Calling GCR members...

[MuzTrem]

...I'm sure there must be at least one around here these days! (I'm afraid I don't post here as often as I once did, so I'm afraid I'm a little out of touch with things; but I digress...)

Basically, I want to make a trip to Loughborough to see the Fairburn tank before she goes back to the Lake District (which is a little harder for me to get to), but unfortunately I missed last weekend's gala. I don't suppose anyone can tell me what other dates she will be running?

Thanks in advance

Murray

[Crimpsal]

http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/Events.aspx?ID=193

[kingsgate]

Right now, pretty much every weekend. The O4 and 2MT are the only duty locos, as the 8F is, I think, having some attention to the motion...again. The N2 is in traffic, but we're keeping her for best, as it were. Best thing to do is to ring the booking office on the day and they'll tell you, chances are, she's out.

Tor-K (Loughborough DSM).

[MuzTrem]

Cheers guys, very helpful

[RobertM]

Shes there until November, then she comes back to Haverthwaite for me to have a play with

Rob

[kieranhardy]

Shes there until November, then she comes back to Haverthwaite for me to have a play with

Not really a good thing, as once she's back there it's very doubtful she will go elsewhere again... or perhaps she will in another 40 years time?

Isn't 42073 still operating anyway?

[RobertM]

Well Kieran, due to a shake up there now regarding the Furness Rly Trust being told to vacate, the people who are left volunteering are considered trustworthy by the L&HR company to run these engines. (some of the FRT members were very ruff and not trusted)

Plus, 42073 has been running for the past 3 weeks now almost every day, and is out this weekend all being well (I get to fire it tommorow)

So basicaly, the Fairburns are going to be out alot more now

Robert

[kingsgate]

You mean we can't keep her? Awwww...just as I'd got an exact match for Caledonian blue, too!

Tor-K

[MuzTrem]

So basicaly, the Fairburns are going to be out alot more now

Well the problem for me is not that the Fairburns never run, but that the railway they usually run on is much too far away for me to travel to in a day. I will visit it one day, but I just haven't had the opportunity to yet. Hence, I'm keen to seize this chance to see her at the GCR, which is a little closer to me.

I can understand why the LHR would not want to make their star attractions too widely availible but I think they have taken the policy to the extreme!

[kieranhardy]

Well Kieran, due to a shake up there now regarding the Furness Rly Trust being told to vacate, the people who are left volunteering are considered trustworthy by the L&HR company to run these engines.

And other railways can't be trusted?

No harm in letting locos visit for galas, gives their home base a little bit of publicity, and possibly a bit of cash for the next overhaul. The railway has two of the last of their kind. Personally i see no problem as to why they shouldn't go somewhere else for a visit once in a while. Surely they are worse off to remain at their base for their whole preservation careers?

Has never stopped the sole surviving J15 moving about the country for visits, and she is 100 years old in 2012! The Fairburns would be considered as youngsters so nothing stopping them really!

[RobertM]

Its not my place queation the owners motives regarding there locos, I just play with them then go home