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Diesel Visitor No. 2 of 2008! Following the successful visit of Class 27, 27066, to the GWR in April, the next visitor for the Railways’ second diesel gala of the year (4th-6th July) has been announced; Brush Type 2 (Class 31) 5580 will be paying us a visit for a few weeks in July. As well as starring at the gala, it is hoped that some driver experience courses and photo charters can be arranged, so watch this space!
Click here for an in-depth look a the class 31s.
Good start to 2008 The first two operational months for the GWR - March and April - have shown a good return, despite some dreadful weather (whoever expected snow at Easter?) and the loss of Day Out with Thomas. While negotiations continue with HIT Entertainment, the holders of the 'Thomas' franchise (many other railways are in a similar situation) Paddington Bear visited instead. "Paddington attracted fewer visitors as expected although we have been delighted to receive a
large number of letters from visitors who clearly enjoyed the event very much," says Colin Dymock, head station master."At the end of April we had carried 10,860 compared with 12,847 by this time
4F 0-6-0s on the GWR Our news item announcing the forthcoming arrival of the prototype LMS version of the Fowler 4F class 0-6-0 no. 44027, owned by the National Railway Museum and reference to the occasional appearance of the class on the Cheltenham to Stratford line, prompted website viewer David Aldred of Bishops Cleeve to dig in his photo album. There he found what he was looking for: this rather nice picture of no. 43949 at speed with a freight train running through Dixton Cutting, just north of Gotherington.
David writes: “I think I must have been on a bike outing and so far as I can remember I was at the top of the cutting (near the three-arch bridge). It was a freight as by then there were only DMUs on the long distance passenger trains and steam on the Saturday holiday trains. I think the camera was my father’s Voigtlander bellows 8 on 620 film but its slow shutter speed meant unless I panned I couldn’t stop the motion.” The picture was taken on 31st July 1963, the photographer being watched by the driver! This engine was built in 1921 by Armstrong Whitworth for the Midland Railway (known then as 3835 class) and was latterly allocated to Saltley (2E) in Birmingham. It was withdrawn from service in 1965 and broken up by Cashmores of Great Bridge. However, its BR numberplate survives – it sold at auction in 2002 for £480. One survivor of this most numerous class (772 were built from 1911) will be visiting the GWR for the Cotswold Festival of Steam: no. 44422 which is currently based at the Llangollen Railway and owned by the 44422 Locomotive Fund. It was built by the LMS at Derby in 1927. The engine was a familiar sight on the Somerset & Dorset Railway while based at Bath Green Park and after that line closed, it moved to Gloucester from where it was withdrawn and subsequently moved to the infamous Barry Scrapyard in South Wales. It was restored at Cheddleton (Churnet Valley Railway) and steamed once again in 1990. After its ‘10 year’ boiler ticket expired it was overhauled at the East Lancashire Railway in 2005. So it may well be that if David Aldred still has his father’s old Voigtlander hidden in the loft he could almost replicate that picture he took all those years ago!
By Wing and Wheel – a Cotswold Feast!! The Cotswold Festival of Steam is rapidly approaching – nine days of pure action, divided between the Bank Holiday weekend of 24th to 26th May and 31st May and 1st June. In between, a normal all-steam Red timetable will operate using visiting locomotives. But it’s not just locomotives – on 1st June, the grand finale will be a fly-past from the RAF Memorial Flight’s World War 2 Hurricane and Spitfire fighters and Lancaster bomber. Back on solid ground the star performer is from the National Railway Museum: Southern Railway’s prototype Lord Nelson class no. 850 Lord Nelson. This masterpiece of Southern Railway locomotive engineering was once the most powerful 4-6-0 express locomotive in Britain. Its restoration was completed by the Eastleigh Railway Preservation Society and it performed well on the main line for a year until it was stopped for a firebox problem. This has been resolved and the engine is expected to arrive at Toddington just in time for the Festival. So what else is on the menu? Apart from Lord Nelson, the line-up looks like this: Representing the Southern Railway: Apart from Lord Nelson, Bulleid unrebuilt West Country class pacific no. 34007 Wadebridge makes a welcome return to the GWR. This is its first outing since a catastrophic fire destroyed the locomotive’s cab last year. It appears courtesy of its owning group and the Mid-Hants Railway. Representing the LMS: Fowler 4F class 0-6-0 no. 44422 is another ‘first’ for the GWR. The class hasn’t been seen on the line since British Railways days. The engine will arrive just before the Festival from the Llangollen Railway. Representing British Railways: Resident ‘Modified Hall’ no. 7903 Foremarke Hall is a popular performer on the GWR. Although a Great Western design, it was turned out of Swindon works post -nationalisation, in 1949. Joining it is David Shepherd’s marvellous 9F class 2-10-0 no. 92203 Black Prince – completed 10 years later, also at Swindon. The engine will make an appearance as it did almost exactly 40 years ago when David took delivery of his newly-acquired engine at the embryonic preservation project on the Longmoor Military Railway in 1968. The smokebox door brackets and other fixtures will be embellished with white paint just as it did all those years ago, giving it a very distinctive appearance. On 1st June, David Shepherd himself will be there to enjoy the occasion and celebrate with visitors by symbolically fixing the engine’s nameplates – of course, it was David who named the engine – it never carried a name in British Railways days. There will be much more to enjoy too – including footplate and signalbox visits, visits to Carriage & Wagon works at Winchcombe, Fred Lea’s art at Cheltenham and a range of stands and displays at Toddington. More news will follow soon! The small print: As always, every locomotive and aircraft subject to availability!
Wadebridge takes off Visiting West Country class pacific 34007 Wadebridge saw its 2008 debut on the GWR on Monday 5th May, when it attracted a lot of attention from visitors. It was working alongside 9F 2-10-0 no. 92203, bringing back recollections of the lamented Somerset & Dorset Railway: both engines were performers over this attractive and challenging line between Bournemouth and Bath.
In this picture by Ian Crowder, 34007 is pictured accelerating past the site of Bishops Cleeve station with the 11.15 service from Cheltenham Race Course.
July diesel gala press release Click here to view the latest press release for the GWR’s July diesel gala. Also available if a advertisement in PDF format. If you would like a copy please email the webmaster.
Engines arrive and depart It’s a busy time at Toddington right now. Last Monday, the visiting Class 27 diesel departed following its successful visit for the Diesel Gala while two days later ‘small Prairie’ no. 5542 turned up for its extended stay on the GWR, following an extensive ‘bottom end’ overhaul including new tyres. Then on Saturday SR West Country pacific no. 34007 Wadebridge arrived and spent the weekend on its trailer in the car park – dwarfing the cars it was an impressive sight for visitors! Both locomotives will enter traffic soon and may be in service this coming Bank Holiday weekend, May 3rd - 5th. The Locomotive Roster will be updated as soon as confirmation is received. Meanwhile, the chunky ‘Taffy Tank’ no. 5619 is leaving for the Telford Steam Railway (its owner) and will return the following week.
GWR delivers for David Shepherd foundation! The story of David Shepherd’s extraordinary life as an artist, wildlife conservationist and steam locomotive enthusiast and owner, had a privileged crowd of over 150 people spellbound at Toddington Station earlier in April. The occasion was and evening talk by David as part of his ‘Wildlife and Steam on Tour’ over the weekend of 12th and 13th April. The talk quickly sold out although hundreds of people enjoyed a gallery of David’s original paintings on display in the former Travelling Post Office van at Winchcombe station. Prints were also on sale while the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation were on hand to explain the vital work of conserving many of the world’s most important animals, hanging precariously on to survival. David Shepherd’s locomotive Black Prince was also plying the GWR’s line over the weekend. Thanks to all those who came to enjoy an extraordinary two days, visited the gallery, attended the presentation by David and, above all, bought prints, books or even the odd original. You raised over £18,000 for the Foundation. Well done! For more information about the Foundation click here and for some images of David’s work click here. Date for your diary: David Shepherd will be at the GWR again on 1st June, the last day of the Cotswold Festival of Steam, when he will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of when he took delivery of his locomotive Black Prince. 1. 3. 5. 1 - David spellbinding his audience in the Flag & Whistle
Last call for Paddington! The bear that is, not the station! The illustrious little bear is at the GWR for a not-to-be-missed weekend of fund and games this Saturday and Sunday! There’s a special timetable of trains for the day. If you click here you will go to our partner site, So Glos which has run a lovely story about Paddington’s visit – and if you are visiting from afar for the weekend there are links from here to find out what else is going on in the area, including accommodation. So if you go to Cheltenham Racecourse station and ask for a ticket to Paddington, you will get one – to Toddington of course, where you can meet Paddington!
Latest update from the P-Way department We now have the latest update available from our permanent way department available here.
Paddington to Toddington! No, not a new train service from London (may be one day!) but one of the world’s most famous bears is visiting the GWR this weekend (19th and 20th April). Complete with hat and duffel coat, Paddington Bear* will be mingling with the crowds at Toddington and Winchcombe stations. Amazingly it’s his 50th birthday and where better to celebrate this special occasion than on a station that once was part of the Great Western Railway, whose London terminus was Paddington after whom the little bear was named. A special train timetable is running and you can download a copy of it here. Other attractions include the Punch & Judy, magic, bouncy castle, an old fashioned Routemaster bus to ride on, the narrow gauge railway and lots more. And of course, ask for a marmalade sandwich if you go into the Flag & Whistle for a cuppa – after all, that was Paddington’s favourite food! Paddington Bear even has his own website, which you can visit by clicking here. The GWR has issued a press release which you can download here. Normal train fares apply and Daily Express ‘Kids Go Free’ vouchers (originals clipped from the newspaper please, not photocopies) will be accepted. Don’t miss it! *PADDINGTON BEAR™ ©Paddington & Coompany Ltd 2008. Licensed by Copyrights Group
David Shepherd at GWR this weekend! David Shepherd is visiting the GWR this coming weekend - 12 and 13 April - with 'Wildlife & Steam On Tour'. Although the evening talk with David is sold out, his railway and wildlife paintings will be on show at Winchcombe station throughout the weekend. But there is no parking at Winchcombe so you will need to travel by train from Toddington or Cheltenham Racecourse. All proceeds from the weekend go to the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation. For full details of the event click here. For more information about the Foundation and the work it does to conserve endangered mammal species throughout the world, click here.
GWR in the railway press The current issue of Steam Railway carries a good selection of news from the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway including a summary of the arrival of visiting locomotives including 5619 and 850 Lord Nelson and good couple of pictures of the Broadway extension. The May issue of The Railway Magazine also contains GWR news but the front cover has a cracking image of recent visitor North Norfolk Railway visitor class J15 no. 65462 heading along straight between Toddington and Winchcombe. The engine had just arrived from an appearance at the Barrow Hill roundhouse and heavy rain washed grime from the smokehoods inside the shed, giving the locomotive its slightly grubby appearance. The result is a picture that is every bit captures the atmosphere of an early 1960s local passenger train!
The picture is by author and photographer John Stretton who says: “After 20 years of trying I have at last managed to get a front cover shot on RM!”
Paddington Bear is visiting the GWR over the weekend of 19th/20th April. It’s Paddington’s birthday this year, would you believe he’s 50, and to help him celebrate the GWR’s laying on a weekend of fun for the family. Paddington himself will be mingling with the crowds with plenty of time for a photo and a chat. Included within your train ticket price (normal fares apply at £10 adults, £8.50 seniors, £6 children (aged 3-15 for this event) family £27 (2 adults and up to 3 children)) there is free: Punch and Judy and Magic show Also at the GWR for this weekend there will be a roundabout and the North Gloucestershire Narrow Gauge Railway will be open. There’s no need to book, just turn up at either Toddington or Cheltenham stations, buy your normal train ticket and enjoy your day! Please note that there is no parking at Winchcombe station during this event and entry is not possible to Winchcombe station without a train ticket. The timetable is available HERE.
Important diesel gala news With less than a week to go, the GWR's diesel department have been putting the final touches to their locomotives in preparation to star in the first big diesel event at Toddington for 2008. All locomotives have been fuelled and watered and await the pressing of the "engine start" button on Friday mornnig! The visiting Class 27, 27066 arrived two weeks ago and the second visitor, BR Class 08, 08881 - which will appear in BR Green livery - arrived at Toddington on Monday. The Brush Type Four Fund's 'Freightliner' liveried Class 47/3, 47376 underwent a test run last Sunday where a few minor problems were identified. The owning group are doing the best they can to rectify any issues in time for the weekend but we won't know until Wednesday evening the outcome of the works. As a result, we would advise visitors to check back on this website on Thursday for an where we hope to post an update on all locomotives and any last-minute gala news. If anyone has any questions on any of the locomotives or about the gala, you can get in touch with the GWR diesel department by sending an e-mail to: diesels@gwsr.com
Driver for a Fiver at the Diesel Gala If you thrill to the sound of English Electric or Sulzer diesel engines hard at work then the GWR is the place to be this weekend (April 4th -6th). The GWR is running its first diesel gala of the year and, for the first time, visitors can have a go at the controls of one of these powerful machines for just a fiver. Class 73 Electro-Diesel no 73129 will be based at Cheltenham Racecourse station on Saturday and Sunday for visitors to try their hand under supervision, running up and down within the spacious station limits. The cost is only £5 for ticket holders for the event and afterwards they’ll receive a certificate to mark their achievement.* The GWR has one of the finest collections of heritage diesel locomotives in the country and there
will be opportunities to ride behind all operational resident locomotives, as well as two visitors: Fares for the weekend – which are for unlimited travel – are £14 for adults, £12 for senior citizens and £10 for children. A family ticket (for up to two adults and three children) costs £34.00. You can download an illustrated timetable for the Gala here. The GWR has also issued a press release. *Minimum age 16 years. There is some climbing on to and off the locomotive from track level so a reasonable level of fitness is required. The driver may refuse potential participants for health and safety reasons. Every participant will receive a certificate. Locomotives in operation over the weekend Visiting Class 08: 08881
Thanks to Mike Pember for the photo of 08881. David Shepherd ‘Wildlife & Steam On Tour’: 12th and 13th April The “Evening with David Shepherd” event on 12th April is now sold out. Our thanks to everyone who has bought a ticket to this much anticipated event.
Diesel visitor touches down for gala weekend Class 27, 27066 arrived at Toddington at lunchtime on Saturday 22 March. The loco has been
delivered to take part in the first big diesel event of the year, the Spring Diesel Gala which runs from t Over the long weekend, the loco will make numerous trips to the Racecourse both on its own and paired up with our own "baby Sulzer" locomotive, the Class 24, 24081. Built during 1961 and 1962 by the Birmingham Railways Carriage and Wagon Company (BRCW), the 69 Class 27s were a development of the earlier Class 26s and were classed by BR as Type 2 locomotives with their 1,250hp engine capacity. Early Class 27s were allocated Eastfield depot in the Scottish region being utilised mainly on West Highland line duties whilst later batches of the locos were allocated to the Eastern and London Midland regions. However, it didn't take long for nearly all the 27s to end up in Scotland where they joined their counterparts at Eastfield on services all over the country. In the early 1970s, some of the Class 27s were converted to push-pull operation to replace the Class 126 DMUs operating the Edinburgh-Glasgow express services. At one end of the train of six Mk.IIa carriages would be a 27/1 and at the rear would be a 27/2 (ETH fitted) loco. Being an "express" service, the 90mph running soon took its toll on the 27s and reliability started to dip. However, they struggled on until 1980 when they themselves were replaced by the Class 47/7 and Mk.III push-pull operation which only involved one loco and a DBSO on the other (non-loco) end. Even the 47s didn't last long - seven years later they were replaced by the Class 158 'Express' units and more recently the Class 170 Turbostars. The last of the Class 27s were withdrawn from service in 1987, being outlived by their older Class 26 cousins whose engines, albeit less powerful than those fitted to the Class 27s, were more reliable. 27066 itself started life in 1962 as D5386. Under TOPS renumbering the loco became 27066 before being re-numbered to 27103 and 27212 as the ETH equipment was fitted and was in use on the Edinburgh-Glasgow push-pull services as mentioned above. The original boiler has since been removed and replaced by a large concrete block to simulate the weight-loss and the loco reverting to it's original TOPS number of 27066. Withdrawal came in July 1987 and was bought for preservation in 1988 when it was moved to the North Norfolk Railway. In 2003, 27066 was purchased by the Dean Forest Diesel Association and was repainted from green livery into its current BR Blue livery. A move to the East Lancs. Railway followed later that year for their gala and was moved to it's new permanent home at Lydney Junction. After a stint at the Nene Valley Railway earlier this year, the 27 has stopped over at Toddington for a few weeks prior to heading back to the Forest. Class 27 Technical Details * Introduced: 1961-1962 Thanks to Jack Boskett for providing the picture. Iffy Easter weather? Then take a train ride – and kids go free! Will it rain? Will it snow? The weather forecasters seem to have anything but Spring weather in store for us this Easter. So what better way to while away some time with a leisurely train ride through the Cotswold scenery. There may be raindrops running down the glass but the damp weather makes for very atmospheric steam effects as the train follows its polished steal tracks between Cheltenham Racecourse and Toddington. And the best bit is that kids can travel free this Easter, as revealed in the Daily Express guide to places to visit over the weekend as well as on SoGlos.com – the lively local events website. Every youngster aged 5-15 bringing a fare-paying adult or senior citizen can travel free! What’s more, if you find the train a cosy place to while away the time, you can ride up and down the line as much as you like on the day you visit. So what are you waiting for: tell the adults in the family that you want a trip into the past on the Costswold’s steam-powered time machine!
5619 arrives early Great Western 0-6-2T no. 5619 has arrived early on the GWR and it is expected to enter service on Saturday 21st March. Following some minor maintenance work. The engine was delivered following some exciting action at the West Somerset Railway’s gala. Apart from some short visits to other railways – including the Telford Steam Railway, its owner – the locomotive will remain a resident at Toddington at least until the end of 2009. This then provides the GWR with a core ‘resident’ fleet of locomotives that includes 3440 City of Truro, 2-6-2T no. 5542, 7903 Foremarke Hall and 92203 Black Prince. Unfortunately, City of Truro is likely to be out of service following a problem with its valve gear while 9F no. 92203 will re-enter service on Easter Sunday, having passed its annual boiler examination. Finishing touches are being carried out to the locomotive before it starts earning its keep following extensive servicing over the winter. This leaves just one serviceable steam locomotive for Saturday: 7903 Foremarke Hall which means that a green timetable will operate this Saturday (alternating steam and diesel). The diesel will be class 47 no. 47105, an unexpected Easter treat for diesel fans! Following is the ‘low-down’ on visiting locomotives this year. The GWR will host an interesting range of locomotives this year. Apart from our ‘residents’ which are: There will be some exciting additions to the fleet at various times during 2008, and beyond. These include: Just after Easter there will be a welcome return to Toddington for unrebuilt SR West Country class 4 -6-2 no. 34007 Wadebridge. This engine, with its distinctive ‘air-smoothed’ design, briefly visited the railway for last year’s Cotswold Festival of Steam. This time it will remain on our line until June, enabling it to take part in this year’s Festival. Lord Nelson to visit GWR 0-6-2T no 5619 to become a GWR resident For more information about no. 5619 see our News Extra feature by clicking here.
LMS 4F cements links with National Railway Museum The National Railway Museum’s LMS 4F 0-6-0 no. 4027 (British Railways number 44027) is to come to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway later this year, as revealed in the April issue of Railway Magazine. This development has been engineered by GWR director Andrew Goodman. The locomotive, currently at the former Midland Railway Centre at Butterley, is part overhauled – it was in working order until the mid-1980s, during which time it took part in the Rainhill 150 ‘trials’ of May 1980 (the picture, from Wikipedia, shows the engine at Rainhill). The work will be completed partly at Toddington and partly off-site.
No. 44027 was built at Derby in 1924 and it was the first of 575 examples of this useful 0-6-0 class, which was designed by Henry (later Sir Henry) Fowler. It was based on an earlier Midland Railway design. No 44027 was withdrawn by British Railways in 1964 and reserved for the National Collection. The GWR has established a good track record with the National Railway Museum. It currently hosts centenarian Great Western Railway no. 3440 City of Truro (reputedly the first locomotive to exceed 100mph in 1904) and during 2007, LNER V2 2-6-2 no. 4771 stayed for a prolonged visit. In April this year, Southern Railway 4-6-0 no. 850 Lord Nelson (at the time of its construction the most powerful locomotive of its type in Britain) is expected to visit for running-in after boiler repairs at York and will stay until June or July, participating in the Cotswold Festival of Steam.
March carriage and wagon report Click here to read Richard Johnson’s latest report from the carriage and wagon department.
April diesel gala timetable We are pleased to be able to publish the timetable for the upcoming diesel gala. Click here to download it.
Winning form! The Cheltenham National Hunt Festival brought mixed fortunes – gales wrought havoc to the tented village at Prestbury Park and, as a result, Wednesday’s racing was abandoned. The day’s events were not lost, though, as the programme was incorporated into Thursday’s and Friday’s schedules. In fact, Thursday, Ladies’ Day, saw a record ten races run – the day starting an hour earlier than scheduled. The results brought cheer for many race-goers while there was plenty to celebrate for local trainers Nigel Twiston-Davies and Jonjo O’Neil too. You can catch up with all the results on http://www.cheltenham.co.uk/ . But according to BBC Midlands Today coverage on Thursday, the GWR was the top tip for getting to the races on time, in comfort and without the legendary traffic jams. The BBC picked ‘City of Truro’ as a pure thoroughbred guaranteed to deliver results and, indeed, the National Railway Museum’s iconic 1903-built Great Western locomotive was in charge of race trains on Tuesday and Thursday. ITV also covered the train service organised by Racing Tours giving brilliant coverage of the days results – both on the Cheltenham track and on the GWR’s railway track! Our mini-gallery gives you a taste of another great Festival – despite the less great weather! 1. 3. 5. 7. 9. 11. 1 - Punters arrive at Toddington in anticipation of a great day
Paddington Bear to visit the GWR while Thomas is on holiday! Paddington Bear, who famously likes marmalade sandwiches is, amazingly, 50 years old this year. So the GWR has invited him to celebrate his birthday at the railway this Spring! More news will follow soon, but make a note in your diaries now that he will be at the railway on 19th and 20th April – bringing with him lots of friends. He hopes to see hundreds of families during his visit and there will be plenty of activity, competitions, fun and games to enjoy on the railway while he’s here. Paddington originally came from Darkest Peru and how he came to arrive at Paddington station is the stuff of the best adventure stories. Paddington is, of course, the former Great Western Railway’s London terminus, and he was found by Mr & Mrs Brown – a bear with a duffle coat and hat, and a luggage label that simply said ‘Please look after this bear. Thank you’. There he was, all alone, sitting on his battered suitcase amongst lots of mailbags. That’s how he got his unusual name and today, at Paddington station, there is a lovely bronze statue of one of the world’s most famous bears . See if you can find it next time you have some time to spare at the station! Of course, the present-day GWR was once part of a Great Western Railway main line which went through Cheltenham. From there, the famous ‘Cheltenham Flyer’ – at one time the fastest express in the world – used to take passengers non-stop to Paddington station. Paddington is visiting instead of ‘Thomas’ but the cheeky blue tank engine and friends will be visiting again in the future. The reason why Thomas is unable to come relates to the complexities of agreeing a new contract with HIT Entertainment, the company that today owns the rights to Thomas. We’re sure you don’t want to know about that but suffice to say that we’re confident Thomas’s smiling face will again be seen in the Cotswolds again before too long. You can find out more about Paddington Bear by clicking here.
Spreading the word Those who host guests throughout the region – the proprietors of b & b’s, other tourist attractions, hotels and guest houses – spent a day on the GWR early in March to discover for themselves what a great visit the railway can make. Over 100 people visited to travel on a special train either during the morning or afternoon, following a coffee in the Flag & Whistle and a short introduction to the railway by Ian Crowder, the railway’s commercial director. “The idea was to encourage our guests to go away with handfuls of timetable leaflets and tell their guests what a great place the GWR is to visit,” explains Ian. “Between them they are responsible for looking after thousands of people so they are in a very good position to point them in our direction, especially when a guest asks: ‘Any recommendations about what we could do today?’ “All we want them to do is ‘spread the word’ and ensure that the GWR is ‘top of mind’ – and help is to make 2008 another record year! Do you run a guest house or hotel? Would you like to advertise in the railway’s quarterly magazine The Cornishman and get a listing on this website? Then drop us an email by clicking here.
Racing away for the Festival It’s Cheltenham Festival once again and, as usual, it’s possible to ‘go by rail to the races’ from Toddington station. There are a few seats remaining for travel only on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 12th to 14th March – cash only at £40 per person. Train times are 11.00 except for Friday, when there are seats available on the second (diesel hauled) train departing at 11.30. Return is half an hour after the last race. The trains on Tuesday 11th March are fully booked. It’s an ideal way to be whisked away from the infamous Festival traffic jams – straight to Toddington and freedom from congestion! James Colling, managing director of Racing Tours, the company that organises the race trains is delighted with their success. “We have a lot of repeat business and every year, more and more people are taking advantage of the train,” he says. “It’s great to see Cheltenham Race Course station being used for the purpose it was designed for. In the past, the station only ever opened for race meetings.” Racing Tours organise full hospitality packages at the Festival, including travel by train. You can visit their website here or contact James Colling for more information by calling 07721 332 131. To travel, please arrive at Toddington station at least 45 minutes before departure and contact one of Racing Tours’ officials who will be greeting race goers at the station gate. There are discounts for members of GWRL on production of a current membership card. |
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Sulzer class 27 on loan from the Dean Forest Railway (a perfect compliment for the railway’s own ‘baby Sulzer’ class 24. A Class 08 diesel shunter –
temporarily on loan to the GWR for running-in before export to Libya – will make two trips a day with a local train between Toddington and Winchcombe. Each day there will be a freight train running to Cheltenham
for the photographers, offering some new photographic opportunities for a freight service.
he 4th to the 6th of April.
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