Diesel Gala

GCRN Diesel Gala 1st & 2nd July

The Great Central Railway Nottingham 2017 Diesel Gala takes place on Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd July with resident Prototype HST power car 41001 and 125 Group’s matching livery Mk3 coaches taking a starring role.

Confirmed visiting locomotives are 33035, 45060 and INTERCITY Swallow 47828, all of which have already arrived on-site at GCRN Ruddington. Home locos 47292 and Scotrail 47765 will also feature, plus brief appearances by electro-diesel E6016 (73110). Class 25 D7629 (25279) will be stand-by engine.

The GCRN Vacuum braked set of coaches will also be in use, enabling an hourly timetable to run with trains calling and passing at Rushcliffe Halt where connections will be held between services, enabling visitors to enjoy all of the traction on offer! All trains will have a buffet car and our Mk3 RFM catering vehicle features ‘Buffet 125’ also serving delicious hot food. The 125 Group Sales Stand will also be on-board.

Visiting GCRN by public transport? These bus routes connect GCRN with the National Rail Network: Kinchbus No.9 serves Ruddington (Business Park A60 Stop) on its way between Nottingham and Loughborough railway stations. Nottingham City Transport (NCT) Navy Line No.1 serves Rushcliffe Halt (Gypsum Works Stop) and also runs to and from Nottingham and Loughborough railway stations. In addition, on Sunday, the NCT Green Line No.10C runs between Nottingham railway station and the entrance gates of GCRN Ruddington.

More information including TIMETABLE and LOCOMOTIVE ROSTER available on the GCRN website HERE.

Farewell Bo’ness

Prototype HST 41001 meets Virgin Highland Chieftain HST at Manuel © Andy McLean

Prototype Power Car 41001 and 125 Group’s matching Mk3 coaches have been storming the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway all weekend, entertaining enthusiasts at the Summer Diesel Gala. 125 Group is grateful to everyone at the B&KR for giving us such a friendly welcome and for hosting a great event. Special thanks to all who came along, bought tickets and rode the trains, we hope you enjoyed the screaming historic HST as much as we did!

Our High Speed Train is now heading for home base, Ruddington on the Great Central Railway (Nottingham). Traction for the mainline transit should be Michael Owen’s splendid locomotives 20205 + 20189, hauling consist 12092 + 10206 + 11074 + 41001. Below is a summary of the planned non-passenger workings with live schedule links courtesy of Realtime Trains.

Monday 25th July 2016

5M20 08+40 Bo’ness Junction Exchange Siding – York Holgate via Linlithgow, Suburban Line, Millerhill, Drem, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Newcastle, Sunderland, Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe, Thirsk, York Avoiding Lines, arrive York Holgate 18+07. Note this movement is booked to be recessed in many loops for a great deal of time, see schedule for the full timing details. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K91057/2016/07/25/advanced

Tuesday 26th July 2016

5M20 12+54 York Holgate – Hotchley Hill/Rushcliffe Halt via Milford, Pontefract Baghill, Swinton, Old Road, Chesterfield, Langley Mill, Loughborough, Leicester, Wigston North Jn (run-round/reverse), Leicester, Loughborough South Jn 18/06, booked to arrive Hotchley Hill/Rushcliffe Halt 18+38. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K91057/2016/07/26/advanced

UPDATE: The class 20s are formed top and tail on the set, there is a possibility 5M20 may reverse at Loughborough South Jn at 1627 and run onto GCR(N) early missing out Leicester, subject to operating conditions at the time. 

The class 20s are then planned to part company with the HST and run light to Butterley. Power Car 41001 will then haul 11074, 10206 and 12092 as 5Z41 19+00 Hotchley Hill/Rushcliffe Halt – Ruddington.

Please note, as always, all of this information is provided in good faith but these movements, traction, consists and even routes taken can change at short notice on the day subject to operational constraints, the trains may run early or late or be cancelled.