ROYAL MAIL TRAIN GETS A SPARKLING NEW LOOK FOR GALA WEEKEND

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.inloughborough.com/news/0983 ... %20WEEKEND" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The mail train at Great Central Railway will sport a striking new look this weekend for a special gala event. The four carriage train has been completely overhauled and will appear for the first time in a 1950s Royal Mail red livery. It will make four dramatic demonstration runs during the gala, dropping off and collecting mail bags, recreating a once common scene which disappeared in 1971.

The railway also has two guest locomotives visiting for the event. The mighty Deltic D9009 Alycidon once hauled passenger trains along the length of the East Coast Main Line. It will run two passenger trips and take a turn on the non stop mail drop. The steam star guest is GWR Hall class number 4953 Pitchford Hall which will also line up with the newly painted mail set.

Two other steam locomotives will appear at the event which will see a busy timetable of trains running between Loughborough and Leicester. "There will undoubtedly be a lot of variety at the Mail by Rail gala, and we hope enthusiasts will thrill to the mail drop with the Deltic in charge," said GCR President Bill Ford. "The locomotive will be a sight to behold on the freshly repainted mail train. There will also be a lot of other action on the double track."

The mail set is owned by Railway Vehicle Preservations Ltd, a group based at the GCR. It has been acquired and restored over the last decade at a cost of tens of thousands of pounds. It predecessor, a mail train made up of wooden bodied carriages built in 1937 has been retired for use a museum.

Current and past employees of the Royal Mail and anyone visiting the event with them will be entitled to discount tickets. Full details and fares are now available on the GCR website at http://www.gcrailway.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Lounge Lizard]

And that's probably the most exciting thing that's happened in Loughborough for many a month.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

My Dad use to drive HGVs in the 70s & 80s. One day at a layby he was taking a break when a Yank pulled up in a car asking for directions.

They were looking for Loo-ger-Buroo-ger