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Monday 7th October 2019 Great Central Railway, Loughborough, LE11 1RW

A chance to photograph the classic lines of a T9 4-4-0 in BR lined black on vans and coaching stock

A rare opportunity to photograph visiting T9 Class No.30120 at work on double-track main line alternating between the Great Central Railway’s superb van train and the line’s carmine and cream passenger stock

£80.00

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Only 1 tickets left

About this event

Join us for a full day of steam photography at the Great Central Railway using visiting T9 Class 4-4-0 No.30120 in British Railways black livery alternating between goods vans and carmine and cream passenger stock.  Usually based at the Swanage Railway, this is a rare opportunity to photograph this splendid locomotive operating on the Great Central Railway’s double-track main line.

The locomotive is one of a class of sixty-six 4-4-0s designed by Dugald Drummond for the London & South Western Railway’s express services. It was one of the first batch of ten to be built at Nine Elms Works, entering traffic in 1899. No.120 became 30120 upon Nationalisation in 1948 and lasted in British Railways service until 1963. After withdrawal from Exmouth Junction shed in the West Country in 1961, the loco underwent major repairs at Eastleigh Works, re-entering traffic the following year carrying LSWR light green livery. No.30120 continued to work both regular and special services until withdrawal in July 1963, following which it continued to work enthusiast specials until October of that year. This is the engine’s second period working in preservation; it was overhauled for use on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway in 2010 and is presently contracted to the Swanage Railway until its current boiler certificate expires in September 2020.

Our day will start from Loughborough station at 07.30 with our customary yet extremely important safety briefing. We will begin using the carmine and cream Mark I coaching stock of which the Griddle Car will be an integral part. This means that, in addition to hot breakfast prior to the charter, we will have hot food with us throughout the day; this is always a popular ingredient on GCR charters! Travel will be on the train throughout and our estimated finishing time is 18.30 hours.

We would like to thank the locomotive’s owners, the National Railway Museum, and the host Great Central Railway for their help in bringing this charter to fruition. This is likely to be an extremely popular event and we hope you will wish to join us for what promises to be an excellent day of vintage steam railway photography with a classic locomotive.

Event requirements

Equipment

  • Spare batteries
  • Camera
  • Lense cloths
  • Lenses
  • Camera protection - rain covers etc

Knowledge

  • All levels welcome

Fitness

  • Medium

Other essentials

  • Sturdy outdoor shoes
  • Warm clothing
  • Wet weather gear

Event location