3 Great Guest Locomotives | Great Central Railway - Winter Steam Gala 2026 - 24/1/26

From Thursday 22nd January - Sunday 25th January 2026, the Great Central Railway held their annual Winter Steam Gala. This is always a great event to attend and this years event saw 8 locomotives in steam with 5 of the home fleet alongside 3 guest locomotives and Railcar 'Iris' all in service. This years guest locomotives had some great variety, BR Standard 9F 92134 made its second visit to the line masquerading as 92043 throughout the weekend. This was to commemorate 60 years since the closure of Annesley Shed. Also visiting for a second time was Battle of Britain Class 34072 '257 Sqaudron' as well as Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST 3809/no.18. The home fleet in service was made up of 6990 'Witherslack Hall', 78018, 78019, 73156 & 68067.

An intensive timetable of both Passenger and demonstration freight trains were in action. We attended on the Saturday and spent the whole day at Quorn & Woodhouse station. This was my first event of the year that I attended and what a way to start it off!

Locomotives featured:
ex SR Battle of Britain Class no. 34072 '257 Squadron' (courtesy of Southern Locomotives Limited & Swanage Railway)
GWR 6959 Modified Hall Class no. 6990 'Witherslack Hall'
Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST/J94 68067 'Robert'
BR Standard Class 9F 92134 - masquerading as 92043 (courtesy of the Self Family & North Yorkshire Moors Railway)
BR Standard Class 2MT no. 78018
BR Standard Class 2MT no.78019
Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST no. 3809/ NCB no.18 (courtesy of Locomotive Maintenance Services)

BR Derby Lightweight Railcar 'Iris' also features

#trainspotting #greatcentralrailway #steamtrain

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