Great Central Winter Gala: Banbury Cross 280111

Apology for inappropriate material below.
Congratulations to the GC on the success of their Winter Event, brilliantly planned and executed as ever. There was no mercy for the photographers with 31 Loughborough departures on Saturday, making for a ridiculously hectic day. The line up of locomotives was impressive with 5 guest locos -- GWR 2-8-0 3850, GWR 4-4-0 3717 City of Truro GWR 0-4-2 1450 GWR Prairie 5526 LNER K4 61994 Great Marquess.
3850 at Woodthorpe Epinal Way Br. and No-Go Lane; 4953 Pitchford Hall at Loughborough (with 45305), Quorn (with 61994) and Woodthorpe; 61994 at Charnwood Water and Epinal Way Br; 45305 near Quorn, Quorn Station and No-Go Lane;" Goods trains (3850 Woodthorpe, 1450 Epinal Way & Quorn; 30777 "Sir Lamiel" Woodthorpe); 45305 Quorn with TPO; 3717 Loughborough and Epinal Way Br; 5526 Rothley and Quorn; 30777 Quorn; 1450 Loughborough; 5526 Loughborough (auto-train).
Apologies to sensitive souls for the expletive uttered at Loughborough shed which was missed by the editorial team and placed on You Tube. Fear not, if it is an operative (99% certain it was a photographer) he will be doubtless be sacked in worshipful respect for the "thought police" who rule every aspect of our 21st century lives..... Serve the b*st*rd right! If anyone recongnises the voice, please send me a photo of the perpetrator, and I will ensure it is 'leaked' onto You Tube in the modern self righteous back-stabbing way!

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• steam
• trains
• Great
• Central
• Banbury
• 3850
• 3717
• City
• of
• Truro
• 5526
• 61994
• Marquess
• 1450
• auto-train
• 4953
• Pitchford
• Hall
• 45305
• 30777
• Sir
• Lamiel

[cakebrain]

great footage,be a better spectacle if they could muster up 8 coach trains for the galas

[steamontheweb]

@cakebrain

Thanks, but I think asking for 8 coach trains with an intensive timetable in operation (that no other railway can match), and the consequent pressure on the coaching stock, sounds a tad like taking their efforts for granted!

[acw71000]

Wonderful record Mike of an excellent event. I do seem to have been fairly close to you at times on the Saturday. You enjoyed some lovely sunshine on the Friday I see. Really enjoyed the closing scenes at the shed, presumably filmed on Friday, despite the shocking language! Thought your comments were very amusing

[steamontheweb]

@acw71000

Thanks Austin. We had sunshine on Friday afternoon with two trains! Also a little first thing. Unfortunately I made similar comments on the GCR chat site and a humourless volunteer thought I was being serious and reprimanded me - the sheds are not a Sunday school but an engineering operation (presumably involving REAL men) and I should keep away if I couldn't stand the language! It is not the first time I have reeled someone in like that!

[wooltman]

Great video,loved every minute,shame about all the orange jackets walking about lineside.

[steamontheweb]

@wooltman

Thanks. Unfortunately I was wearing one too and, in all likelihood, interfering with other people's shots. The problem with the GC is its straightness - there are few hiding places. You have to be grateful that preserved lines are so popular!

[steamontheweb]

@aifrench14

Yes Anthony, he made a poor show by comparison with the chap last year! I had a good shot of you cleaning the wheels alone, but it didn't fit with the footage of the other chap and his oily brush, which was a must as you could see the oil oozing...lovely stuff!

[aifrench14]

another great video Mike, I see I make a fleeting appearance in the shed scenes this year! Note how the ash was disposed very unprofessionally by this years candidate!!

[smerlinare]

@steamontheweb

Thats good- I always enjoy your videos of the GWSR. I hope they will run top and tailed trains from Laverton to the part of the track just before the damage at Chicken curve- like they did on the final day of this season for the new year santa specials. That way we can still film and admire the trains passing the Hailes and Didbrook area. It is a wonderful part of the route.

[steamontheweb]

@robmasterman

Thanks Bob (but far from faultless) and a good spot there: I agree, the taller chimney looks very good.