Great Central Railway

Two shots were stitched to create this image of the footplate of Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48305 as we coasted down the hill from Quorn. Bridge 340 and the Quorn Up Auto-Distant are visible through the cab window. If you really squint you can see the double yellow on the Down Auto-Distant. The only pressure gauge in view shows 10psi is going through the steam heating system.

I'm prepping in the rain, what a glorious feeling, I'm happy again... Our loco is on the right - Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 46521 - but the main subject is on the adjacent road - BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 92214.

On this beautiful January day I joined the Wednesday lineside clearance gang and we were chopping back the undergrowth south of Rothley Brook when a distinctive chime whistle was clearly heard. LNER A1 4-6-2 60163 Tornado duly appeared light engine from Loughborough, stopped beyond the Down Home signal seen here, reversed and shot off back to Loughborough. We missed it the first time but on hearing it again I walked up to the loco and spoke to Dave the driver. It turned out they were Human Element testing the European Train Control System (ETCS) or is that ATMS - Advanced Train Management System now we are apparently no longer European?

It was pouring down with rain but the departure had to be recorded. This is the delayed 12.50 service with new-build LNER A1 4-6-2 60163 Tornado on the front heading south out of Loughborough Central station & approaching Beeches Road bridge. Mark the morning fireman peers out of the cab looking to call the Section signal.

New-build LNER A1 4-6-2 60163 Tornado really draws the crowds. The gallery (including me of course) lined up 3 deep to capture its departure from the Down Loop at Loughborough with the 11.50 goods train during the East Coast Main Line weekend

The late afternoon sun highlights the exhaust from Great Western Modified Hall 4-6-0 6990 Witherslack Hall as it rounds Kinchley Lane and under bridge 346 to pass Ivatt 2-6-0 46521. In reality Rob, 6990's driver, had been asked to give the Photo-Charter participants beyond the bridge a solo "spirited run" while we were asked to remain stationary out of the way in the cutting. A stirring scene but one none of the photographers got to see or record from this angle!

Dawn was breaking as we prepped BR Standard 9F 92214 on shed at Loughborough on the morning of day 3 of the 2022 GCR Winter Gala.

Super Power at Rothley. BR Standard 5 4-6-0 73156 double-heads with GCR Gala visitor Bulleid Battle of Britain pacific 34072 257 Squadron while BR Standard 9F 92214 sits in the Up C&W siding.

Back on shed at Loughborough locos occupied both pits so 2-6-4T 80080 was stabled under the bridge on road 2 - at least it was dry for the disposal. The fire was well and truly clinkered across the back and although this didn't actually cause any problems out on the line we ran shy of pressure. Now I had to try and clean it off the bars. The 80080 owners had decreed that the grate shouldn't be rocked as it wasn't fitted with an ashpan spray which didn't help. Alongside is Standard 2 2-6-0 78018.