The Great Central Railway is delighted and honoured to welcome back the A1 Steam Trust and Tornado for a second visit. Here’s an overview of what’s set to be three very busy weeks in March.
First things first - if you’ve never visited the GCR before, please be assured of a warm welcome. You can find us in the heart of Loughborough, about 10 minutes drive from Junction 23 of the M1. The website (www.gcrailway.co.uk) gives you plenty of information to help plan your visit. For the moment, if you are driving to us, you can use the postcode LE11 1RW to help you navigate your way to our headquarters station at Loughborough. You can phone the booking office at Loughborough on 01509 230726. Press 0 to speak to a booking clerk.
Tornado is due to work passenger trains for three weekends at the GCR.
• An all steam weekend on March 20th – 21st (when LMS Jubilee Leander is expected to be one of the other engines in action)
• A starring appearance during the four day 1960s gala 26th to 28th March (joining other visitors like BR Standard 4 number 80072, Black 5 number 44767 and others)
• And all through Easter from the 2nd to 5th of April
It was Tornado’s appearance at the railway in late 2008 which really helped us raise our gala game. If you haven’t experienced the thrill of trains passing every few minutes on the double track then we can heartily recommend it. The 1960s gala will be a veritable feast of steam and diesel traction and should be great fun to boot.
Such is the popularity of Tornado, the limited number of footplate passes for the engine have now sold out. However, we can now offer further opportunity to drive 60163 on our double track main line. Here are the details:
BRONZE:
Drive Tornado light engine for a single eight mile trip along the line. Ride on the footplate in the other direction. SLOTS AVAILABLE ON FRIDAY 2nd APRIL ONLY. £450 per person.
SILVER:
Drive Tornado for a full line return (16 miles) with carriages. Then ride another return trip on the footplate (32 miles in total). £750 per person
GOLD:
You’ll have your hand on the regulator of Tornado for 2 return trips (32 miles), with a train behind the engine. You’ll also get to drive 2 return trips on another locomotive (a further 32 miles) while you PASS Tornado on the double track. It’s a full day out and unique opportunity – in short the experience of a lifetime. £1995 per person.
To book a drive a locomotive trip, contact Steven Saunders in the booking office on 01509 230726 or Steven Chapple, GCR events co-ordinator 07515 598328
Or if you prefer – go first class?
On the evening of 2nd April join us for an exclusive seven course meal on board our famous first class dining train. The evening begins at 6.30pm at Loughborough Central with a champagne and canapé reception. Diners will be entertained by a jazz band while they explore the station and admire the locomotive. The train departs at 7.30pm and makes two return journeys to Leicester North. During the evening, your chairman Mark Allatt will host a Q and A session about the engine. This evening has a black tie or lounge suit dress code. The cost is just £89 per person. To book for the first class dining train, please call the booking office on 01509 632315 or 01509 632311. Seats are limited and are selling quickly so don’t miss out.
The best way to keep up to date with all happenings Great Central - and indeed any last minute changes to the Tornado appearance roster is via our weekly electronic newsletter. You can subscribe by sending a blank email to GCR-Announce-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
One other tip. You can save money on travel tickets every weekend - and even at galas, by joining the Friends of the Great Central Main Line. Many A1 trust supporters signed up for Tornado’s running in appearances. If you’re quick and take the chance now to re-new your membership then you’ll be able to save money during the March visit.
We look forward to seeing many familiar faces for the visit. We’ve kept developing (Since you were last with us we now have a lift at Loughborough and wheeled access toilet there as well, not to mention a brand new canopy at Leicester North station) and Tornado has gone on to exciting and great things! Here’s to catching up at the Great Central Railway.