Great Central Railway - 'Winter Steam Gala' 25/01/2025

The enthusiast masses would descend on the Great Central Railway for their ‘Winter Steam Gala’, as it returned for another year; this edition being held over the weekend of January 23rd-26th.

This edition of the event would feature a strong GWR theme, with all three visiting locomotives being from the Swindon ranks. Birthed from a project that started in 1998, 6880 "Betton Grange" held the title of ‘Britain’s newest steam locomotive’ for all of a few months, before being dethroned by 32424 “Beachy Head” at the Bluebell Railway. Nevertheless, 6880 is a new-build example of the 6800 'Grange' Class of which all 80 original locomotives were scrapped, leading 6880 to be dubbed 'the 81st Grange', and filling a gap in the fleet of GWR 4-6-0 locomotives previously unrepresented in preservation. Although 80 were constructed by Swindon Works, a further batch had been planned only to be cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II. The identities for this further batch had already been decided, with 6880 "Betton Grange" scheduled for the next in line. As such, it's fitting for this '81st Grange' to adopt the identity. Joining the ‘Grange’ would be 3850 from the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, and 6695 from the Swindon & Cricklade Railway. This trio would be complimented by the presence of resident ‘Modified Hall’ - 6990 “Witherslack Hall”.

Bolstering the Western quartet would be a further quartet of traction from the GCR home-fleet, in the shape of 5MT - 73156, 2MT - 78019, 'Bubble Car' - M79900 "Iris" (name not carried), and Austerity Saddle Tank - 7 "Robert" (currently masquerading as scrapped classmate 68067). As is usual for this event, an intensive timetable would be in use featuring very frequent passenger services. These would have demonstration freight services interlaced between, adding to the spectacle of the event.

Locomotives:
Ex-GWR 6800 'Grange' Class - 6880 "Betton Grange"
BR Standard Class 5MT - 73156
GWR 2884 Class - 3850
BR(W) 6959 'Modified Hall' Class - 6990 "Witherslack Hall"
BR Standard Class 2MT - 78019
Ex-WD Hudswell Clarke Austerity Saddle Tank - 68067 (7 “Robert”)
BR Derby Lightweight 'Bubble Car' - M79900
GWR 5600 Class - 6695

BR Standard Class 2MT - 78018, originally scheduled to work across the event, was failed late on the Friday evening. This sidelined the locomotive through Saturday while repairs were made, for it to re-enter service on the Sunday.

00:00 - 6880 Woodthorpe
01:12 - 3850 Cedars Hotel
03:11 - 6990 Cedars Hotel
04:30 - 78019 Cedars Hotel
06:01 - 68067 Woodthorpe
06:55 - M79900 Woodthorpe
07:21 - 6695 Woodthorpe
08:27 - 73156 Fielding Road foot crossing
09:52 - 6880 Thurcaston
11:04 - 3850 Kinchley Lane
11:57 - 68067 Kinchley Lane
12:54 - 78019 Kinchley Lane
14:04 - 6880 & 6990 Kinchley Lane
15:04 - 6695 Kinchley Lane
15:48 - 78019 Woodthorpe
17:04 - 73156 Woodthorpe
17:49 - 6880 Woodthorpe
18:58 - 68067 Woodthorpe

All footage filmed on Saturday the 25th of January 2025.