AN IMPRESSIVE 50-wagon goods train was the undoubted highlight of the Great Central Railway’s 50th anniversary gala, held on June 17/18.
Comprising a blend of the line’s ‘Windcutter’ 16-ton mineral wagons, oil tankers and vans, the immense train was handled by ‘9F’ No. 92214, echoing the Riddles 2 ‐1 0‐0 design’s role on the former Great Central Main Line and elsewhere on Britain’s railway network in the BR era. GCR Head of Marketing and Communications Simon Bracewell said: “The ‘9Fs’ were synonymous with the GCR – particularly pulling freight trains – in the 1950s and 1960s, and it was fantastic to recreate the scene so many decades later. Demonstrating how Britain moved goods around the country wasn’t envisaged when the GCR first began running trains in 1973. As well as marking the past, it was good for everyone to enjoy what has been created by millions of hours of hard work and millions of pounds of funding from supporters, setting the stage for the next half a century.”
Also running over the celebratory weekend were Stanier ‘8F’ No. 48305, BR ‘5MT’ No. 73156 and ‘2MT’ No. 78018, well as Derby Lightweight diesel railcar ‘Iris’, Class 37 No. D6700, and ‘Peak’ No. D123, while Andrew Barclay 0 ‐ 4‐0ST Works No. 1223 ‘Colin McAndrew’ escaped its usual Mountsorrel stamping ground to provide ‘Driver for a Tenner’ experiences at Quorn & Woodhouse station. Under-overhaul ‘West Country��
