As is so typical in the heritage railway steam scene the first major event to kick off the year would unaminusly be held at the Great Central Railway for thier Winter Steam Gala and this year is no exception, with an extensive timetable and a varied allocation of 2 cylinder locomotives on various workings

Held over the weekend Friday 27th-Sunday 29th January 2023 the railway would feature 7 locomotives with 2 guests featuring LSWR/Southern S15 no 506 from the Mid Hants Railway & BR Standard 5 no 73082 ‘Camelot’ from the Bluebell Railway, also making an appearance was BR 9F no 92214 freshly repainted into unlined BR Black livery ahead of its final year in traffic

Filmed on both Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th January my offerings include BR Standard 2 no 78018 bearing an “REC Charnwood Forester” headboard as well as 506 & 73082 on both passenger and freight workings as well as a double header with both Standard 5s 73156 & 73082, filmed at Beeches Road, Charnwood, Cedars, Woodthorpe, Quorn & Kinchley Lane

The event would be somewhat plagued on the Saturday with heavily delayed services and reallocations of the timetable following a loco failure whilst Sunday was the better day for time punctuality, performances and weather

Enjoy my offerings on what was a decent weekend away to kickstart 2023!