> Mon Jan 23 2006 Rothley http://greatcentral.fotopic.net/c837417.html Rothley Monday 23 January 2006: Rothley

The crew of the B1 (running as LNER 1264) look back at Rothley awaiting the 'right away'. 7/2/98 Winter galas are always popular, coming as they do in the quiet period between Christmas and Spring when other railways start their running seasons. 61264 powers away from Rothley. 28/1/01 The 9F recalls the days of the 'Windcutters' as it powers away from Rothley Brook. Tom Ingall (aka 'Newscheese'!) officiates at the groundframe. 9/10/05 The gentleman who operates the model railway kindly agreed to move his van out of shot for this one!: The Black Five pulls into Rothley. 27/12/05 A tribute to the fine craftsmanship of the staff at Rothley carriage works as this observation car gleams in the late afternoon light. 27/12/05 On a cold morning, a member of the station staff (Mr Emmett, perhaps) goes about his tasks while the signalman clearly has a good fire going. Without such volunteers, there would be no trains to photograph. December 2005. Two visitors for the Winter Gala which I'm sure many would have liked to see stay for a little longer than was possible: 49395 and 42968. At least they proved to be a massive draw! 27/1/07 48305 is disguised as the ill-fated 48188 in tribute to the driver John Axon who died trying to stop his runaway train in 1957. 4/2/07 Dozens of wheels outside the carriage works - most for further use one suspects. 4/2/07 D5185 powers away from Rothley on a class 2 train. 25/3/07 D5830, looking smart at the head of the Gala 'local' creeps past the back gardens of Rothley in anticipation of getting a clear calling-on signal. 26/4/09 D5401 restarts the top and tailed 'local' out of Rothley during the GCR Spring Diesel Gala. 26/4/09 View over the driver's shoulder en route from Rothley to Loughborough 'Rugby' says the destination board. If only... Its broad daylight now so that TPO must be empty.

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]]> Mon Jan 23 2006 Swithland http://greatcentral.fotopic.net/c837415.html Swithland Monday 23 January 2006: Swithland

The Swithland sidings area will take on a GC/GW joint flavour as work progresses. Visitor D832 hurries past a lower quadrant signal with the 16.25 from Leicester North. 17/10/04 Freshly painted in BR black livery, 7821'Ditcheat Manor' runs past the siding complex at Swithland on the 11.30 Loughborough - Leicester North. 2/1/05 Some weak winter sunlight illuminates no. 4141 as it proceeds towards the Rothley stop with the 11.15 from Loughborough. 27/12/05

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]]> Mon Jan 23 2006 Woodthorpe http://greatcentral.fotopic.net/c837414.html Woodthorpe Monday 23 January 2006: Woodthorpe

No. 7029 'Clun Castle' was a memorable visitor at Christmas time in 1998. A tall semaphore distant signal was also still a landmark at Woodthorpe at the time. 28/12/98 A shot of the 9F taken during a photo charter. These events are fun once in a while but it's not proper railway photography - it's too easy. And you end up with the same shots as everyone else much of the time. 27/9/99 60800 'Green Arrow' drifts down into Loughborough in high summer heading the 10.05 from Leicester North. 30/7/00 No other preserved railway in Britain can reproduce scenes like this: A main line train on a main line railway. 45305 passes under Woodthorpe bridge on the Friday of a bank holiday weekend. 29/4/05 Black Five 45305 has charge of the demonstration freight on the climb out of Loughborough to Quorn. The occasion was the 2006 '60s gala'. 26/3/06 A classic view of O4 no. 63601 on the Windcutters near Woodthorpe.

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]]> Mon Jan 23 2006 Loughborough Central http://greatcentral.fotopic.net/c837407.html Loughborough Central Monday 23 January 2006: Loughborough Central

A 9F belongs on the GCR so let's hope that 92212 will return to stay before too long. The humble telegraph pole: For decades these marked the course of railways all over the country but few preserved railways have retained them. One hopes the GCR will hang on to theirs! 28/6/98 78019 is based on the railway today but in 1998, 78022 was a visitor and operated this footplate experience special at Loughborough Central. 21/9/98 A striking view of WD 90775 at another photo charter. I shouldn't think that station lighting was as strong as this in BR days! A 1990s shot of a 9F at Loughborough, of course but there aren't many clues to tell this view of 92212 apart from the 1960s. In the days before double track, Manor class no. 7821 'Ditcheat Manor' exits the station for Leicester North. Former GCR chairman Graham Oliver looks from the cab of 8F 48305 before it departs tender-first from Loughborough for Leicester North. 18/3/00 Resident Brush Type 2 D5830 rumbles out of Loughborough with the 10.45 departure. 5/5/02 This Black 5 has a long history on the GCR: 45231 accelerates away from Loughborough Central with the 14.15 to Leicester North. 17/10/04 Emergency visitor from Llangollen, 'Prairie' 5199 blasts clear of the road bridge at Loughborough Central. It had been a last minute replacement for a loco that failed before the Winter Gala. 4/3/06 Putting on a fine display for the camera, GW Prairie 4141 runs up from the shed ready to take the first departure from Loughborough. 30/4/06 How much better this loco would look if it were in green livery with working headcode panel! 37255 leaves on the 15.25 from Loughborough. 17/9/06 You have been warned! The 8F pauses at the north end of the platform before going to take on water. 21/1/07 4141 wallows in its own smoke and steam under Beeches Road bridge. 21/1/07 The semaphore signal gantry by Beeches Road bridge makes this a popular photographic viewpoint. D5830 has charge of the 14.50 to Leicester North. 16/9/07 Shortly before resuming its travels to another preserved line, D5401 leaves the Southern set in the up refuge siding at Loughborough. 16/9/07 Oh dear! We can't see the number or the wheels on this one so some would say this shot is spoiled. I like it because it's what steam engines are all about - 44422 makes a delayed departure. 10/2/08 Plenty of atmosphere to be found at Loughborough Central with 44422 waiting to leave. 10/2/08 78019 about to pass under Beeches Road bridge with the 13.15 diner special. 19/2/08 As big as a Great Western 'King' but not so celebrated, 850 'Lord Nelson' is the sole survivor of Maunsell's LN class. 13/7/08 The fine array of shunt signals beside Beeches Road bridge. 23/9/08

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]]> Mon Jan 23 2006 Quorn http://greatcentral.fotopic.net/c837194.html Quorn Monday 23 January 2006: Quorn

Photo charter time again; N2 69523 powers a breakdown train formation past the signalbox at Quorn. 10/2/99 The railway engineer's friend, keeping watch down the years... In the height of summer, D8098 is in charge of the Saturday freight rolling into Quorn station on its return leg. 11/6/00 In the depths of winter, 61264 comes under the last bridge before Quorn with a Mince Pie working from Loughborough to Leicester. 29/12/00 Ditcheat Manor, now turned to face north, pulls away from Quorn. 2/12/01 GWR seats on a GCR station! 2/12/01 The NRM's O4 63601 heads into bright sunlight on a cold and frosty morning, just to the south of Quorn station. 5/1/03 One of those timeless scenes which can often be captured at the Great Central: 4141 coasts into Quorn. 16/11/03 How to get a more imposing shot - get down below track level. 63601 accelerates away from Quorn. 13/11/04 Shooting with the sun on the 'wrong' side (oh, such a heinous crime!) makes for a nice change. 7821 gets away from Quorn on the straight up to Kinchley Lane. 13/11/04 Class 45 D123 'Leicestershire & Derbyshire Yeomanry' (a name originally carried by a class 46) powers a 10.22 goods from Loughborough to Rothley Brook. 26/3/06 Recently returned to traffic, 30777 'Sir Lamiel' approaches Quorn during the 'Big Four' gala weekend. 20/5/06 Ah, the famous 'Jolly Fisherman', taking folks to the seaside at Skeggie! Well, not quite, Leicester North actually but never mind. D8048 and D8098 provide the power for this train at Quorn. 17/9/06 Now D123 has come to a halt, the secondman waits for the right away. 17/9/06 Plenty of staff in attendance as D123 rolls down into Quorn. 17/9/06 45305 brings the 'Irish Mail' up to Quorn station. 7/10/06 Outside the station buffet at Quorn; all very reminiscent of the war years. 19/11/06 The gangers have clearly been hard at work again as 4141accelerates away from the Quorn stop. 25/3/07 A nice 60s feel is evident here as D1705 drops down to Quorn along a very tidy embankment. 25/3/07 A silent 25265 gets D5185 for company in the yard at Quorn during a '60s gala. 25/3/07 A very welcome new visitor to the railway, D5401 looks magnificent in its early BR green livery at Quorn. 25/3/07 Impostor! This train does not resemble anything from the best years of steam...or the worst. But the GCR has benefitted greatly from the early test runs of the Brush/Hitachi hybrid. 1/6/07

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