The world's first social-distancing ' gala'?

After running test trains with BR 2MT 2- 6- 0 No. 78018 on May 22, nine days later the Great Central Railway staged a repeat, as a precursor to reopening after lockdown.

No. 37714 Cardiff Canton joined the proceedings. Robin Jones reports.

After staging a surprise series of test runs of BR Standard 2 MT 2-6-0 No .78018 on May 22, nine days later the Great Central Railway staged a repeat, as a precursor to reopening the line following lockdown. Class 37 No. 37714 Cardiff Canton joined the proceeding-s and this time the public were invited to a complimentary viewing. Robin Jones reports on the gala-like event in words and pictures.

In the 21 years since the first issue of Heritage Railway appeared, I have never before experienced an event of the kind that was staged at the Great Central Railway ( GCR) on Sunday, May 31. Indeed, it deserves the tag ' unique' in railway history.

As outlined in Headline News, pages 6 and 7, following a successful surprise series of test runs of BR Standard 2MT 2- 6- 0 No. 78018 nine days earlier, the exercise was repeated, the line's Class 37 undertaking stock movements added to the mix.

What's more, this time the public was invited to view the day's proceedings free of charge.

The test runs were announced both on social media two days beforehand, and on the GCR's Rail Mail email newsletter. The railway stressed that all the stations, including the catering outlets, would remain closed and strictly off- limits, as they had done throughout the heritage railway since Government lockdown restrictions were imposed to deal with the Covid- 19 pandemic on March 24.

However, the grass car park to the west of Quorn & Woodhouse station would be open to the public so they could view the trains - but under strict rules.

Cars were ordered to park at least two metres apart and people were requested to remain in their vehicles to watch the trains, and if they stepped outside to photograph them, they had to ensure that they stood at least two metres away from anyone who was not from their immediate household. Helpful, friendly and very efficient GCR stewards were on hand throughout to ensure that the social distancing guidelines were adhered to.

Atmosphere

Around 30 cars turned up, parking alongside the fence to give their occupants a grandstand view. Although the occasion was not in any shape or form advertised or badged as a special event of any kind, there was a decided ' gala in miniature' atmosphere along that row of cars, whose occupants co- operated throughout.

Elsewhere along the line, ' typical gala crowds' were not existent. While driving to Loughborough that morning, I feared that every road overbridge would be crammed with steam- starved photographers eager for their first action in three months.

I need not have worried. At the bridge overlooking Loughborough locomotive shed, there were just three photographers who had turned up to check that No. 78018 was being prepped, and another three looking through the side fencing next to the firmly-locked station. On Bridge 334, the first one south of the station, I stood totally on my own for some time before No. 78018 emerged, running backwards light engine around 20 minutes later.

Unmetalled Kinchley Lane, which on gala days is normally packed with the cars of photographers seeking the classic view of the line, was uncannily deserted apart from walkers, until three videographers briefly showed up.

Held the day before the Government eased lockdown in England to allow groups of six

people to meet, the scenes at the GCR were a sharp contrast to those elsewhere in Britain.

As temperatures soared to new heights for 2020, police were called out to disperse crowds at beauty spots like Richmond in Yorkshire; the leader of Bournemouth Borough Council appeared on TV expressing sheer dismay at the attitude of crowds she experienced on the beach flouting advice; and protest marchers in London who reportedly ignored social distancing while making their point.

However, these were all shamed by the wholly responsible behaviour of the rail fans and the line's officials and stewards in deepest Leicestershire as the test runs were completed without a hitch. What emerged here was a credit to the sector as a whole.

Right: N o. 78018c utsa lonelyf igure as it approachesK inchleyL aneb ridge while returning light engine from its first round trip of the day from Loughboroughto LeicesterN orth.

Above: S econdsa fter passingN o. 7 8018 in the opposited irection, T rainload Freight( Metals)- liveried1 961- builtC lass3 7 No. 3 7714C ardiffC anton approachesL oughboroughw ith a mixedf reight rakep rimarilyo f boxv ans.

BRS tandard2 MT 2- 6- 0 No. 7 8018 headst ender- firsta wayf rom Bridge3 34at Loughborougho n itsf irst testtrip ofthe day. Built in 1953 at Darlington North Road Works, No. 78018 entered traffic the following March at West Auckland. Its next move was to Kirkby Stephen, where it worked trains from Tebay to Barnard Castle on the Stain more route, where in February 1955 it became famous by getting stuck in a snowdrift for two days, a s depictedi n the film Snowdrifta t BleathG ill. F rozens olid, i t wase ventuallyr escuedb y sister No. 78019- its shedmate atthe GCR today. Withdrawn in November 1966 and sentto Woodham Brothers scrapyarda t Barryi n June1 967, a longw ith No. 7 8019, i n October1 978i t wasb oughtf or preservationa, nd moved to what is now the Battlefield Line in 1981 for £ 10,000. Stripping down began at Darlington followed by the restorationa nd manufactureo f componentsb, ut in 2012i t wasd ecidedt o sendi tto the GCRf or reassemblyw ith LoughboroughS tandardL ocomotiveG roup. I t steamedi n August2 016f or the firsttime since1 966, a nd isc ontractedt o the GCRf or the resto f its 10- yearb oilert icket.

Below: A panoramic view of the grass car park at Quorn & Woodhouse. There were around 30 visitors' cars and stewards ensured everyone parked at least two metres apart to comply with social distancing.

BR Standard 2MT 2- 6- 0 No. 78018 waits outside Loughborough locomotive shed shortly before its first run of the day.

"We're not open f or business" t: h e entrancest o LoughboroughC entrala nd all other stationso n the line are firmly barredt o visitorsw ith the notice reiterating why.

Above: Class 37 No. 37714 Cardiff Canton passes through Quorn & Woodhouse with the line's ' Windcutter' rake of 16- ton mineral wagons in a stock positioning move from Loughborough.