2007/01/01.01 Loughborough station has a typical Great Central island platform. 1st January, 2007.

2007/01/01.02 Nicely restored in the early B.R. carmine and cream (otherwise known as 'blood and custard!') livery, this ex L.N.E.R. Gresley Buffet stands in the platform at Loughborough Central. 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.03 Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48305 arrives at Loughborough Central from Leicester North. 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.04 This, and the next few shots, show Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48305 at Loughborough. 1st January, 2007

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2007/01/01.13 Robinson O4 2-8-0 63601 outside the shed at Loughborough. 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.14 There are quite a few early diesels on the Great Central and some of them are depicted in the next few shots. 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.15 Type 2 Bo-Bo D5185.

2007/01/01.16 Brush Type 4 Co-Co D1705.

2007/01/01.17 A closer view of Brush Type 4 Co-Co D1705 SPARROW HAWK.

2007/01/01.18 D5185 again.

2007/01/01.19 The humble 350 h.p. 0-6-0 diesel shunter.

2007/01/01.20 Sulzer engined 1Co-Co1 D123 LEICESTERSHIRE AND DERBYSHIRE YEOMANRY was fired up to deputize for the 8F which had been taken out of service when a fault was discovered. 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.21 D123 LEICESTERSHIRE AND DERBYSHIRE YEOMANRY.

2007/01/01.22 Still in B.R. blue, Type 3 Bo-Bo D6535.

2007/01/01.23 D123 again.

2007/01/01.24 D123 leaves the sidings and joins the main lines ready to take over the train following the failure of the 8F. 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.25 D123 on the run-round loop at Loughborough Central. 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.26 D123 has arrived at Leicester North. This station used to be called Belgrave and Birstall. In those days it had a traditional Great Central island platform, with the entrance off the bridge seen in the background. 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.27 D123 at Leicester North. 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.28 The former through station of Belgrave and Birstall is now a terminal station known as Leicester North. D123 is running round ready for the return trip to Loughborough. 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.29 D123

2007/01/01.30 Back at Loughborough, and G.W. 'Large Prairie' 2-6-2T 4141 is now ready to take over the rest of the day's trains and D123 can go back to the sidings. The engine's copper chimney cap nicely matches the other copper cap on the left! 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.31 G.W. 'Large Prairie' 2-6-2T 4141 ready to leave Loughborough Central. 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.32 GW Prairie tank 4141 at Rothley. 1st January.2007

2007/01/01.34 In the gathering gloom, the up starter protects the beginning of the single line southwards towards Leicester. Gas lights on the platform begin to show, and, in the distance, the back lights on the home signals can be seen shining brightly. 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.35 The 'old' Great Central is superbly recreated at Rothley and this is shown clearly in this shot as daylight fades. There is a glimmer of light from the signal box, the gas lamp hisses on the wall of the station building and a lone passenger strolls down the platform...... 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.36 The wonderful atmosphere of a busy country station as recreated at Rothley. 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.37 Another busy scene at Rothley. This is a typical Great Central island platform, with the entrance from the road bridge via the staicase in the centre of the picture. 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.38 Rothley station, with gas lamps alight under the awning and the road bridge in the background. 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.39 The down starter is still on as the next train to Loughborough is not yet due. From here northwards, the line is now double track. Rothley, 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.40 The homely glow of the gas lamps give Rothley a special atmosphere on gloomy winter afternoons. Rothley, 1st January, 2007.

2007/01/01.41 In true Victorian/Edwardian style, the platform illumination is still the traditional gas lamp. Rothley, 1st January, 2007.

2007/01/01.42 Another shot of an illuminated gas lamp on the platform at Rothley. 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.43 The typical Great Central island platform at Rothley, with the illuminated gas lamps clearly showing up in the gathering gloom. 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.44 Daylight has all but faded, but the station gas lamps are shining brightly on the island platform and under the station awning. The entrance to the station is off the road bridge in the background and is via the covered stairway just visible. Rothley, 1st January, 2007.

2007/01/01.45 Under the stairway seen in the previous picture is the parcels office. Restored to its Edwardian condition, it is depicted in this and the next two photographs. Rothley, 1st Januarry, 2007.

2007/01/01.46 Parcels Office

2007/01/01.47 Parcels Office

2007/01/01.48 A poster advertising the new Great Central Railway displayed at Rothley. 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.49 GW Large Prairie 4141 calls at Rothley in the gathering darkness. 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.50 4141 has arrived back at Loughborough Central. 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.51 4141 at Loughborough Central. 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.52 Last trip! 4141 waits for the green light from the guard before departing from Loughborough Central on the last trip of the day. 1st January, 2007

2007/01/01.53 Ready for the off, 4141 awaits the right away at Loughborough with the last train of the day on the 1st January, 2007

2007/01/27.01 At the Great Central's Winter Gala 2007, ex Robinson Great Central (LNER class O4) 2-8-0 prepares to take a freight through Loughborough Central. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.02 Not taking part in the Gala was LMS 'Black 5' class 4-6-0 45305. It is seen here outside the shed at Loughborough. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.03 LMS 8F class 2-8-0 48305 was renumbered as 48188 for the Gala. This is the number of the locomotive being driven by Driver John Axon on the 9th February 1957 when the steam brake failed. He was killed in the accident that followed, but posthumously awarded the George Cross for remaining on the footplate to warn the signalman at Dove Holes that the train was a runaway. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.04 The only non-black steam loco at the Gala was the ex-G.W.R. 'large Prairie' 2-6-2T 4141. It is seen here ready to depart from Quorn and Woodhouse with the 12:30 from Loughborough Central to Leicester North. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.05 The original stations on the Great Central have a wonderful railway atmosphere from a bygone era. GWR 2-6-2T 4141 leaves a trail of steam as she leaves Quorn and Woodhouse and passes the signal box and semaphore signals. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.06 Many of the stations on the Great Central London extension had island platforms and these are well represented at Loughborough Central and Rothley as well as here at Quorn and Woodhouse. The widening of the double track formation can clearly be seen as the tracks separate to sweep either side of the platform. GW 2-6-2T 4141 and train disappear southwards towards Leicester North. 27th January. 2007

2007/01/27.07 English Electric class 37 Co-Co diesel 37 255 at Quorn and Woodhouse. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.08 Another view of 37 255 at Quorn and Woodhouse. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.09 'Peak' class 1Co-Co1 diesel D123 was also in use at the Gala. It is shown here passing through Quorn and Woodhouse with a freight train. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.10 As well as the Great Central's resident locos, there were a couple of visitors at the Gala. Top of the bill was the National Railway Museum's London and North Western Railway Bowen-Cooke G2 class 0-8-0 49395. These engines were nicknamed 'Super Ds' because they were a development of the earlier D class. Loughborough Central, 27th January, 2007.

2007/01/27.11 Running round at Loughborough Central to collect the unfitted freight wagons for her next turn of duty is the National Railway Museum's 49395. This is a L.N.W.R. Bowen-Cooke G2 0-8-0, but nicknamed a 'Super D' because the G1, G2 and G2a classes were developments of the earlier D class. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.12 Another view of the 'Super D' 0-8-0 49395 at Loughborough Central. Actually a class G2 rather than a class D, this loco was built in 1921 and withdrawn in 1959 but resored to service in 2005. When I got home I checked my old Ian Allan ABCs and found that it was a cop!! 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.13 The other most welcome visitor to the great Central's winter Gala was the Severn Valley Railway's L.M.S. Stanier Mogul 2-6-0 42968 which I rode behind as far as Rothley. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.14 The Gala was very well attended, so I was lucky to get this shot of the Severn Valley's Stanier Mogul 2-6-0 42968 at Rothley with only one person in the picture. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.15 With steam to spare, visiting Stanier Mogul 2-6-0 42968 waits for the road onto the single line to Leicester North. Rothley, 27th January, 2007.

2007/01/27.16 Ex-L.M.S. Stanier Mogul 2-6-0 42968 from the Severn Valley Railway was a late addition to the line up for the G.C.R. Winter Gala, but a very welcome one. The line southwards from Rothley to Leicester North is still only a single line, so the Mogul had to wait for a freight train to clear the section before she could proceed. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.17 Being almost straight into the afternoon sun, I felt that this shot was doomed from the start. However, I managed to make something of it even if it won't be winning any prizes. The wreath on the smokebox door of L.M.S. 2-8-0 48188 (actually 48305) is to commemorate the late Driver John Axon GC who was killed in a railway accident in 1957 when he remained on the footplate of 48188 when the brake failed. He could have jumped off before it ran away and gained too much speed, but by staying on the engine he was able to alert the signalman of the danger and thus avert an even worse disaster. Rothley, 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.18 Not quite Tring Cutting, but, nevertheless, the National Railway Museum's L.N.W.R. Bowen-Cooke 'Super D' 0-8-0 49395 looks quite at home as she drifts up the Great Central towards Rothley. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.19 The curve of the tracks is very apparent in this and the previous photo and shows the divergence between the up and down lines to pass either side of Rothley's island platform. London and North Western Railway Bowen-Cooke G2 class 0-8-0, known as a 'Super D', drifts along the up line towards the station looking as much at home on the Great Central as she used to do on her native North Western. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.20 Taken from the road overbridge opposite the station entrance at Rothley, a final shot of the 'Super D' 0-8-0 49395 as she drifts through the cutting on the up line. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.21 The closely packed parked cars, the number of people on the platform and the 'hi-vi' clad figure give this away as a 21st Century recreation. Otherwise, it's just as I remember it! An unfitted freight clanks its way through Rothley at the Great Central Railway's Winter Gala on the 27th January, 2007.

2007/01/27.22 The rear end of the LNER 'Beavertail' Observation Car which used to run on the 'Coronation' between London and Edinburgh in the late 1930s. It was rebuilt in the 1950s by British Railways with a less pronounced slope than when originally built by the LNER. Rothley, 27th January, 2007.

2007/01/27.23 A similar view to the previous shot, but from the other side.

2007/01/27.24 (81) Flashback to 1960 - 1! What it used to look like 47 years ago in July 1960. I took this shot at Crianlarich (I think!) when it was working on the West Highland Line.

2007/01/27.24a Another flashback, but, this time, only to 2003. During the restoration process the LNER Beavertail Observation Car was displayed at the Doncaster Plant 150 Exhibition open weekend. 26th July, 2003.

2007/01/27.25 The observation windows from the inside. Interior reconstruction work is still underway at Rothley on the 27th January, 2007.

2007/01/27.26 The interior of the LNER Beavertail under restoration at Rothley. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.27 (76) Flashback to 1960 - 2! The interior of this very coach in July, 1960 when it was working on the West Highland Line in Scotland. Hopefully, those currently involved with the restoration of this vehicle will find this picture useful in their attempts to recreate the 1930s 'Art-Deco' decorations.

2007/01/27.28 The chap in the front droplight should be getting some good sound recordings as the Severn Valley's L.M.S. 'Stanier Mogul' 2-6-0 42968 gets into her stride at Rothley heading for Loughborough. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.29 Still only a speck in the distance, a freight train is trundling towards Rothley on the up line behind Robinson O4 class 2-8-0 63601. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.30 Looking even more at home on the Great Central than the L.N.W.R. 0-8-0, (and so it should!) Robinson G.C. O4 clas 2-8-0 63601 drifts through the cutting to the north of Rothley with an up fitted freight. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.31 The light was beginning to fade as the Robinson Great Central 2-8-0 63601 heads an up fitted freight through Rothley cutting towards the station. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.32 The freight seen in the previous pictures terminated just to the south of Rothley where the L.N.W.R. G2 class 0-8-0 49395 was waiting to hook on and return it back to Loughborough. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.33 This and the next one show the N.R.M.'s London and North Western Railway G2 class 0-8-0 49395 starting the return trip to Loughborough and approaching Rothley station from the south. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.34 Although this shot was against the light, it didn't really matter as there wasn't much light to be against! Details as per the previous picture. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.35 Heading back to Loughborough, the L.N.W.R. class G2 'Super D' 0-8-0 49395 passes through the down platform at Rothley. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.36 To add to the 1950s/1960s atmosphere, a heritage diesel muliple unit was running passenger trains between Loughborough Central and Rothley. This is the 2:40 from Loughborough having arrived at Rothley. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.37 49395's last run of the day was on the 3:45 from Loughborough to Leicesster North. Here we see the fireman taking the 0-8-0's headlamp to the rear of the tender in the rapidly fading light at Leicester. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.38 The final steam working of the day was the 4:30 from Loughborough and this was worked under an express headlamp code by 63601. It was dark by the time the ex-Great Central 2-8-0 reached Leicester North. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.39 63601 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.40 63601 again at Leicester North. 27th January,2007

2007/01/27.41 Steam and atmosphere. Temporarily renumbered as 48188 for the Gala weekend, L.M.S. 8F 2-8-0 48305 simmers at Loughborough. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.42 Loughborough Great Central station - 1. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.43 Loughborough Great Central station - 2. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.44 Loughborough Great Central station - 3. 27th January, 2007

2007/01/27.45 The final working of the day was the 5:35 DMU from Leicester North. Arrival back at Loughborough was at 6:01. 27th January, 2007

2008/09/21.RD2926. Brand new A1 class Pacific 60163 TORNADO at work for the first time on the Great Central Railway. Many thanks to Bob Francis who took the picture and e-mailed it to me for inclusion here. 21st September, 2008.

2008/10/12.RD2947. Newly restored to running order, B.R. Standard Britannia class Pacific 70013 OLIVER CROMWELL approaches Rothey on the Great Central Railway with an up train. 12th October, 2008.

2008/10/12.RD2948. Southern Railway LN class 4-6-0 850 LORD NELSON gets away from Rothley with a down train on the 12th October, 2008.

2008/10/12.RD2950. Crowds gather round newly restored B.R. Standard Britannia class Pacific 70013 OLIVER CROMWELL as it prepares to leave Rothley and head onto the single line section to Leicester North. 12th October, 2008.

2008/10/12.RD2951. Ex. L.M.S. Jubilee class 4-6-0 5690 LEANDER at Rothley with a down parcels train. 12th October, 2008.

2008/10/12.RD2953. Brand new LNER Peppercorn A1 class Pacific 60163 TORNADO approaches Rothley on the Great Central Railway with a rake of Southern Region green liveried coaches. Perhaps it's the York - Bournemouth?! 12th October, 2008.

2008/10/12.RD2954. Brand new LNER A1 class Pacific 60163 TORNADO running round at Leicester North. 12th October, 2008.

2008/10/12.RD2955. Running round at Leicester North, the brand new LNER A1 class Pacific 60163 TORNADO. 12th October, 2008.

2008/10/12.RD2956. Brand new LNER A1 class Pacific 60163 TORNADO runs round at Leicester North. 12th October, 2008.

2008/10/12.RD2959. Brand new LNER A1 class Pacific 60163 TORNADO running round at Leicester North. 12th October, 2008.

2008/10/12.RD2961. Brand new LNER A1 class Pacific 60163 TORNADO takes water at Loughborough on the Great Central Railway. 12th October, 2008.

2008/10/12.RD2963. The impressive 6'8" driving wheels of brand new LNER A1 class Pacific 60163 TORNADO. Loughborough, 12th October, 2008.

2008/10/12.RD2969. Ex L.M.S. Stanier Jubilee class 4-6-0 5690 LEANDER at Loughborough Central on the Great Central Railway. On the right is Peak class 1Co-Co1 diesel-electric D123 LEICESTERSHIRE AND DERBYSHIRE YEOMANRY. 12th October, 2008.

2008/10/12.RD2971. Ex LMS Stanier Jubilee class 4-6-0 5690 LEANDER at Loughborough Central. 12th October, 2008.

2008/10/12.RD2972. Ex. Southern Railway Maunsell LN class 4-6-0 850 LORD NELSON waits for its next turn of duty at Loughborough Central on the 12th October, 2008.

2008/10/12.RD2973. An old pram and travellers' luggage add to the period ambience at Loughborough Central station. 12th October, 2008.

2008/10/12.RD2974. Passengers' luggage at Loughborough Central station. 12th October, 2008.

2008/10/12.RD2976. Ex Southern Railway LN class 4-6-0 850 LORD NELSON at Leicester North. 12th October, 2008.

2008/10/12.RD2977. Ex Southern Railway LN class 4-6-0 850 LORD NELSON at Leicester North. 12th October, 2008.

2008/10/12.RD2978. Ex Southern Railway LN class 4-6-0 850 LORD NELSON running round at Leicester North. 12th October, 2008.

2008/10/12.RD2979. The new station at Leicester North, built on the site of the earlier Belgrave and Birstall station. The final train of the Great Central Railway Autumn Gala is preparing to leave and return to Loughborough Central. 12th October, 2008.

2008/10/12.RD2981. The End!