Great Central Railway - News and "Stuff"

Great Central Railway - News and "Stuff"

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Flying Phil

Original Poster:

1,601 posts

146 months

Saturday 13th August 2022
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Sad news is that 7027 Thornbury Castle is being sold - and its boiler is to be used on a "new build" class 47XX no 4709. This project is under the GWS umbrella at Didcot.
Needless to say a lot of people at the GCR have spent a lot of time and effort on the locomotive over the past two years and this decision is not going down well....

Flying Phil

Original Poster:

1,601 posts

146 months

Friday 26th August 2022
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Meanwhile on the wagon front we have finished B565224 and started on B570618. This is another rebody from the 1970's and we have been replacing the lower body sides with specially shaped repair panels. We have also refurbished the brake cylinder, rewelded some cracked underframe welds etc and are replacing the whole floor.


Flying Phil

Original Poster:

1,601 posts

146 months

Sunday 25th September 2022
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We are looking forward to the Autumn Gala (Sept 29th - Oct 2nd) when we will see our Windcutter wagons in action, together with other freight trains. Our latest restoration, B 570618, was not quite finished by the end of Friday but we will be working during the week to complete the last few details. We will also have our Information/Sales Stand outside Rothley shed on the Saturday and Sunday. Please pop along and chat to some of the team and see our display.

Flying Phil

Original Poster:

1,601 posts

146 months

Wednesday 28th September 2022
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News from the GCR website

Work on replacing the A60 bridge is starting this weekend

"Temporary road closures are will be in place on the A60 Nottingham Road between the junction of Station Boulevard, Loughborough, and the junction of Loughborough Road, Cotes, from 01st October 2022 to allow Volker Laser, on behalf of the GCR to safely undertake works to replace the rail overbridge.

The existing 120 year old structure is life expired and has been struck many times by over height lorries. Replacing it with a twin track structure, will allow freight trains from the national rail network to use the line again as well as paving the way for heritage trains to run between Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire as part of the Reunification project".

Flying Phil

Original Poster:

1,601 posts

146 months

Friday 30th September 2022
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I have just been e mailed this...."the A60 bridge, there are two excavators on the track bed removing the ballast, so its begun!!!!!

toastyhamster

1,667 posts

97 months

Friday 30th September 2022
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Good news.

Seems like there's a ton of bridge work required with the ones near Quorn due some refurbishment as well. Expensive.

As soon as my kids stop moaning about being home alone I'll re-join the Cutting 'Edge mob at Rushcliffe. Maybe Spring.

dhutch

14,399 posts

198 months

Friday 30th September 2022
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Flying Phil said:
News from the GCR website

Work on replacing the A60 bridge is starting this weekend

"Temporary road closures are will be in place on the A60 Nottingham Road between the junction of Station Boulevard, Loughborough, and the junction of Loughborough Road, Cotes, from 01st October 2022 to allow Volker Laser, on behalf of the GCR to safely undertake works to replace the rail overbridge.

The existing 120 year old structure is life expired and has been struck many times by over height lorries. Replacing it with a twin track structure, will allow freight trains from the national rail network to use the line again as well as paving the way for heritage trains to run between Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire as part of the Reunification project".
Nice!

mcdjl

5,451 posts

196 months

Friday 30th September 2022
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toastyhamster said:
Good news.

Seems like there's a ton of bridge work required with the ones near Quorn due some refurbishment as well. Expensive.

As soon as my kids stop moaning about being home alone I'll re-join the Cutting 'Edge mob at Rushcliffe. Maybe Spring.
I've seen them wiring and been tempted to join in. I think I'd be killed for taking on another hobby.

Flying Phil

Original Poster:

1,601 posts

146 months

Saturday 1st October 2022
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Taken this afternoon at the A60 bridge.

mcdjl

5,451 posts

196 months

Sunday 2nd October 2022
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Flying Phil said:
Taken this afternoon at the A60 bridge.
Quick work!

_Exocet_

78 posts

99 months

Tuesday 4th October 2022
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Not quite the Great Central, but you may recognise these wagons Phil!



GWR 57xx, 7714, at the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway

Flying Phil

Original Poster:

1,601 posts

146 months

Tuesday 4th October 2022
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Well I did quickly paint them all when they were at Quorn in 2018!
Our rake was running over the weekend...but I didn't see them as my car decided to break down at Wanlip mad

Edited by Flying Phil on Tuesday 4th October 22:21

Flying Phil

Original Poster:

1,601 posts

146 months

Wednesday 5th October 2022
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A quick trip into Loughborough shows prep work being done on the A60 bridge abutments.

toastyhamster

1,667 posts

97 months

Wednesday 5th October 2022
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Good progress.

New reunification vid released: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqlVmobISGI&ab...

W124Bob

1,749 posts

176 months

Tuesday 11th October 2022
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Whats the GCR's coal situation looking like? Had a chat with some one senior in another heritage railway recently and he's very worried about stocks for next year.

pherlopolus

2,089 posts

159 months

Tuesday 11th October 2022
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W124Bob said:
Whats the GCR's coal situation looking like? Had a chat with some one senior in another heritage railway recently and he's very worried about stocks for next year.
I am in a position that worries about this, I worry more about paying £600 a ton instead of £125. My worry of not getting any has largely gone away

100SRV

2,136 posts

243 months

Thursday 3rd November 2022
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Having moved to near the route of the GCR I'm really interested in finding out more about it, can any of you recommend some books worth buying? Very interested in any recommendations which have a good selection of photographs...

Flying Phil

Original Poster:

1,601 posts

146 months

Thursday 3rd November 2022
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Hi 100SRV
There are a variety of GC related books available in the shop on the platform at Loughborough Central station. There are also Second Hand books in the "Emporium" on the platform.
An ideal opportunity will be on Nov 19/20th when the GC will be very busy.
The timetables for the "Last Hurrah Gala" are now available on the GCR website. It is good to see that there will be a variety of authentic motive power to haul our 25+ "Lengthy Train" of 16T mineral wagons. (9F, 8F, Std 5, and Std 2). A sight and sound not to be missed!

100SRV

2,136 posts

243 months

Thursday 3rd November 2022
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Thank you flying Phil!

Flying Phil

Original Poster:

1,601 posts

146 months

Sunday 6th November 2022
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The two large pre-cast concrete "caps" have been put on the A60 bridge abutments. There are a couple of You Tube videos of the installation over the weekend.