The Great Central Railway - A Mainline Heritage Railway!

[@PhilipBallGarry]

A good few years ago (1990's) I went to the GCR on a photographer's night special. Trains would drop everyone off at each station and reverse back up the line before blasting through full chat,, steam, smoke and flame belching out of the chimney. A truly amazing site! The atmosphere was something really special with the glow from the firebox illuminating the crew eerily. Back on board, off we went for a repeat at the next station. A truly incredible evening. I took my camera tripod and thought I'd have a roll of amazing shots. Sadly, I'd forgotten to even load a film in the excitement 🙁 and only found out when the advance lever kept going after 36 exposures 🙄

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Oh no - at least you still have the memories and a funny anecdote! Perhaps you'll have to go on another photographic charter sometime to make up for it! Thanks for watching 😃

[@4994DowntonHall]

The 9f looks to be painted in Hornby green! Thanks for the virtual trip :)

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

There's a prototype for everything! 😉 Just shows how out in the real world light can really affect how colour is perceived especially if you look at the different hues of the main body in comparison to the tender. Thanks for watching 👍

[@4994DowntonHall]

@@ThatModelRailwayGuy Absolutely! Colour also scales weirdly, and is subjective

[@modelrailfan37]

That made me laugh! I’m not sure if the livery Hornby used is accurate or not, but I’m glad that their new BR green locos are in a more standard livery, as personally I find Hornby green is too washed out for my liking…

[@nigelcole1936]

Wonderful and well edited video thanks. The 9F being painted green and with a name and hauling carriages proves we can what we like on our railways, lovely looking loco.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Really glad you enjoyed it Nigel! Yes I completely agree. I'd much rather see a loco still running in a livery it never originally carried than rusting away in a siding. After all those who put in the time and effort to restore and maintain these locos should be able to name it if they want to. Thanks for watching 😃

[@tagsdm]

Sensational video, That Model Railway Guy. Soaking in every detail, and there are tons of them. All the stock and stuff everywhere. What clean fires on the 2MT and the 9F. Firemen must really know their business. "There's a 12V motor inside..." that's a riot!! Many thanks once again.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

The loco crews really did seem to know their stuff. With a railway as busy as The Great Central it's good to know that the locos appear to be in very good hands. Thanks for watching 😃

[@RGJTrains]

I am just starting out as a railway layout enthusiast, im repairing a shed before i start my build, i love your content, the christmas special was total amazing

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Ah brilliant! So glad you enjoy the videos, the Christmas series was a good one to film. I'm in the middle of filming a new series for the modular layout build at the moment so fingers crossed that's not too far away either! Good luck with your shed repairs and I hope you get to make a start on your layout fairly soon. Thanks for watching 😃

[@RGJTrains]

@@ThatModelRailwayGuy will certainly look out for the next series, as certainly enjoyed the others.Starting to close off the repairs now, and hopefully making a start on laying the boards down, im sure you know yourself, but my plans keep changing as im looking at the place.

[@paulboyle6857]

Nice video & certainly lucky with weather.Those 9F,s are quite a sight;would love to have seen them thundering through Rugby where I now live & which has,of course a lot of GCR infastructure remaining to explore but,sadly, will never see trains again. No idea that there was a Deltic at Loughborough,once, heard never forgotten!

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Yeah the weather was great for the whole week actually! The 9F is incredible but I do also like the 2MT, it's actually visiting the heritage railway where I volunteer this week which is cool. The Deltic I believe was on loan from the DPS at the time, I presume it was there for a gala but it could be a more long term resident for all I know. Thanks for watching 😃

[@railwayjade]

I am always amazed at the heritage infrastructure in the UK! How to they afford to stay open running so many trains!?!? What great variety! Thanks for the great video

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

I think The Great Central is a bit of an outlier here. The vast majority of heritage railways in the UK are very small affairs that only run a few miles in the middle of nowhere. Places like the GCR, NYMR, SVR etc have very strong volunteer forces because they're so popular/well loved and because of that they get stuff done. Additionally, early in the day the 9F was hauling a special Dining Train. I know the railway I volunteer at makes most of it's money from running various Dining Specials throughout the year and I would imagine it's no different at other railways too. Thanks for watching 😃

[@railwayjade]

@@ThatModelRailwayGuy I am truly happy for them, I started when I was 13 in railway preservation down here in South Africa and there have been many closures since then - even to the tune of dodgy dealings sadly. So its great to see something like this because this is what we dreamed of. See you next time

[@svsmodelling2857]

A great heritage line. Visited it myself not too long ago. Thanks for posting, I love this series! All the best.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

It's a brilliant line isn't it, definitely one of my favourites and I'm so glad I've finally been. Glad you've been enjoying the rest of the series too, thanks for watching 😃

[@svsmodelling2857]

@@ThatModelRailwayGuy Thank you! Have a great weekend. Your videos are great!

[@adam_fordham]

What a fantastic railway, I love all the locos parked up in the sidings as well as the other rolling stock, its a great place to get ideas and for inspiration 😀

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Absolutely, I can pick out a few things which I'll definitely be trying to incorporate into my layout. Thanks for watching 😃

[@RobA500]

Great looking railway, thanks for sharing your day out.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

My pleasure Robin, glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching 😃

[@benstrainsandthings]

Nice! I remember when i went last year and it was an awsome trip visiting the GCR loughbough mml station and doncaster

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Awesome! Yes the stations on the line are all presented beautifully - it really does feel like stepping back in time. Thanks for watching 😃

[@loispadgett6306]

If I ever come to Britain I would come to ride the trains the best reason in the world. Thanks for the day out and ride. GOD BLESS 🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

I can definitely recommend The Great Central Railway, definitely a fantastic day out and it seems like the railway is fairly busy whenever it's open! Thanks for watching 😃

[@williamdom3814]

It will be great when the two Great Central Railway sections, north and south, of are reunited.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Absolutely, It's such an exciting project and great to see the progress they're making! With the Mountsorrel and Ruddington Fields branches too it will practically be a mini preservation network! Thanks for watching 😃

[@willbreckinridge8010]

2MT’s and 9F’s: polar opposites but they strangely go together. Love the bridge at about 10:15, it just looks so pleasant. I’d love to visit someday :)

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Yeah they are a good combination. I believe the dining services stop on that viaduct so that passengers can enjoy the view while they have their main course. Thanks for watching 😃

[@azuma892]

Love seeing the LNER HST Mk3 in the siding at Leicester North, quite interesting to see a relatively modern coach on a heritage railway. :)

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Yes! Funnily enough they seem to be dotted around at various railways not getting much use. I believe there were some on both the Severn Valley Railway and the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway too. Thanks for watching 😃

[@darkfrag83]

@@ThatModelRailwayGuy there is a mk3 sleeping coach at Embsay...used for volunteer overnight accomodation...still in its danish railways livery (it was sold there after br use)

[@azuma892]

@@darkfrag83 Wow that's fascinating I never knew there were mk3s used by DSB, maybe that's something Hornby will make as part of their 'The Euro Connection' range. 😉

[@JohnDavis-ik6ve]

Must visit it sometime,at the Malt Shovel public house at Quorn they had a large model railway in one of the out buildings plus a slot car track in another

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

It's definitely worth a visit! Awesome, sounds like there's a lot of railways (real and model) in the area then. Thanks for watching 😃

[@johncavill1139]

enjoyed your film on this great thanks

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Glad you enjoyed it John! Thanks for watching 😃

[@derekloudon8731]

Excellent!

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Glad you enjoyed it Derek! Thanks for watching 😃

[@victoriansteamandheritager459]

Very cool!

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

It's definitely one of the best railways I've ever visited! Thanks for watching 😃

[@adrianbrown01]

If you enjoyed this visit, all I can say is get yourself down there for the 1940s wartime weekend. It's a fantastic sight and the atmosphere is just brilliant.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

That's great that they're still doing them! Loads of railways used to have a Wartime Weekend in the past and now I feel like I just don't see them advertised as much. Thanks for watching 😃

[@robinforrest7680]

Brilliant. Planning a trip myself this summer when I’m back in blighty. Mètre gauge Mallets (chemin de fer du Vivarais - my local steam railway) are great, but you can’t beat British standard gauge! This was a great video. I love 2MT’s (Ivatt or Riddles) ❤. Subscribed ! (As I should have done many moons ago). The GCR reunited in a couple of years will certainly be quite something. Are they still limited to 25mph as a heritage railway running on a Light Railway Order?

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Fantastic, yes it's definitely worth a trip whenever possible. I believe they can run up to 75mph for mainline testing and occasionally run 45mph passenger trains at special events - although don't quote me on that. Thanks for watching and subscribing too 😃

[@michaelwhiles5282]

The GC is a lovely set up and one I’ll visit again during 23. Consider the madness that closed down a successful railway into the heart of London. How useful would that be today ? 😎

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

It's a fantastic railway isn't it, I really hope I can make it there again this year too. It is a bit bonkers that the original line was closed down, although I suppose if it hadn't we wouldn't have this wonderful heritage railway today! Thanks for watching 😃

[@Echo_Mike]

Sorry for my ignorance, but at 34:16 and other 9F shots, why is there no steam coming out?

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

There's a 12v motor inside and... no I'm kidding! 😂 My basic understanding is that when a loco isn't working very hard there's less steam/smoke from the exhaust so it was probably coasting into the station. Thanks for watching 👍

[@chrisdavies3913]

Have you been to the Llangollen Railway? Highly recommended for scenery and its beautiful stations.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Sadly not, but I'm hoping to be able to do all the Welsh narrow gauge railways again at some point so maybe I'll be able to get over to Llangollen then. Thanks for watching 😃

[@edwardvincentbriones5062]

hopefully those mail trains will be in use again, because it might be useful in the emerging online shopping

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

I can't see mail trains becoming a regular occurrence again on the mainline any time soon, but I believe The Great Central Railway does run demonstration postal trains on special event days. Thanks for watching 😃

[@darkfrag83]

@@ThatModelRailwayGuy it used to.... don't think they have for a bit as the stock needs some work...that was the case last year at any rate

[@azuma892]

Were there some Chinese people about? Because I can hear some Cantonese in the background lol. 😅

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Very possibly, it was the middle of the Summer when this was filmed and there were lots of tourists about (including myself). Thanks for watching 😃

[@canuckprogressive.3435]

Its a shame there is no where for the engine to turn around so it has to go backwards on the outbound journey.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

That’s pretty standard for heritage railways in the UK. Even those that do have a turntable tend not to use them as they would need one at each end of the line that way. Back in the day I think locos used to work tender first on branch lines anyway. Thanks for watching 😃