A Grand Great Central Night Out...

Well folks, what a cracking night this was! This afternoon and evening I attended the Great Central Railways Beer Festival at their Quorn & Woodhouse Station and a great time was had by all. Batesy and the team were there with his 1925-built Aveling & Porter steam roller so this immediately gave a good base camp and would promise a social and humorous evening. I arrived at the Central a little before 14:00 and, having met up with everyone, it wasn't long before we were making ready for the 15:00 road run to the village pubs. Soon enough, we were rumbling along behind Batesys roller, making steady progress towards the Quorndon Fox...

As this event was a direct replacement for this years cancelled Easter gathering, there were plenty of other steam engines, tractors and classics on the road run and so the car park was quite busy at the pub. Here, the roller simmers outside the pub...

Wandering around pint in hand, it was a pleasure (as always) to see Fowler Showmans Engine sisters "Repulse" and "Renown" side by side...

Here, "Ikanopit" simmers alongside fellow Foster "Fiery Elias", of Teddy Boston fame...

There were also some miniatures about, of which some were old friends...

It was a pleasure not to have the car with me today and I must thank Ben for his personal chauffeuring in both directions which meant I could actually sample a Beer Festival for a change! Usually whenever we attend these dos I'm driving so am limited to soft drinks! After a steady trundle homeward from the pub with "Louise", we arrived back at the yard and shunted the trailer back into place in good time for Dr Buskers performance at around 19:30. A steam rally favourite for decades now, Dr Buskers light hearted bawdy shows always seem to go down well wherever they're performed: we have always enjoyed them! Usually this weekend he would be at the annual Bosworth do which has held this weekend for many years but was cancelled for 2021. As the music continued and the beer flowed, the trains on the GCR were still running in the form of the Standard 5 on the diner and the Standard 9 on the Fish and Chip special. Here, the latter creeps impressively through Quorn...

Later on, with lamps lit, Batesys roller sits outside the Beer Tent...

The two Showmans were by now generating with lamps burning brightly...

Later on, a miracle occurred from the heavens above: Batesy bought us a pint!...

It was a fantastic atmosphere at Quorn this evening: singing and laughter, steam engines and beer. I haven't experienced this since way before Covid-19s first appearance and so it was a welcome return to some form of normality after a bleak 18 months or so. Sadly, all good things must come to an end and by 23:30 I was trudging across the yard towards my lift home following the finale of Dr Buskers performance. I struggle to write posts like this as it's hard to convey atmosphere and enjoyment in words and pictures but it was a sensational evening to remember and so thank you to Phil and all involved. It was great. Cheers all, Sam...