Created 24-Aug-25
16 photos
I paid a short visit to the GCR on the morning of Sunday 24th August 2024. A special timetable was posted involving only the Hunslet WD Austerity presented as J94 class 0-6-0ST 68067. It fitted well with my intention to travel on to see the Castle working the Shakespeare Express on the former GWR main-line. I arrived just in time for 68067’s first departure at 10:15 from Loughborough. It was 10 minutes before the signal cleared and then the locomotive was 6990 WITHERSLACK HALL. Oh! So be it; nice engine but not as advertised. After the customary dash to Fielding Road crossing, I was all set up for the Hall when the sound of a horn from behind indicated a diesel departure from Leicester North. Completely unscheduled Birmingham RC&W, and still without any insignia approached from the south. It was not until the diesel had passed that I discovered 68067 buffered up at the back of the train. This was my planned chimney first shot based on the published special timetable. So that meant another twenty minutes before 6990 would arrive. Finally, to compound my disaster, I headed round to Leicester North Station to find 6990 had run round quickly and was ready to leave. I grabbed a couple more shots by holding the camera above my head to view over the high footpath fence. It was not a good start to the day.
Category:
Subcategory:
Subcategory Detail:
Keywords: