MAIL GOES BY RAIL THIS WEEKEND AT THE GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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SPECIAL TICKET RATES FOR ALL ROYAL MAIL EMPLOYEES PAST AND PRESENT

The era of the non stop mail drop when mail was sorted on the move by postmen in special carriages will be remembered at the Great Central Railway's exciting Summer gala. (25th, 26th July 2009).

Eight engines in total will be in action over the weekend which is set to bring thousands of visitors to Leicestershire. Top of the bill is an engine visiting all the way from Cumbria - the Fairburn tank - which will make a run at the spectacular non stop drop for the first time ever in preservation. A star attraction from the National Railway Museum, Sir Lamiel is also taking part and for fans of diesel traction, two Type 2 engines will be working double headed through the weekend.

GCR Events Organiser Steven Chapple said, "This will be a very exciting gala. The non stop mail drop is a great show, weve got a line up of engines never seen together before in the UK and a very busy timetable planned. Given the theme of the weekend we are particularly please to be offering generous ticket discounts to all Royal Mail staff past and present and their friends and families.

All Royal Mail staff (present or retired) can buy tickets for this event at the special privilege rate (10 for adults and 5 for children). Even better - anyone travelling with them, no matter how big the party - also travels for the same rate! Tickets can be bought from any Great Central Railway booking office window with a Royal Mail identification card.

Meanwhile, Railway Vehicle Preservations Ltd, who look after the carriages used in the non stop mail drop will be adding a fourth carriage to their mail train. Their two wooden bodied Gresley postal carriages which date from the 1930s will also be on display. They are host to an award winning exhibition about the history of mail on the rail.

The preserved railway has been operating for over 30 years, and is manned by around 700 volunteers and a small team of permanent staff. Originally a main line from Sheffield to London, the 8 mile preserved section between Loughborough and Leicester is fully operational and the 4 stations reflect a different period of the railways 109 year history.

Gala details including all fares, timetables and list of locomotives taking part are now online at the Great Central Railway website: http://www.gcrailway.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[stokes11eg]

Well. i suppose a tenner is cheap for a day out, but it would be like a busmans holiday. loved the picture of the three guys,especially the one on the ladder, grasping for the drop bags___ wonder what H/S would say about that!