Information on Loughborough
News Index
2012
Feb 2012Jan 2012
2011
Dec 2011Nov 2011
Oct 2011
Sep 2011
Aug 2011
Jul 2011
Jun 2011
May 2011
Apr 2011
Mar 2011
Feb 2011
Jan 2011
2010
Dec 2010Nov 2010
Oct 2010
Sep 2010
Aug 2010
Jul 2010
Jun 2010
May 2010
Apr 2010
Mar 2010
Feb 2010
Jan 2010
2009
Dec 2009Nov 2009
Oct 2009
Sep 2009
Aug 2009
Jul 2009
Jun 2009
May 2009
Apr 2009
Mar 2009
Feb 2009
Jan 2009
2008
Dec 2008Nov 2008
Oct 2008
Sep 2008
Aug 2008
Jul 2008
Jun 2008
May 2008
Apr 2008
Mar 2008
Feb 2008
Jan 2008
2007
Dec 2007Nov 2007
Oct 2007
Sep 2007
Aug 2007
Jul 2007
Jun 2007
May 2007
The lorry in front is taking a diesel to the Great Central Railway!
Posted on 08/09/2009
newsdesk
The lorry in front is taking a diesel to the Great Central Railway!
Two massive heritage diesel engines have touched down on the award winning Leicestershire line for a three day celebration of 'modern' traction.
A Deltic locomotive - number D9019 'Royal Highland Fusilier' - the famous type which hauled express trains from London to Edinburgh in the late sixties and seventies is the first guest. The second is class 50 007, ready to leave enthusiasts shaken and stirred as it's a type of engine which has never been to the GCR before.
Together they are the stars of a thirteen strong locomotive line up. It's the biggest diesel gala the Great Central Railway has staged for many years.
"We've really pulled out the stops for this gala" said GCR president Bill Ford. "Last year we gave the steam enthusiasts a number of treats with high profile visiting engines. This weekend fans of heritage diesels get their turn! Not only have we got the two visitors, our entire home fleet will be in action as well. Over three days the engines will clock up almost one thousand miles between them! There should be something for everyone with engines of almost every type and size."
The full locomotive line up includes; class 20 D8098, class 25 D5185, class 27 D5401, class 31 D5830, class 33 D6535 (which will be working with the recently restored GCR 4 BIG unit in push pull mode), class 37 314, class 45 D123, class 47 D1705, class 47 714, class 50 007 and class 55 D9019.
Two smaller shunting engines, newly arrived class 03 D2158 and class 10 D4067 will join forces to operate shunter shuttles.
On Friday and Saturday night late trains will serve fish, chips and real ale on board allowing passengers to ride into the evening. The gala is expected to bring a few thousand visitors to the county as they sample the Loughborough based GCR's famously intensive double track timetables.
"These diesels are vintage machines now" concluded Bill. "They are over forty years old, in fact some are approaching their half century. They cast a spell over a whole generation just as steam does. In most cases they've disappeared from the national network."
The two visiting engines will leave the railway promptly after the gala on their way to other engagements. Enthusiasts are urged to catch the big stars at the Great Central Railway three day diesel gala - for one long weekend only!