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The Sunday running went well. There were stewards on duty going into the car parking field giving out a safety briefing sheet. No charge for admission. I was directed to a parking space with more than 2m spacing between cars. Spacing between visitors was also monitored by stewards but everybody was self spacing. There was a 37 on the van train and the Std 2 running light engine. One steward held a donations collection tin which most people contributed too.
There were about 50 cars and 70 people.
The engine crews wore masks and gloves.
There were about 50 cars and 70 people.
The engine crews wore masks and gloves.
Finally some good news from the GCR Website:-
Provisional date for first passenger services: Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th July 2020.
Work is well-advanced towards a projected first date for running passenger trains of 25th July subject, of course, to rules in place from the government at that time. Intensive preparation has gone into a recovery plan which will be submitted to the Office of Rail and Road this coming week for their approval; needless to say there a hundreds of considerations on and off-train that must be taken into account to ensure that we operate safely in line with government guidelines and “the new normal”. A number of test trains will run between now and the scheduled opening date to ensure that everything is ready and that all safety critical competencies are updated.
More details will be published as details are confirmed.
Provisional date for first passenger services: Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th July 2020.
Work is well-advanced towards a projected first date for running passenger trains of 25th July subject, of course, to rules in place from the government at that time. Intensive preparation has gone into a recovery plan which will be submitted to the Office of Rail and Road this coming week for their approval; needless to say there a hundreds of considerations on and off-train that must be taken into account to ensure that we operate safely in line with government guidelines and “the new normal”. A number of test trains will run between now and the scheduled opening date to ensure that everything is ready and that all safety critical competencies are updated.
More details will be published as details are confirmed.
Going back to wagon matters a pair of our restored Windcutter wagons had been "Stopped" due to wheel flanges being worn "Too Thin". We were able to swap wheelsets on one but the other has outsize bearings and we had no spares. To put new tyres on would cost several thousand pounds. Just before lockdown I saw a possible alternative solution and after a lot of negotiation it arrived...
It is an old SR Steam Heat Van which was used to preheat passenger trains. The intention is to swap wheelsets and then resell it. Since then I have given it a very quick paint to smarten it up whilst it is at the GCR. I have also reclaimed some of the louvre slats to fill the holes!
It is an old SR Steam Heat Van which was used to preheat passenger trains. The intention is to swap wheelsets and then resell it. Since then I have given it a very quick paint to smarten it up whilst it is at the GCR. I have also reclaimed some of the louvre slats to fill the holes!
pherlopolus said:
Is that the one from CVR? we looked at it to turn it into a generator van, but decided to look out for a GUV instead...
Yes it did come from the CVR. It still has the steam generating boiler in, but all the controls have been vandalised and there are other bits missing....It could make an excellent "Glamping" body or an exhibition/sales stand on a railway. We will be reselling it in a few months time after we have swapped wheelsets.
In other GCR news, there was a small overbridge (No 341) just North of Quorn Station. It was inspected early this year and a speed restriction placed on it due to its poor condition (only 120 years old!). A new concrete bridge with refurbished lattice girders has been designed, built and installed. Now Trains are now back running over the new bridge at a cost of £250,000 ish.
There is another "Re-Unification" zoom talk on-line on Sunday 27th Sept.....details on the GCR website.
There is another "Re-Unification" zoom talk on-line on Sunday 27th Sept.....details on the GCR website.
Meanwhile, back in the shed at Rothley, we have been doing some more work on one of our "Windcutter" mineral wagons. This had an "inner body" as it was used by ICI to transport Soda Ash in the 70's, then it went to Rover Cars to move steel scrap. Due to the space between the two bodies getting filled with corrosive "stuff" we have been cutting out lots of rusty steel....... 
ecsrobin said:
Great central and the bridge featured yesterday on walking Britain’s lost railways on channel5. Its available on catch up.
I enjoyed watching that. He gave a good overview of the whole line and on the preserved sections. It was a shame he called it the "Grand Central" a couple of times!They have raised nearly £400,000 so far, this year, towards the next section to be built - the "Factory Flyover".
Some very good news from the GCR ..... Passenger Trains will be running from April 17th, with advance booking on line via the GCR website. .....Which also has today....
"Published April 2, 2021 | By GCR Admin
Great Central Railway to receive £515,700 from the second round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund
GCR are among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund
This award will hugely assist the Railway to recover from the devastating impact of Covid closures and ongoing restrictions"
"Published April 2, 2021 | By GCR Admin
Great Central Railway to receive £515,700 from the second round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund
GCR are among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund
This award will hugely assist the Railway to recover from the devastating impact of Covid closures and ongoing restrictions"
The bridge over the A60 is the subject of much discussion. It obviously needs attention and it will be having two tracks across in the future. This is so that long trains from the chord line and the main network can be held on the level and not on the slope of the chord, whilst the heritage line can still operate.
However that bridge is also Low and has been "lorry struck" quite often. So do they do a cheaper, quicker repair or a more expensive longer replacement with a better solution?
However that bridge is also Low and has been "lorry struck" quite often. So do they do a cheaper, quicker repair or a more expensive longer replacement with a better solution?
It has been announced that the A60 bridge is to be replaced by a new concrete decks (as a bridge North of Quorn was replaced last year).
This might have been more expensive in the short term but may give a bit more clearance underneath and will need much less maintenance in the future.
I was on the South coast earlier so here is a gratuitous picture from Swanage....
This might have been more expensive in the short term but may give a bit more clearance underneath and will need much less maintenance in the future.
I was on the South coast earlier so here is a gratuitous picture from Swanage....
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