Following its successful Autumn Diesel and Steam Galas, the Great Central Railway has announced the first guest locomotive for its Winter Steam Gala in January.
The Winter Steam Gala is one of the UK’s largest railway shows, and will take place from 22-25 January at the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire.
The guest loco is BR Standard Class 9F No. 92134, and it will appear courtesy of the Self family and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
It was built at Crewe Works in June 1957, is one of only nine surviving 9F locomotives. Most notably, it is the only surviving single chimney 9F.
The 9F class, designed as a heavy freight engine, was one of the most powerful steam locomotives to operate in Britain.
The loco was withdrawn from service in December 1966 from Birkenhead depot, and was sent to Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, South Wales.
In December 1980, it left the yard to be rescued for preservation, the 116th locomotive to do so.
After nearly thirty years of work to restore it, 92134 returned to steam in 2019.
The Great Central Railway’s Winter Steam Gala will include both passenger and freight trains, which will run throughout the day, hauled by both guest locos and the Great Central’s home fleet. Frequent services will run from all the GCR’s heritage stations.
The Railway will announce further guest locomotives and details of the event over the coming weeks. Tickets for the event will be available soon, and enthusiasts will be able to purchase them from the Railway’s website.
The Great Central Railway was set up in 1969 by a group of volunteers. Today, it continues to operate as a visitor attraction which aims to educate, entertain and bring value to local communities.
“We’re excited to welcome 92134 to our Winter Steam Gala and are very grateful to the Self family
Malcolm Holmes, General Manager at the Great Central Railway
and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for making this visit possible. The 9Fs represent the pinnacle
of British steam freight design, and seeing one in action on our main line is something truly special
for enthusiasts and visitors alike.”
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