Join us for our Last Hurrah Gala, an intensive timetable of passenger and freight services will delight and entertain you throughout this two-day event. Our home fleet will be the stars of the show for this fantastic event.
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Before we switch gears to our magical Great Central Santa Express services, join us for the Last Hurrah Gala – a celebration of steam power, featuring an exciting lineup of locomotives and action-packed timetables.
Highlights include:
A starring role for our home fleet of locomotives.
Goods trains in operation all weekend, including a vans train and tanks train.
An intensive timetable with approximately 20 departures a day
"Iris" Derby Lightweight Single Railcar will also be operating.
This is the perfect event for railway enthusiasts and families alike, with something for everyone to enjoy.
More details will be announced soon, so stay tuned!
British Railways Class 2 2-6-0 No.78018
BR Standard Class 2MT 2-6-0 No. 78018, built in 1953, gained fame after getting stuck in a snowdrift in 1955, inspiring the film Snowdrift at Bleath Gill. After years of service and a period in Barry scrapyard, it was restored and returned to steam at Great Central Railway in 2016, where it remains in regular service.
British Railways Class 2 2-6-0 No.78019
BR Standard Class 2MT No. 78019, built in 1954, closely resembles its Ivatt predecessor, with minor updates such as roller bearings and standard BR components. Initially working in the north, it later served at Willesden for stock trains out of Euston before being withdrawn in 1966. After years in Barry scrapyard, it was restored at the Great Central Railway and returned to steam in 2004, where it continues to perform reliably.
BR Standard Class 5 4-6-0 No.73156
BR Standard Class 5 No. 73156, built in 1956, served on mixed traffic duties, including express passenger trains like The Master Cutler and The South Yorkshireman. After stints at Neasden, Sheffield, and Leicester Central, it was withdrawn in 1967. Rescued from Barry scrapyard, it was restored and returned to steam at Great Central Railway in 2017, where it now runs in regular service.
GWR Modified Hall 4-6-0 No.6990 "Witherslack Hall"
GWR 4-6-0 No. 6990 "Witherslack Hall", built in 1948, was designed for mixed traffic duties and participated in the 1948 Locomotive Exchanges, where it ran between Marylebone and Manchester. After withdrawal in 1965 and time at Barry scrapyard, it was restored at Great Central Railway in 1986. Following several periods of service and repair, it returned to traffic in 2015 and remains in regular operation at the GCR.