Great Central Railway: A Boxing Day 9F...

Hello all. I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and that you ate and drank until you dropped yesterday: we had a lovely time. This morning in blustery weather I was making my way over to the Great Central Railway for a little Boxing Day steam before another family party this afternoon. I arrived at the GCR's Quorn & Woodhouse station at around 10:45am and was immediately joined by fellow ex-Shack man 'Pockets'. We wandered over the foot crossing and up onto the windy island platform. The NAAFI Tearoom, set underneath the road bridge, was just opening and already had a warming fire crackling away in the grate as we settled down for a hot cuppa'...

Services on the 8-mile long GCR would today feature two locomotives, as part of the railways Christmas Holiday trains. Whilst enjoying our tea, we were joined by Phil (SBR) and his daughter Louise. It wasn't long before the all too familiar rumbling of an arriving train shook the café and we ventured out to board the train. At the head was the seemingly overweight bulk of BR Standard 9F No92214. This engine is a regular GCR performer, having been purchased for use on the railway in early 2014. We came to see her back then at the 2014 Winter Gala, where she wore the lined Mixed Traffic BR Black. Unfortunately, the lovely but inauthentic black didn't remain and the '9' now wears BR Green in a kind of 'Evening Star' style: you can't beat a Black 9F. Anyway, 92214 was in good voice as she got the weight of the five coach train away from Quorn with ease. Soon enough she was throwing white steam over her shoulder, effortlessly making her way towards Rothley. Big engines are at home on the GCR but the flat route with lightly loaded trains is really childs play for them. The 9F soon arrived at the terminus station: Leicester North: and many passengers, including myself, jumped out to capture her running round...

92214 was built at Swindon in 1959, being withdrawn only six years later in 1965. The working lives of these popular engines, with their numbers eventually totalling 251 examples, was painfully short and most were 'like new' when the scrapyard beckoned. Happily, this one was rescued in 1980 to begin a new life in preservation, returning to steam in 2013 on the NYMR. Here, the engine runs round at Leicester North...

Having rejoined the train, a whistle from the Guard heralded a prompt departure. The 9F sailed easily towards Loughborough whilst we enjoyed some lovely grub from the Griddle Car. A piping hot sausage, bacon & egg cob is always welcome on these Winter mornings! We arrived at Loughborough in good time and spotted the pretty sight of Black Five No45305 sat steam heating the Dining Train. Unfortunately the bright sunlight did little to help my photography and so the image below is poor quality...

In order to reach my family appointment in good time, less than 20 minutes later I was riding out behind 92214 on the next departure, leaving the Black Five behind...

Its only a short jog up the double track for the 9F to reach Quorn and she is spotted at the end of the platform awaiting the 'Right Away' to continue on to Rothley...

A final look at the shining bulk of 9F No92214...

A short but sweet visit to the unique Great Central Railway and its big engines working short trains on double track. Its a very pleasant railway: lots of atmosphere and things generally looking right - long may it continue. Right, with that, I'm off to my family do - "lets have a beer". Merry Extended Christmas! Best Regards all, Sam...