The Winter Gala at Loughborough...

During the quiet winter months from New Year until spring, most preserved railways tend to shut up shop and go into hibernation for their maintenance period. The GCR however, with the added luxury of double track allowing for single line running during permanent way projects, simply runs a reduced service and (excluding diesel events) usually runs at least one steam locomotive every weekend. The end of January however heralds the arrival of the ever popular Winter Steam Gala and this years event featured a total of eight locomotives in steam. Having booked a day off today to attend, I arrived at a gloomy Loughborough a little before 06:00. Having signed in and read the notices, I began cleaning visiting Standard 4 tank No80080...

The tank engine, built at Brighton in 1954, was appearing courtesy of the Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust at Butterley (owners of the Duchess herself). These 2-6-4 tanks are big engines and quite handsome. Five engines would be in service today for the gala Friday, with the remaining three joining in for the weekend. There was a great atmosphere on shed this morning, with engines coming to life all around and many crews busying themselves with various prep tasks. As the light came up, the standard tank was shining in anticipation of her first trip of the day...

Once the engines began to leave shed, I set to work with my next project for the day. I'd elected to bring my cleaning gear and have a good go at the only operational Western engine in the GCR fleet: No6990 "Witherslack Hall". This copper topped beauty has been part of the Great Central stud for many a year and, as a Western fan myself, I wanted to make sure she was shining for her gala appearance. It's funny how we all like our certain engines. When I was younger I was party to all of the people who don't like Great Western stuff. I've heard them all:

"There's only one Great Western, the North Western!"

"Gresley Was Right"

"Western engines have so many corks they'd float in the sea"

You name it, I've heard it! I too was guilty of these phrases once upon a time, with no knowledge of the machines behind them. (Bad mentoring of the time, nothing more). Having experienced Great Western engines first hand, both on and off the main line, I now feel a deep seated love and respect for them. My association with Tyseley and their stunning fleet of engines worked wonders in cementing this respect. If we have to pick a region then the region of copper topped greyhounds racing into the West Country with holiday expresses is mine. Anyway, I digress. Having spent an hour or so on top of the engine cleaning her bonnet, copper top and whistles, I jumped down so that she could be shunted onto the shed frontage on No2 road...

Throughout the rest of the day a happy little group of us busied ourselves with the cleanliness of 6990. By the time her warming fire was lit later on in the afternoon, she was absolutely shining. All of the paintwork had been washed down with white spirit and polished, the bottom end cleaned in paraffin-oil mix and as much brass polished inside and out as we could. She looked lovely and quite ready for her public...

As the day drew on the engine was finally shunted back to No3 road where she'd started her day: albeit much, much cleaner. What a worthwhile day and a great feeling to see the 1948-built Modified Hall looking so well...

Thanks to all who made today (and 6990) shine. Here's to the next time folks...

Please note any views or opinions expressed in this blog are merely personal and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of any other person, group or organisation.