Great Central goes Midland for three days of gala action. A vision of Lostock Hall Shed in the late sixties, or a salute to the Midland Region?Thats how the Great Central Railway billed its three day Winter Gala which brought together an exciting line up of motive power which could see LMS stand for Loughborough's Monster Steam up. Black 5 no 45231 "The Sherwood Forester", Jubilee no 5690 "Leander", Stanier Mogul no. 42968 along with Black 5 44767 will also feature in weathered livery. Also the first steaming in preservation of Jinty 3F 47406

Despite freezing temperatures the weekend diesel gala went ahead with 3 diesel locos sharing the workload - D5401, D123 and D8098 plus the 2 Car DMU along with the Black 5 which was planned to run top and tail with the diesel loco to provide heat whilst the N2 worked 3 steam services. Unfortunately on the saturday the N2 failed and the Black 5 was needed to thaw out the dining stock all morning before working the 1315 diner. The timetable was disrupted but a service was maintained and all credit to GCR for putting on a great show under very difficult circumstances.

Kicking off the New Year on the 1st was Standard 2 No 78019 working 3 services - the sun lasted until the 1300 was just safely bagged! Two days later a couple of nice images of 70013 Oliver Cromwell on a beautiful afternoon. The weekend of 16/17 January found both north facing engines, Black 5 45231 and 8F 48305, working together so accepted the challenge and tried a couple of pics as the sunday afternoon was sunny. The following weekend, 23/24 Jan, both Black 5's No 44767 and 45231were operating the services but the weather was dull in the afternoon on both days not giving any chance of a good shot of 44767 or even a passing shot of both Black 5's

A look at the last 2 months of the year where no doubt the Santa Specials will play a major part of the period under review. Black 5 No 45231 has returned to the GCR but it is facing north and this is not good from a photographic point of view. The Christmas Day dining train saw Britannia Class 70013 Oliver Cromwell at the helm and in near perfect light at Woodthorpe she made a fantastic sight

The Autumn Steam Railway Gala 2009 featured reknowned aritst David Shepherd's 9F no. 92203 "Black Prince", the KWVR WD 90733 (making its first visit to another heritage railway) and the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway's Fairburn Tank no 42085. In total 7 engines were in steam including the triumphant return of Oliver Cromwell. Only a few pics as having to split my time with diesel gala at GCRN the same weekend

Called in to photograph WD 90733 guest loco from K&WVR working for the first time away from its home base. It is at the GCR for the Steam Railway Gala over the weekend of 9/10/11 October 2009 and was taking part a mini 2-8-0's weekend along with LMS 8F 48305 and GCR 63601. The 1645 was double headed with WD 90733 and 04 63601

Fantastic thats the only word for it. Guest locos 55019, 50007, 47714 and 37314 plus the home fleet with superb weather made a terrific diesel gala. Pity the weather didn't last to Sunday! Can this be beaten next year I wonder?

Well at long last after 9 different attempts of photographing Fairburn Tank 42085 over the last few weeks this was achieved on Sunday 2 August 2009. The weekend of 15/16 August saw the N2 No 1744 and Fairburn 42085 tanks double heading the last service of the day. What a grand sight this made at Woodthorpe both days.

Looking splendid in all over green, the Great Central Railway's ‘4 BIG’ unit starred over the weekend of 4/5 July 2009. The four carriage unit which has recently had a complete cosmetic interior and exterior overhaul made several runs along the line each day. When it arrived at the railway the unit was a ‘4 CIG’. Its buffet car having been removed and replaced with a modern CEP coach. This carriage was sold to another owner and an appropriate buffet car was sourced to replace it. Now a BIG once more!

The N2 started to work the weds mid week services during July 2009. As ever my old adversary - the weather held the upper hand. Also the Fairburn tank 42085 saw service following its repair and repainting in readiness for the Summer Mail at the Rail Gala during then weekend of 25/26 July 2009. A few pics of that event are here including the Fairburn Tank working a TPO service for the first time and Class 25/27 diesel combination working TPO and passenger trains. Oh for some lovely sun...

N2 No 1744 looked resplendent in magnificent solid gold lettering and numerals together with the GNR two greens of the paintwork. I was lucky to see the loco after its test run to Leicester and back and thank all at GCR who allowed me to photograph the loco and also Martin for his help. The following day it made its debut on a charter for the members of the Gresley Society (owners) running to Leicester North and return

A few images of the workings that took place on the Sunday during the War Weekend using my new lineside pass to good avail. The 4-BIG was used on the shuttle to Rothley until enemy fire forced it to remain at Rothley in the sidings in the afternoon!!

The Great Central Railway marked forty years of preservation progress on the weekend of the 9th and 10th of May 2009. A selection of steam and diesel engines took part in a festival marking the lines final closure and the achievements since revivalists took over.

On Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday there was a very special line up of tank engines. Two star guest engines - the N7 tank from the North Norfolk Railway (on long term loan from the East Anglian Railway Museum) and the visit of Ivatt tank no 41241 from the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. The Fairburn tank and N2 tank no 69523 in green and under restoration were also on display outside the engine shed at Loughborough

Some images from April and May 2009 of the happenings on GCR starting with N7 tank engine working over weekend 18/19 April 2009 and an image of 37314 at the Diesel Gala. Unfortunately 47714 was a non runner as well as the Class 25 which made for a depleted gala event,. 4-BIG Unit 7059 re-painted in green livery made a surprise appearance on 24 May 2009

A gala that featured 4 steam and 3 diesel locomotives in action all weekend. A selection of images from both days depicting the 60's scenes of both passenger and freight workings

The first week of February saw snowfall but unfortunately the snow soon disappeared and by the weekend only the remnants were left. Start of March brought a little sun and a nice pic of the NELPG's Q6 No 63395 was taken at Woodthorpe.

Images from the winter steam gala for 2009 billed as "At last - It's the 1968 show!" Guest steam loco was NELPG Q6 No 63395 which looked excellent on the windcutters. Sunday's weather was a real disappointment. A small amount of sun in the morning only then sleet and snow showers all afternoon. At times it was impossible to see the railway line through the blizzards.

A new event for 2009 featured steam and diesel services, with three heritage diesel locomotives in action. Also new for 2009 -was one of the repatriated Irish Rail steam heat vans used in one of the train formations ensuring constant heat. Unfortunately there was a problem with the steam heat van on the Saturday and according to sources on the train ' it was freezing' and could not be fixed. On the Sunday the van did not appear at all.

A look at some of the workings on GCR during January 2009

A little look at the Christmas 2008 Santa Specials and holiday workings on GCR including both steam and diesel. For a change the weather broght sunny clear blue skies over the period giving one or two delightful shots

A few images from November 2008. Unfortunately with poor weather and other commitments I have been unable to photograph as much as I would have liked.

A look at a few workings on the GCR during October 2008, weather permitting. Also some images of the Steam Railway Gala between 10 - 12 October 2008 which mainly featured Tornado, Leander and Lord Nelson. The weekend of 25/26 October saw City of Truro making its debut on the GCR. Wow what a month!

A look at the workings of the September 2008 Autumn Diesel Gala. D6535 at last has received a lick of paint while D5830 also has been re-painted still in Golden Ochre. Guest Loco 37314 looked grand in large logo livery. Well done everyone for another great gala.

A few pics of Tornado steaming on shed at Loughborough, 2 days after its arrival and a look at her with Inspection Saloon 999504 at Woodthorpe running under its own steam. Thanks to all at GCR and A1 Steam Trust for being so helpful and accommodating

A red letter day for the GCR with the arrival of Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado at Quorn having been brought down from Darlington on 2 low loaders the previous day. After careful unloading of loco and tender by Allelys, Tornado was moved to Loughborough along the GCR metals for the first time by diesel shunter D4067.

A few pics of the goings on at GCR during August 2008

After missing the Lord's first weekend running on the GCR last weekend, it was satisfying to capture her on digital today. The sun shone on 2 of her 3 runs from Loughborough so luck was in for a change. Southern Region green blends beautifully with the Leicestershire countryside

SR 850 Lord Nelson arrived early this morning for its short stay at GCR where it will undergo some mainline testing. A few pics of its move from Quorn to Loughborough Central and a few days later at Loughborough

Lakeside and Haverthwaite Fairburn tank No. 42085 is staying for an 11-month visit to the Great Central Railway. The 2-6-4T will undergo a seven-month light repair by Loughborough Standard Locomotives Group volunteers, with assistance from the GCR’s full time engineering staff. As a 'one off' the loco ran over the weekend of 21 and 22 June 2008 with permission of Lakeside and Haverthwaite railway