Great Central Railway 'Spring Steam Weekend' 2026

Описание: Great Central Railway 'Spring Steam Weekend' 2026. All footage filmed on Saturday 28th February 2026.

The Great Central Railway once again hosted its 'Spring Steam Weekend' over 28th February - 1st March. Spread across two action-packed days, the event featured an intensive timetable of both passenger and goods workings, making full use of the GCR’s unique double-track heritage main line through the Charnwood countryside.

This year’s edition was headlined by a trio of visiting locomotives, supported by the home fleet. Leading the line-up was Battle of Britain class No. 34072 “257 Squadron”, visiting from the Swanage Railway four years after it's last visit. Designed by Oliver Bulleid and built in the late 1940s, the class became famous for its air-smoothed casing, chain-driven valve gear and distinctive “Spam Can” appearance.

Joining the Bulleid was BR Standard Class 9F No. 92134, built in 1957 at Crewe to a design by Robert Riddles. The sole surviving single-chimney '9F' was visiting from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. In similar fashion to the recent 'Winter Steam Gala' the loco masqueraded as a fellow member of the class which was allocated to Annesley shed on the former GCR route. This time the loco held the identity of No. 92073, which was based at Annesley between 1957 & 1965.

Completing the visiting trio was Hunslet-built Austerity 0-6-0ST No. 3809/18. Built in 1945, the locomotive underwent an extensive overhaul at the GCR in 2008 and returned to service in 2024. Having recently returned from hire at the North Norfolk Railway, the loco would also be paired up with fellow 'Austerity' No. 68067 for the majority of the day.

With the event operating on a smaller scale than the recent Winter Steam Gala, the timetable allowed for a number of interesting and unusual movements to be slotted in. Both Austerities spent much of the weekend top-and-tailing the railway’s pair of suburban coaches along the Mountsorrel Branch, providing a frequent shuttle service, while during the afternoon 92134 took charge of the mineral wagons for a rare full-line run through to Leicester North*. To round off the day, 92134 joined forces with 34072 to double-head the penultimate service, in true Somerset & Dorset style.

Locomotives:
-Hunslet Engine Co. Class WD 'Austerity' (Works No. 3809) No. 18
-BR Class 35 No. D7018*
-BR(S) Class BB 'Battle of Britain' No. 34072 "257 SQUADRON"
-Hudswell Clarke Class WD 'Austerity' (Works No. 75091) [Masquerading as BR(E) Class J94 No. 68067]
-BR Class 9F No. 92134 (Masquerading as No. 92073)

*Not featured in the video

Timestamps:
00:00, 34072, A6 Road Bridge
00:56, 92073, A6 Road Bridge
01:46, 68067 + (3809), A6 Road Bridge
02:30, 92073, Beeches Road
03:37, 34072 Beeches Road
04:39, 3809 + (68067), Nunckley Hill
06:55, 68067 + (3809), Nunckley Hill
08:06, 92073, Woodthorpe
09:22, 34072, Woodthorpe
10:48, 68067 + (3809), Woodthorpe
11:25, 68067 + (3809), Kinchley Lane
12:14, 92073 + 34072, Kinchley Lane
13:18, 3809 + (68067), Kinchley Lane

Maximum Pressure Steam