Dining The "Elizabethan" On The GCR...
Hi everyone. Firstly, apologies for the lateness of this post's appearance (21/1/11) but I've been very busy! Today was a very special one; our first Dining Experience on the famous Great Central Railway at Loughborough. We were to travel on the Sunday "Elizabethan", departing Loughborough at 1:15pm for a steam hauled return run to Leicester North and back; a journey of approximately 16 miles. The "Elizabethan" name derives back to BR days, remembering a train that used to run between Kings Cross and Edinburgh non-stop. Today, the GCR's "Elizabethan" offers a Silver Service 4-course meal, served in luxury on board a fully restored steam hauled train. Arriving at Loughborough at around 12:45pm, we walked down the station steps and onto the platform. There, in front of us, our train, headed by recently-overhauled LMS Black 5 No45305, stood waiting...
There were 7-coaches in the rake behind the '5'. Of those 7, three were Dining Cars and of those three, one was a beautiful newly-restored Pullman Coach from the railway's recently-released "Cromwell" set. Luckily enough, we were to travel on this beautiful coach. Below, the steam-heated train stands waiting with the Red Carpet laid out to the far door of the "Cromwell Pullman"...
Whilst the '5' stood waiting for departure time, my mother and brother headed into the Waiting Room to stand by the open fire. I myself took a quick walk around the yard. In the Freight Loop, John Cameron's Gresley K4 2-6-0 No61994 "The Great Marquess" stood cold and quiet...
The GCR shed is now that packed that they can't seem to get any more loco's in. Therefore, many engines, such as the K4, seem to be often left outside. She is a very attractive machine and will taking part in the 2011 Winter Gala at the GCR in three weeks time; which I will be attending! Though a little dirty and work-stained, 61994 does look the part. Meanwhile, over the way, another well-known locomotive stood cold and rusty. John Kennedy's Hall No4953 "Pitchford Hall", having now left Tyseley, stood over in the storage road. Last time I saw 4953 at the GCR a few years back, she was in pristine condition. But now, allas, she's been outside for a good while and is looking a little tired. However, even today, a gang of her supporters had begun an attack of cleaning in an attempt to clean the Hall up ready for her appearance at the WG in three weeks. Below, a rusty "Pitchford Hall" stands cold whilst a cleaner attacks the Drivers-side window...
Also spotted down in the yard was the old Robinson GCR 8K/LNER 04 2-8-0, or 'R.O.D'. Now she really is a beautiful Edwardian machine! Unfortunately, due to a spate of recent thefts, the GCR shed is now off limits to the roaming enthusiast; some people ruin all the fun! With departure time fast approaching, I returned to the platforms to rejoin my family and to board the "Elizabethan"...
Having walked up the Red Carpet, we took our seats in the luxurious, newly-restored "Cromwell Pullman" with the table set for the meal...
After a brief introduction from the smartly-dressed stewards, we ordered drinks. The Guest Ale wasn't bad at all ;) ...
At 1:15pm sharp, 45305 sounded her Stanier hooter before taking us carefully out of Loughborough and onto the double-track mainline to Rothley via Quorn. Passing Woodthorpe, soup was served with warm rolls; beautiful. The "Elizabethan" always makes a brief stop on the viaduct over Swithland Resovoir, allowing guests to take in the view and to stretch the journey a little more. Below, the warm sun reflects down onto the freezing waters of Swithland...
Soon after, the main course was served with all the beef and vegetables you could eat; good service or what?!...
Below, a zoomed shot of the GCR logo threaded into the headrest covers...
After the stop at Swithland, 45305 took us to Rothley before continuing on the single-track to Leicester North. At Rothley, we passed a rather dirty-looking Small Prairie; the South Devon's No5526, working in 'Auto' mode with her 'Autocoach' (filling in for the DMU). Cleaning seems a little slack here sometimes but I have absolutely no quarms about the condition of 45305; she is a beautifully kept engine indeed. Leicester North soon beckoned and we halted to allow the beautiful '5' to join the other end of the train. Once ran round, 45305 hauled us tender-first back towards Loughborough, passing the Prairie again at Swithland. On the return run, pudding was served; a lovely sponge with hot custard; yum! Following that, and another pint or two of the Guest(!), we had a nice cuppa' with mints to complete the meal...
Having drank our hot drinks, Loughborough soon beckoned, as did the end of our "Elizabethan" experience. The smartly-dressed stewards assembled at the doorway to see us off the train and we thanked them for their great service. Walking back across to the other platform, I was just in time to see 45305 run through. Below, a nice shot with little exhaust of Black 5 No45305 "Alderman A E Draper"...
For your interest, 45305 was built by Armstrong-Whitworth of Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1936. The beautiful Five lasted through the LMS and to the very end of BR steam in August 1968, when she withdrawn from Lostock Shed; the feature of last year's WG. 45305 was sold for scrap to Albert Draper's of Hull. Alderman A E Draper saved the loco, simply because it was the cleanest of three Black 5's in the yard. Even today, the loco is still owned by the scrapyard(!) but is looked after by the 5305 Locomotive Association. The loco has since been steamed many times and undergone a couple of good overhauls. Today, she is still a beautiful piece of LMS machinery and is seen here at Loughborough...
Finally, we see the GCR logo and contact details on the back of the drinks menu...
All in all, this was a fantastic day out and the "Elizabethan" is well worth a try; really fantastic meal and great service. Thank you very much to the GCR for a great day out to celebrate my belated 19th Birthday (27th Dec!). Thanks for reading folks. Good Evening...
Hi everyone. Firstly, apologies for the lateness of this post's appearance (21/1/11) but I've been very busy! Today was a very special one; our first Dining Experience on the famous Great Central Railway at Loughborough. We were to travel on the Sunday "Elizabethan", departing Loughborough at 1:15pm for a steam hauled return run to Leicester North and back; a journey of approximately 16 miles. The "Elizabethan" name derives back to BR days, remembering a train that used to run between Kings Cross and Edinburgh non-stop. Today, the GCR's "Elizabethan" offers a Silver Service 4-course meal, served in luxury on board a fully restored steam hauled train. Arriving at Loughborough at around 12:45pm, we walked down the station steps and onto the platform. There, in front of us, our train, headed by recently-overhauled LMS Black 5 No45305, stood waiting...
There were 7-coaches in the rake behind the '5'. Of those 7, three were Dining Cars and of those three, one was a beautiful newly-restored Pullman Coach from the railway's recently-released "Cromwell" set. Luckily enough, we were to travel on this beautiful coach. Below, the steam-heated train stands waiting with the Red Carpet laid out to the far door of the "Cromwell Pullman"...
Whilst the '5' stood waiting for departure time, my mother and brother headed into the Waiting Room to stand by the open fire. I myself took a quick walk around the yard. In the Freight Loop, John Cameron's Gresley K4 2-6-0 No61994 "The Great Marquess" stood cold and quiet...
The GCR shed is now that packed that they can't seem to get any more loco's in. Therefore, many engines, such as the K4, seem to be often left outside. She is a very attractive machine and will taking part in the 2011 Winter Gala at the GCR in three weeks time; which I will be attending! Though a little dirty and work-stained, 61994 does look the part. Meanwhile, over the way, another well-known locomotive stood cold and rusty. John Kennedy's Hall No4953 "Pitchford Hall", having now left Tyseley, stood over in the storage road. Last time I saw 4953 at the GCR a few years back, she was in pristine condition. But now, allas, she's been outside for a good while and is looking a little tired. However, even today, a gang of her supporters had begun an attack of cleaning in an attempt to clean the Hall up ready for her appearance at the WG in three weeks. Below, a rusty "Pitchford Hall" stands cold whilst a cleaner attacks the Drivers-side window...
Also spotted down in the yard was the old Robinson GCR 8K/LNER 04 2-8-0, or 'R.O.D'. Now she really is a beautiful Edwardian machine! Unfortunately, due to a spate of recent thefts, the GCR shed is now off limits to the roaming enthusiast; some people ruin all the fun! With departure time fast approaching, I returned to the platforms to rejoin my family and to board the "Elizabethan"...
Having walked up the Red Carpet, we took our seats in the luxurious, newly-restored "Cromwell Pullman" with the table set for the meal...
After a brief introduction from the smartly-dressed stewards, we ordered drinks. The Guest Ale wasn't bad at all ;) ...
At 1:15pm sharp, 45305 sounded her Stanier hooter before taking us carefully out of Loughborough and onto the double-track mainline to Rothley via Quorn. Passing Woodthorpe, soup was served with warm rolls; beautiful. The "Elizabethan" always makes a brief stop on the viaduct over Swithland Resovoir, allowing guests to take in the view and to stretch the journey a little more. Below, the warm sun reflects down onto the freezing waters of Swithland...
Soon after, the main course was served with all the beef and vegetables you could eat; good service or what?!...
Below, a zoomed shot of the GCR logo threaded into the headrest covers...
After the stop at Swithland, 45305 took us to Rothley before continuing on the single-track to Leicester North. At Rothley, we passed a rather dirty-looking Small Prairie; the South Devon's No5526, working in 'Auto' mode with her 'Autocoach' (filling in for the DMU). Cleaning seems a little slack here sometimes but I have absolutely no quarms about the condition of 45305; she is a beautifully kept engine indeed. Leicester North soon beckoned and we halted to allow the beautiful '5' to join the other end of the train. Once ran round, 45305 hauled us tender-first back towards Loughborough, passing the Prairie again at Swithland. On the return run, pudding was served; a lovely sponge with hot custard; yum! Following that, and another pint or two of the Guest(!), we had a nice cuppa' with mints to complete the meal...
Having drank our hot drinks, Loughborough soon beckoned, as did the end of our "Elizabethan" experience. The smartly-dressed stewards assembled at the doorway to see us off the train and we thanked them for their great service. Walking back across to the other platform, I was just in time to see 45305 run through. Below, a nice shot with little exhaust of Black 5 No45305 "Alderman A E Draper"...
For your interest, 45305 was built by Armstrong-Whitworth of Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1936. The beautiful Five lasted through the LMS and to the very end of BR steam in August 1968, when she withdrawn from Lostock Shed; the feature of last year's WG. 45305 was sold for scrap to Albert Draper's of Hull. Alderman A E Draper saved the loco, simply because it was the cleanest of three Black 5's in the yard. Even today, the loco is still owned by the scrapyard(!) but is looked after by the 5305 Locomotive Association. The loco has since been steamed many times and undergone a couple of good overhauls. Today, she is still a beautiful piece of LMS machinery and is seen here at Loughborough...
Finally, we see the GCR logo and contact details on the back of the drinks menu...
All in all, this was a fantastic day out and the "Elizabethan" is well worth a try; really fantastic meal and great service. Thank you very much to the GCR for a great day out to celebrate my belated 19th Birthday (27th Dec!). Thanks for reading folks. Good Evening...
1 comment:
Just wanted to say a very intersting read. And you caught me I am on the footplate on Pitchford Hall. Just wanted to say I am not a cleaner!!! I am a member of the support crew, and it is unfortunate you seen pitchford very rusty. She is now kept under cover sporting new painted smokebox and wheels, polished boiler barrel, cab, tender. The bottom end of the locomotive has had a thorough clean, the axleboxes on the tender are drained and 'jet washed' and the locos frames like wise. If you want to have a look around the shed next time you can do
Post a Comment