Dates & Things!

The key dates this year are:

• 1st June 1906 – the line, which was built southwards, reached Bishops Cleeve, when both this and Gotherington stations were opened (a connecting bus service linked Bishops Cleeve with Cheltenham).
• 1st August 1906 – the line opened throughout to Cheltenham Lansdown Junction, with seven or eight local trains worked by steam railmotors per weekday and none on Sundays. Most local trains ran just between Cheltenham and Honeybourne although some services originated from places such as Worcester, Evesham, Birmingham and Leamington Spa. There was a through coach from London once per day, which was slipped at Honeybourne. The picture shows steam rail motor no.40 standing at Toddington station with a Cheltenham to Honeybourne service on 28th July 1910. Photo: GWR Collection.

Through trains started in 1908 with the introduction of Wolverhampton to West of England express services. There were also through trains running between Cardiff, Norwich, Birmingham and Birkenhead. The Wolverhampton-Penzance express was not named ‘The Cornishman’ until June 1952.

Did you know, Cheltenham once boasted seven stations? Lansdown Road (MR), St James’s (GWR), High Street (GWR), Race Course (GWR), Malvern Road (GWR), Leckhampton (M & SWJR, built by GWR) and Charlton Kings (M & SWJR, built by GWR).