Volume 8 Number 10 GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY · PDF fileThis has become a major fixture in GCR's...
Transcript of Volume 8 Number 10 GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY · PDF fileThis has become a major fixture in GCR's...
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Volume 8 Number 10
GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
March 6 2013
From the General Manager
Many thanks to everyone who visited GCR last weekend.
Over both days, our diesel fleet enjoyed some extended running on a special timetable -
this seemed to be well received by the enthusiasts.
In addition, on the Sunday, Quorn hosted 2013's first Swapmeet event which was
extremely well attended - probably the best for quite some while, no doubt helped by
some fine weather for once. A big "well done" here to the Butler Henderson team led by
Kathy Hayes which dealt most efficiently with visitors' catering needs, their day beginning at
7 am - all extra income to help GCR.
Moving forwards to this weekend, we'll be greeting Peppa Pig and her brother George
again. This has become a major fixture in GCR's calendar and the income generated is a
very significant factor in keeping the black stuff in the loco tenders for the rest of the year. I
appreciate that Peppa is quite a demanding day for many staff (paid and volunteer alike), so
thanks in advance to everyone who makes a big effort on GCR's behalf - it is recognised!
On Monday morning, we have a new loco, no 6015 King Richard III. That's a bit of an
untruth, of course, but do please have a look at the separate item below in this newsletter
or go the website and you'll see what I'm talking about.
Richard Patching
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Friends of Great Central Main Line - Witherslack Hall Firebox Stay Appeal Raffle
By now, you should have all received, with the latest copy of the Main Line magazine, your
raffle tickets in aid of the above appeal. We have had a fantastic initial response so far, but
still have a long way to go to reach our target of the £12,750 needed to complete the
purchase of all the required firebox stays.
Please try and sell your tickets and return stubs and monies to me at the address shown on
the books. Every ticket sold will help return the Great Central Railway's very own
locomotive to steam. Thank you in anticipation
Andy Fillingham - Draw Promoter
King Richard III Special Passenger Train – March 11
On Monday 11th March, King Edward II will be renamed as number 6015, King Richard III.
To commemorate the recent discovery of King Richard’s remains we will be operating a special passenger train from Loughborough to Leicester North and back on Monday, 11th
March. This will leave Loughborough at 8.30am and estimated return time is
10.15am/10.30am.
The train will pause at Leicester North for approximately 30 minutes during which time Sir
Peter Soulsby, Mayor of Leicester City, will meet apprentices of Vital Skills Training based
at Great Central Railway’s Greenacres facility. This is in connection with National Apprenticeship Week 2013. It is hoped there will be a photo opportunity with the renamed
King prior to its departure back to Loughborough.
For this one off we are offering special return fares from Loughborough and back for £10
each, with members of Friends at £5 each (valid membership card required). Passengers will
be riding on board the Pullman coaches. Seats are very limited and are being sold on a first
come first served basis on the day - tickets can be purchased only on the train on the day. Please note, cards are not accepted.
EASTER VINTAGE FESTIVAL – Fri 29th March through to Mon 1st April
Join us as we celebrate the good ol’ days of steam. Experience a country fayre at Quorn
station with steam powered gallopers and big wheel, traction engines, live music & beer
tent, craft stalls and visiting locomotives. It’s good old fashioned family fun and for just £30
for a family of 5, it’s good old fashioned value too!
On Friday night Quorn gates open again at 6.30pm with a knees up in the real ale tent with
live music from The Roosters, playing no-nonsense covers of classic songs from the “golden
age” of pop music, the sixties, the seventies and the eighties. To purchase tickets (£5pp or
10 for £40) please call into the marketing office (opposite the booking office) or call 01509
632315. The vintage fairground rides will also operating into the evening and we will be
serving hot food. Join us for a boogie, a pint and a ride on the gallopers!
For more information visit www.gcrailway.co.uk
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GCR Extranet
The GCR has launched a new information tool for staff and volunteers called the Staff and
Volunteer Extranet, and this is available to anyone with an internet connection at the
following url: https://extranet.gcrailway.co.uk
All staff and volunteers are invited to register for access by using the link above. For
registration you will need certain information to hand from your FoGCML membership, as
your identity is validated against this information during the registration process. Your type
of FoGCML membership is checked at the same time, and registration is only permitted for
those people with a valid working membership.
If your FoGCML membership lapses or you change your membership to a non-working
membership, access to the extranet will be revoked automatically. If you have a "life"
FoGCML membership rather than a working membership, please email
[email protected] before registration.
If you encounter any issues during registration or when using the extranet, please contact:
MEET PEPPA & GEORGE - 9th & 10th March
Join Peppa and her little brother George for an exciting day out for all the family.
This is the sixth time that Peppa and George have come to the railway and they loved it so
much they’re coming again. You can meet Peppa and have your photo taken with her and
then meet George and have your photo taken with him too! There are lots of lovely things
to see and do, funfair rides to play on, a miniature railway and to keep you nice and dry we
have even put up a special marquee where you can magic and tricks with Mr Twister. Take
a ride on the big steam train, choo choo, and for an extra special treat why not get your
face painted just like Peppa’s, OINK OINK
BOOK YOUR TICKETS ON LINE NOW, VISIT: http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/special-events/
Branch Line Society/ GCR Track Visit - 17 March 2013
Our friends at the Branch Line Society will be chartering a special train on Sunday 17th
March 2013. Departing at 08:00, and due to conclude by 12:00, they are delighted to offer
what is believed to be the most comprehensive “track bash” of GCR infrastructure. It is
intended that either a 2 or 3 car DMU formation is used. The proposed route is as follows:
Depart Loughborough Central Platform 1 - Quorn and Woodhouse Up Reception North -
Quorn and Woodhouse Up reception South, via North crossover - Quorn and
Woodhouse turntable road - Quorn and Woodhouse cattle dock road - Swithland Up
Loop - Swithland head shunt - Swithland Up Loop - Swithland Up Main, via double slip -
Rothley Up Platform - Rothley C&W yard - Leicester North platform to EOL – Leicester
North Bay platform, via South end of loop - Loughborough Down Loop via Swithland
Down Loop - Loughborough Shed Road 1 - Loughborough Platform 1 North –
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Loughborough Shed Road 2 - Up Through siding South - Carriage siding 1, via Down loop -
Loughborough Platform 2 North via Shed Road 1.
As usual a track map, stock list and souvenir ticket will be provided to aid enjoyment of the
day. Note that passengers will be required to sign a short disclaimer as a condition of
participation in this event.
The event will operate at a fare of £22 per person for members of the Branch Line Society,
£27 non-members. To book your place, please forward a cheque payable to “Branch Line
Society” to Kev Adlam, 53 Kemble Close, Wistaston, Crewe. CW2 6XN, providing an
email address where possible. Any queries should be addressed to Kev Adlam preferably
by email to [email protected] or by telephone 20:00 to 21:00 Monday to Friday
on 01270 662396. The fixture is expected to fill quickly so do please book promptly if you
are interested. An opportunity for a supporting fixture in the afternoon is being pursued,
and if successful further details will be provided.
Richard Patching
FORTY YEARS OF MEMORIES – 23 March
Forty years have passed since the first Open Day at Loughborough Central. David Putt
looks back at a random collection of pictures taken over these amazing years.
The people, the locomotives, the rolling stock, the stations, the track and the signals have
all played a role in creating the Great Central we know today.
This presentation will take place at Lovatt House, Wharncliffe Road, Loughborough on
Saturday 23rd. March 2013 at 7.30pm. Admission is free but a collection in aid of the
Loughborough Canopy Fund will be taken.
AWARD WINNING SWITHLAND SIDINGS COMPLEX OPEN TO VISITORS AT
SPECIAL GREAT CENTRAL GALA
Visiting Engines to star at three day event 26th to 28th April 2013.
It’s the three day steam dream railway enthusiasts have been waiting for. For the first time
since the completion of the award winning signalling at Swithland Sidings, the Great Central
Railway is opening the area to the public. With guest locomotives and a super intensive
timetable, the unique spectacle of steam locomotives passing each other, running into loops
and shunting in sidings will unfold. There won’t be a dull moment!
The gala will feature passenger and freight running on the award winning Leicestershire
heritage line, and also the first few yards of the newly laid Mountsorrel branch line. Visitors
will be able to stay all day in a special viewing at Swithland, closer to the action than has
ever been allowed before. Such intense action was once common place on Britain’s
Railways but can now only be seen on the GCR.
The list of locomotives expected in action is also impressive. After an extended stay, GWR ‘King’ class No. 6023 King Edward II will put on a farewell performance. As the railway
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waves goodbye to one visitor, it welcomes three others for the first time. London and
North Western Railway Webb ‘Coal Tank’ No 1054 will feature on the GCR’s freight
trains (subject to contract). Meanwhile the sidings at Swithland will be shunted by two
diminutive locomotives. Bagnall 0-4-0s Alfred and Judy were built with very low cabs and
short wheelbases to cope with low bridges and tight curves on the Cornish branch lines
they once worked.
Completing the motive power line up are engines from the GCR ‘home fleet’ including Ivatt
2 No 46521, Red liveried LMS 8F No 48624, LMS ‘Jinty’ No 47406 and BR Standard 2 No
78019. In all, eight locomotives are expected in action.
Kate Tilley, Great Central Railway marketing manager said, “We’ve started to see the
potential of the new signalling at Swithland Sidings at our recent major galas. However, we
know people want to be allowed on the ground there, to see the true theatre of the
railways for themselves. It’s going to be a very exciting event and with the ‘King’, some
guests, and so much to see, it is certainly not one to be missed. Children will be delighted by Alfred and Judy and they will right at home shunting at Swithland.”
Hot food will be available at Swithland during the three day event. Passengers will be able
to reach Swithland using a complimentary shuttle bus from Quorn and Woodhouse station.
When changing trains at Quorn, look out for demonstration high speed mail drops and
locomotives being turned on the new turntable.
On additional unusual attraction is a narrow gauge locomotive. Tallyllyn Railway No. 3 Sir
Hayden will be on display at Quorn and Woodhouse station. Usually found running trains in
Wales, the locomotive is coming back to Leicestershire where it was built at Henry Hughes
Locomotive and Tramway Engine Works Ltd in Loughborough (the site is now occupied by
the Brush Works). The locomotive will be posed alongside two large diesels also built
locally as part of a ‘Made In Loughborough’ display.
The railways’ family tea rooms and bistros will all be open during the event. Timetables and
fares will be available at the Great Central Railway’s website closer to the event.
All locomotives and attractions appear subject to contract and availability.
No.3 SIR HAYDEN GOES BACK TO ITS BIRTHPLACE
Talyllyn Railway’s Locomotive No.3 Sir Hayden is going on its travels in April, when it is
due to be moved to Leicestershire to appear at the Great Central Railway’s Swithland
Steam Gala between 26th and 28th April 2013. Here it will be displayed in the yard at
Quorn and Woodhouse station along with a Talyllyn publicity and sales stand staffed by
volunteers from the railway.
This is an appropriate venue for the locomotive to visit as it is very close to the original
works where it was built in 1878. These were the works of Henry Hughes’ ‘Hughes’s
Locomotive & Tramway Engine Works Ltd.’ in Loughborough, which later became the
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‘Falcon Engine and Car Works’. This in turn was taken over by the ‘Brush Electrical
Engineering Company’ in the early twentieth century.
No.3 was the third of three identical 0-4-0’s built by Hughes for the 2ft 3ins gauge Corris
Railway, being rebuilt as an 0-4-2 in 1900. It continued to serve the line until it closed in
1948. In 1951 it, along with Corris No.4, was purchased by the embryonic Talyllyn Railway
Preservation Society for the Talyllyn where it has worked ever since, although it has
returned to the Corris on two occasions in the last few years. It was named Sir Hayden on
the Talyllyn after the long-time owner of the line before it was preserved, but often appears
as its alter-ego Sir Handel from the Skarloey Railway.
Currently No.3 is based at the Corris Railway where it has been displayed since its boiler
certificate expired last year. The Corris Railway Society have agreed to release the
locomotive early from a leasing agreement in order for this visit to take place. While the
locomotive is away from Tywyn it is also planned to visit other venues, details of which will
be released in due course.
Richard Patching, Great Central Railway’s General Manager said ‘Although it will not be in
steam it should prove to be a unique attraction during the gala, along with, hopefully,
another standard gauge diesel Loughborough locomotive, plus the other attractions at the
station including the working turntable.’ All Talyllyn members are also entitled to privilege
ticket rates during the gala, upon production of a valid membership card.
A spokesman for the Talyllyn commented ‘Our thanks must go to all those who have made
this visit possible and enabled No.3 to return to its birthplace. Particularly we would like to
thank the Corris Railway Society for being so gracious in releasing the locomotive to us.
We hope that it will prove to be a great attraction during the gala.’
Leicestershire area group
March 8
Steam in the Snow Les Nixon
Wintry scenes from pre-60’s to the present century in the U.K. and worldwide.
All meeting are held at St. Bartholomews Church Hall, Church Lane, Quorn, near
Loughborough, starting at 19.30.
Free admittance, although donations welcome to defray costs. Refreshments available
during the interval.
Any enquiries to John Calton on 016 2676909, Keith Satterly 0116 2530990 or Peter Hack
01509 261094
Shed News
So, recently passed apprentice James really has left us for the comparative luxury of East
Midlands Trains, starting last Monday. He was seen waiting on Loughborough platform first
thing heading for Derby, hope the EMT train wasn't late! We shall miss his chirpy good
humour, and occasional culinary masterpieces. As a leaving present he cooked us a killer
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cake containing everything you could imagine is bad for you if trying to cut down on your
sugar intake.
That leaves the depleted rest of us to battle it out against the elements. As predicted, the
copper welder, who drives down from north of Aviemore for a day’s work at
Loughborough, completed the welding in of the new copper firebox rear laps on 73156, all
I have to do now is convince the NDE man that all is well before trimming of excess metal
and drilling for patch screws. Down at the front end the weather has been sufficiently
encouraging to get up on top of the smokebox to cut the aperture for the superheater
header patch. This is a sort of optional extra for Standard 5s, the later ones had it but the
earlier ones did not. So although our loco counts as late, the boiler was swapped for one
off an earlier engine, so we are cutting new ground. Luckily we have the drawings, so can
do it properly.
The machine and white metal shops must be suckers for punishment, as I saw yet another
set of rods off a very important three cylinder engine coming in for sub contract overhaul last Friday. In addition we have just started the machining of the eight axle boxes off the
Butterley based S&DR 2-8-0.The owners of the Austerity 3890 from the Buckinghamshire
Centre are probably wondering about the inner firebox material of their loco that I
suggested was copper in last week’s notes. Their new inner box is of course the steel one
made by the South Devon railway, and Kermit has this week competed the drilling of all
600 plus holes in its shell prior to tapping out for new stays. The fact the inner box is steel
facilitates things no end, as the mag based drill sticks to steel, but not copper. Next in line
to it is the Avonside that now has the newly produced throat plate from Israel Newton
loosely attached.
As for locos for the weekend, nothing rostered as of Monday, but no doubt we will find
something from our varied selection.
David Mathews
John Muddimer
My family and I wish to say a big Thankyou to you all for the Guard of Honour you
provided at John Muddimer’s funeral. We know John would have appreciated it, we
certainly did. Thanks once again for your turnout and we wish you all at the Great Central
the very best.
Yours sincerely
Sid Muddimer (John Brother) & Family of John Muddimer.
If you have any news or photos you’d like included in the weekly newsletter, please forward to
[email protected] by 10.30am Wednesday. © GCR Plc. 2013