Specialist railway Freemasons Lodge: Permanent Way Lodge, is organising a special meeting at the former Great Eastern Hotel, on 8 December – with a GER steam locomotive (in steam!) outside the hotel! The event acknowledges the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, which Freemasons George and Robert Stephenson engineered.
The Hotel was built by the Great Eastern Railway, whose directors and Chairman were Freemasons. The hotel included two special Masonic meeting rooms; one remains and is being used for this Masonic meeting, followed by a charity dinner.
In addition, a grand draw has been organised, running until 22 December, raising money for children’s charities Great Ormond Street Hospital, Railway Children and Lifelites. The draw remains open until midday 22nd December, and it includes some remarkable prizes – for example, a ride ‘at the sharp end’ with the driver of an Azuma service from Kings Cross to York or Newcastle; travel and dining opportunities; steam and diesel driver experiences; a day at the Cheltenham Festival and much more.
The locomotive is GER 0-4-0ST no. 229, affectionately known as ‘Coffee Pot’, and it recently took part in the great Stockton & Darlington celebrations on 25 September at Hopetown.
While the event is aimed at Freemasons, the draw is open to anyone and the presence of the steam locomotive will certainly draw attention to those using Liverpool Street Station. Full details and tickets can be found at https://go.rallyup.com/rail200raffle/Campaign/Details