2006 is a special year for the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. It is the 25th anniversary of the formation of the company to preserve the line. It is also the centenary of the Stratford-upon-Avon to Cheltenham railway line, over part of which our railway now runs. We are organising a very special celebration of this double event: a Centenary Celebration over nine days between Saturday 27th May and Sunday 4th June.

The railway is, as usual, hosting a number of popular special events throughout the year many of which will continue the Centenary theme. Additional events may be added during the year – so keep visiting this page. Additional details are published here as they are finalised. We aim to have full information available at least three weeks before each event.

New Year trains, 2006 - Join the GWR for New Year steam & diesel running - your last chance to ride on the GWR during the 2005 season. Trains will run to the 2005 blue timetable. Please note that these services days were inadvertently omitted from our printed timetable.
1st & 2nd January, 2006

Centenary Celebration – a special week to mark the railway’s centenary and the 25th anniversary of the present-day GWR. A feature will be visiting locomotives to what promises to be one of the best gala events of the year. We expect to illustrate the types of trains that regularly plied the route over its 75 years as part of the national network, with visiting steam and diesel locomotives as well as our ‘home fleet’. We will be celebrating the volunteer effort that has created the wonderful heritage railway we now enjoy while we have invited owners of locomotives from the ‘Big Four: Southern, London & North Eastern and London Midland & Scottish as well as the Great Western. Special fares will apply for what promises to be a week to remember. Why don’t you take the week off?
Saturday 27th May to Sunday 4th June 2006. Click here for details.

Centenary Christmas Cracker - a two-day steam gala to end 2006 in style.
Saturday 30th December and Sunday 31st December 2006. Click here for details.

Days Out with Thomas - join us for a fun-packed weekend as ‘Thomas’ and friends take over the railway!
Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th June 2006.
Saturday 30th September and Sunday 1st October 2006. Click here for details.

Diesel Galas - the GWR has one of the finest fleets of heritage diesel locomotives in the country. Enjoy a diesel-powered day with a difference!
31st March to 2nd April 2006
9th and 10th September 2006
4th and 5th November 2006. Click here for a working timetable.
27th December 2006

A Day At The Races - special trains operate from Toddington for the Cheltenham Festival in March and the Cheltenham Open meeting in November.
14th, 15th, 16th and 17th March 2006 (Cheltenham Festival)
10th, 11th and 12th November 2006 (Cheltenham Open)
Bookings can only be made through Racing Tours - telephone. 01386 834013 or visit the website

Fish & Chips Specials - an evening of entertainment on the GWR with a fish and chip supper on the train between Toddington and Cheltenham. Wash down your supper with the railway’s exclusive beers and cider. Click here for more details and a booking form.
6th May 2006
3rd June 2006
1st July 2006
5th August 2006

Transport Nostalgia Days - a special day for the car and commercial vehicle enthusiast. Historic vehicles, activities and demonstrations at Winchcombe station - travel by train from Cheltenham or Toddington!
11th June 2006
9th July 2006
24th September 2006

Fireworks Special - travel to the fireworks by train.
4th November 2006. Click here for details.

RNLI Carol Service - steam from Toddington to an open-air carol service.
9th December 2006. Click here for details.
Please note that the GWR booking office has limited tickets for this event, with most tickets being sold by RNLI direct (see leaflet for details).

Santa Specials - visit Santa by steam train!
Click here for details of our immensely popular pre-Christmas trains rides to Santa’s Grotto. You are advised to book early!

Please note that this page contains details of all our 2006 events, including those that may have sold out or have already taken place. We leave them on this page so that if you’ve been unlucky enough to have missed an event, you know what you might expect to see happening during the following season. Please check the event dates carefully. Whilst GWSR plc will endeavour to run the services and events as advertised, the railway reserves the right to cancel, alter or suspend any train or event with notice and accepts no liability for any loss, inconvenience or delay thereby caused.