Loughborough’s award-winning heritage railway, Great Central Railway, is welcoming visitors to a fantastic weekend of vintage steam entertainment at their annual Autumn Steam Gala.
Held between the 3 and 6 October, all stations along the heritage railways double tracks will be open throughout the four-day weekend, offering visitors an exciting opportunity to get up close and personal with many of the GCR fleet of heritage locomotives.
Steam trains will be making regular journeys along the heritage line between Loughborough and Leicester North, allowing you to take a seat and experience the magic of this heritage railway as you travel through the beautiful, Leicestershire countryside. There will also be opportunities to visit the footplate of some of these engines – a must for kids (and BIG kids) alike.
What’s more there is the arrival of a very special guest locomotive, making its first-ever appearance on our historic tracks. Great Western Railway Manor Class locomotive No. 7828 ‘Odney Manor’ will be visiting from the West Somerset Railway. Known for its stunning performance on the seaside line, Odney Manor will be an impressive addition to the lineup as it navigates the double-track mainline at the GCR.
Also running that weekend will be GWR 6959 Class 6990 Witherslack Hall, LMS 8F Class 2-8-0 No.48305, BR Standard Class 5 4-6-0 No.73156, BR Class 2 2-6-0 No.78018, BR Class 2 2-6-0 No.78019, British Railways Class 20 D8001 (20001) and Derby Lightweight single car M79900 “Iris” – keep an eye out online to find out more!
The Midlander First Class Dining Train, departing from Loughborough Central at 1:00 PM, on Thursday. Hauled by one of the gala’s guest locomotives, this train offers a refined setting with beautifully preserved carriages. Enjoy a delicious two-course meal as you take in the breathtaking Charnwood countryside with options including Oven Roasted Salmon with Samphire & Mussels, Braised Blade of Beef with Roasted Vegetables or Sweet Potato, Cashew & Apricot Chutney Tart as well as others and finish off your journey with a decadent Dark Chocolate Praline Cheesecake or tangy Lemon Meringue & White Chocolate Eaton Mess and fresh coffee using beans from 200 Degrees.
The Autumn Gala Friday evening will also see our evening steam trains departing from Loughborough at 18:30 and 20:00 as part of the gala. Experience the allure of steam travel during a beautiful Autumn evening, hauled by our amazing visiting locomotives. With food and drink available on board!
Great Central Railway Visitors will also be invited to explore history with a range of family-friendly, guided tours on Saturday and Sunday. Discover the railway’s past and delve into the story of Loughborough Central station as well as go behind-the-scenes of the Loughborough loco sheds where you can see some of these majestic trains being lovingly stripped down, restored and repaired.
Malcolm Holmes, General Manager of the Great Central Railway, said: “We’re steaming into Autumn with another fantastic gala event and are extremely excited to invite train enthusiasts and families alike to our open weekend this October. Whether you’ve been to Great Central Railway before or visiting us for the first time, this is the perfect opportunity to experience our historic railways, meet our fleet of locos and find out more about our visiting engines too!”
For visitors wanting to wet their whistle, a delicious selection of food and drinks will be available at any of the many cafes along the line; there’s somewhere to get a drink at every station at GCR and GCRN! You can even eat onboard the train from the railway’s Griddle Car whilst those looking for a souvenir from their day at the station can enjoy a peruse the shop at Loughborough Station.
Your day ticket allows you full access to all Great Central Railway stations, as well as train travel throughout the day and all tours. Discounted tickets for visitors to access all days of the gala as well as family tickets are also available. To book your tickets visit www.gcrailway.co.uk
