Information on Loughborough

Eight locos in steam in Loughborough

Posted on 13/10/2009
newsdesk

Eight locos in steam in Loughborough

The Great Central Railway is celebrating today after thousands of visitors flocked to its Steam Railway October Gala. The event, held over the 9th, 10th and 11th of October saw around four thousand visitors make tracks for the award winning Leicestershire line.

On Saturday 10th of October, 8 locomotives were in steam at one point, the most in action simultaneously for many years. Among the mighty guest engines was railway artist David Shepherd's 9F, 92203 "Black Prince".

Takings for the three days of the gala grossed over seventy one thousand pounds. While not a record amount (that was set in 2008 when the brand new steam locomotive Tornado pulled its first trains at the Great Central) its is tens of thousands of pounds ahead of the same event in 2007.

Great Central Railway president Bill Ford said, "It's great news. A real boost for us and for the area too. Lots of our visitors came from across the country and stayed for more than a day. The line up of engines, which we dubbed 'the heavy metal show' clearly captured imaginations. We've already started making plans to put on a great show this time next year."

Other visiting engines included Fairburn Tank no 42085 and WD 90733 (making its first ever visit away from its Yorkshire home base). Meanwhile, celebrity end of steam survivor, Oliver Cromwell made a triumphant return to its home base.

The railway operated the event in conjunction with Steam Railway Magazine.

Bill continued,