6 September 2007

GLOUCESTERSHIRE WARWICKSHIRE RAILWAY
CHURCHWARD 150 GALA

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway – which runs through the Cotswolds between Toddington and Cheltenham Racecourse – is celebrating the 150^th birthday of one of the UK’s greatest railway locomotive engineers: George Jackson Churchward, over the weekend of 15^th and 16^th September.

And leading the impressive line up of engines at the event, called Churchward 150, is one of the first products of of Churchward’s genius – City of Truro.

The City class express engines broke dozens of speed records at the beginning of the 20^th century and City of Truro itself became the first man-made machine to exceed 100mph, which it did in May 1904, the year after it was built.

“City of Truro was returned to steam four years ago and it takes star billing in our ‘Churchward 150’ steam festival,” says Ian Crowder, the GWR’s commercial director. “Its 100mph feat ensured that it was saved for the nation. It was donated by the Great Western Railway to the then-new National Railway Museum in 1931 – this is one of the world’s most famous locomotives and it’s here in the Cotswolds!”

Churchward was the Great Western Railway’s chief mechanical engineer at Swindon from 1902 to 1922 and he was responsible for many innovative design ideas that set the standard for locomotive design, right to the end of steam.

Four other engines, all inspired by Churchward’s advanced standardisation and boiler development thinking, will be running during Churchward 150. They include examples of large and small ‘Prairie’ tank locomotives, engines that were once common at Gloucester, Cheltenham, Worcester, Oxford and many other locations to handle local train services.

 “Then there is the magnificent Hall class engine no. 7903 Foremarke Hall, which was completed at Swindon works in 1949. It is a direct descendent of Churchward’s famous Saint class express engines which were built in large numbers during the early part of the 20^th century,” says Ian Crowder.

The fifth engine running over the weekend is David Shepherd’s magnificent British Railways heavy freight locomotive Black Prince. Completed at Swindon in 1959, it is one of the last steam locomotives to be built for UK main line use. It is part of a standard range of engines built for British Railways that were inspired by the principles laid down by Churchward.

During the weekend, there will also be an opportunity to see work progressing ‘behind the scenes’ at Toddington on the oldest Great Western locomotive in private ownership. The Cotswold Steam Preservation group is nearing the end of restoring Churchward freight engine no. 2807 which was built in 1906. Work is currently being completed on the chassis while the boiler is away being finished.

An intensive train service will be running over the weekend of 15^th and 16^th September using all five locomotives, and includes demonstration freight trains. Rover tickets cost just £12 for adults, £10 for Senior Citizens and £8 for children aged 5-15. Under 5s travel free. A family ticket for up to two adults and three children costs only £30. Tickets entitle holders to travel on as many trains as they wish on the day of issue. More information on www.gwsr.com or 01242 621 405.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

All locomotives subject to availability

Pictures available

Media information: Ian Crowder, 07775 566 555 or ian.crowder@gwsr.com

OR: David Locke, 07740 469 953 or david.locke@hotmail.com