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Tuesday 19th October 2021 Great Central Railway, Swithland Sidings, Swithland, Leicester LE7 7SE
Join us for a day with BR-liveried Black Five 45305 hauling alternately vans and a mixed goods set
Join us for a full day of photography at the Great Central Railway with BR-liveried 45305 alternately hauling vans and the mixed goods.
£110.00
Book your place
10 tickets left
About this event
We are pleased to offer a full day of photography using the Great Central Railway’s resident ‘5MT’ Class 4-6-0 No.45305 hauling alternately covered vans and the mixed goods stock. This event will be strictly limited to a maximum of 30 photographers.
We will meet at Swithland sidings for our safety. There is some parking available in the yard and sufficient at the roadside near the reservoir to cater for all participants. All of the locations around Swithland should be possible, as will the approach to and departure from Quorn & Woodhouse Eves, around Kinchley Lane and Rabbit Bridge.
We will meet at Swithland sidings for our safety. There is some parking available in the yard and sufficient at the roadside near the reservoir to cater for all participants. All of the locations around Swithland should be possible, as will the approach to and departure from Quorn & Woodhouse Eves, around Kinchley Lane and Rabbit Bridge.
No.45305 was built as 5305 for the LMS by Newcastle-on-Tyne contractors Armstrong Whitworth in 1937 as part of the largest batch of steam locos ever constructed by a British company. It was withdrawn for scrap from Preston’s Lostock Hall Depot near the close of British Railways main line steam in Summer 1968 and was to have been the last steam locomotive cut up by Drapers of Hull. A last-minute reprieve meant the loco was saved for preservation and it has made many appearances on main line steam specials over the years since its first return to steam on 12th June 1976. In 1984, the engine was named Alderman A E Draper after the two-time mayor of Hedon who was responsible for securing 45305 for preservation and the locomotive carried this name for several years. The Black Five is approaching the close of its current boiler ticket which is due to expire in late 2020.
The locomotive is owned by Albert Draper & Sons Limited and is maintained by the 5305 Locomotive Association to whom we are grateful for allowing the use of their engine on this charter. No.45305 carries lined BR black livery which allows us to recreate authentic scenes from the late-1950s and 1960s.
Unfortunately, we are not able to offer catering options for this event though there will be the opportunity when we swap crews and break for locomotive servicing to forage for food locally, either at the Butler Henderson cafe at Quorn or in the nearby villages of Quorn or Rothley.
Full timings will be advised with the joining instructions though we expect an early start, beginning by 08.00 to ensure we make best use of any available light and to run until sunset. After a photographic charter famine for much of this year, we hope this event will give us a good start to 2021. This should be an excellent day out recreating the later period of British Railways main line steam and we hope you will wish to join us for an enjoyable charter at the Great Central Railway.
Images are for illustration purposes only.
Event requirements
Equipment
- Spare batteries
- Camera
- Lenses
- Camera protection - rain covers etc
Knowledge
- All levels welcome
Fitness
- Low
Other essentials
- Sturdy outdoor shoes
- Warm clothing
- Wet weather gear