■ Test trains run on Great Central as tentative step towards reopening
THE Great Central Railway in late May became the first of Britain's ' Premier League' of heritage lines to run trains again, if only for testing purposes.
On Monday, May 18, the railway brought back 1 O staff from furlough to carry out essential functions and to prepare for reopening. The returnees included a skeleton crew in the locomotive shed and carriage and wagon works, signallers and permanent way staff.
The following Friday, BR Standard 2MT No. 78018 underwent trials following repair works carried out prior to the Covid- 19 lockdown. It had undergone a valve exam with one new valve head being fitted and all new valve rings and the pony trick wheel was turned.
Tests were carried out with very strict safety and health disciplines in place, with the railway remaining closed to the public.
With precautions in place, including the driver and fireman wearing face coverings, and the guard alone in the rake of coaches that it pulled, No. 78018 completed four important return runs between Loughborough and Rothley, two light engine and two loaded with empty carriage stock.
Reactions
GCR chairman Richard Patching said: "The runs were relatively uneventful, although the loco crew looked quite menacing in their face masks- not a pair to mess with!"
GCR managing director Michael Gough said: "Today we have taken our first tentative steps towards opening up the railway and, in doing so providing our friends and supporters with some much- needed steam. We are regularly reviewing the situation and closely monitoring Government advice, and look forward to restarting other areas of our operation when it is safe and appropriate to do so.
"During Covid- 19 the railway has been forced to use up all of its cash reserves, including vital match funding set aside to add to the funds raised by their appeal for the new locomotive works and education centre ( at Loughborough) to be built. Thus the ongoing success of that appeal, through the purchase of commemorative plaques, is needed even more and the GCR are asking for its friends and supporters to visit www. gcrailway. co. uk/ shedappeal to help ensure that the project may still proceed after the current pandemic.
"Behind the scenes, we have carefully planned arrangements, competency checks and disciplines to enable us to operate as soon as the restrictions are lifted, whenever that may be. I am sure you will appreciate that it's not as straightforward as simply'turning the lights back on and firing up:"
The new shed will offer enhanced facilities for the restoration and maintenance of locomotives and will be able to store more of them undercover.
For the first time in GCR history, all shed activities will be accessible to the public with dedicated viewing areas.
Enhanced learning
The education centre will provide dedicated classrooms and a lecture theatre to support an extended education programme linked closely to the National Curriculum, greatly boosting engagement with schools, colleges, and universities.
On Sunday, May 31, the railway ran further test trains over the whole line - and this time invited the public to watch, although visitors were not allowed to enter the locked stations and there were no refreshment facilities.
The railway announced the test runs over social media and in its Rail Mail monthly email bulletin two days before.
The car park field next to Quorn & Woodhouse station was opened for visitors and, the day before the Government's easing of lockdown to allow groups of up to six people to gather took place, GCR stewards enforced social distancing on the site with cars ordered to park at least two metres apart.
No. 78018 undertook a series of whole- line test runs between 10.20am and 4pm, while Class 37 No. 37714 Cardiff Canton undertook stock movements including those of the ' Windcutter' rake of 16- tin mineral wagons and a mixed freight rake mainly comprising box vans.
A collection organised by stewards in the car park raised £ 270. A report ofthe day's unique event can be found at pages 78- 79.