Drawing to a close
posted 31st December 2005

As the 2005 season draws to a close, it also the end of an era at Toddington’s Flag & Whistle Tea Room. Val Owen, who has held the franchise for many years, is retiring at the end of this season.

I’m sure we’ll all miss her excellent home-made cakes and sandwiches, and wish her a long and happy retirement. Of course, Val will still be a regular visitor and GWR volunteer - but she won’t be wearing an apron any more!

Remember, there’s still 3 more days of running (and cakes) left until the end of the season, so why not visit the GWR on Saturday, Sunday or Monday?

The GWR Website Team would like to wish all the visitors to this website, and supporters and followers of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, a happy, peaceful, and prosperous New Year. See you in 2006!

Diesel Driving Experience, 2006
posted 31st December 2005

Information and a booking form for the 2006 Diesel Driving Experience courses are now available. Click here to visit the Diesel Driving Experience page.

Latest Carriage & Wagon Report
posted 28th December 2005

The latest report about the goings-on in the Carriage & Wagon department is now available. You can read the Carriage & Wagon report by clicking here. Many thanks, as always, to Richard Johnson for supplying the words and pictures.

Remember,  if you are a GWR volunteer and would like to see your department publicised on this website, please contact the webmaster for details. All you need to do is send in regularly updated reports, and the occasional photograph, and we will do the rest!

'Single wheeler' on the GWR?
posted 27th December 2005

Tucked away in the back of the David Page shed at Toddington is a steam locomotive with just a single set of driving wheels - a 4-2-4. But it is not all it seems for it is the National Railway Museum's centenarian City of Truro, which was returned to operation on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway in time to celebrate the centenary of its celebrated 100mph run in 1904. The Edwardian pride of the Great Western Railway, which normally has a 4-4-0 wheel arrangement, won't be going anywhere for a while - never mind at 100mph, as its trailing wheelset has been removed for repair.

When the engine arrived at Toddington a few weeks ago, a routine mechanical inspection by the GWR locomotive department found that the rear left-hand crank pin was loose. Following further inspection by the National Railway Museum's technical staff, the decision was taken to lift the locomotive to remove the wheelset, which has now gone to Riley & Sons at Bury, Lancashire for a new crank pin to be manufactured and fitted.

Neil Carr’s photograph above shows City of Truro airborne, courtesy of two 50-tonne capacity cranes, at Toddington. A four-wheel 'accommodation bogie' has been substituted for the driving wheelset and the locomotive carefully shunted back in to the security of the shed.

The repaired wheelset is expected to be returned in a few weeks.

Steam on the small screen: The Train Set - 12.30pm on New Year's Eve
posted 24th December 2005

Here's something not to be missed. ITV 1 is screening 'The Train Set: The Romance of Railways' on New Year's Eve. The hour-long production features a range of people and locomotives with railway-themed paintings, music, photographs and films inspired by trains. David Shepherd has a starring role in the film, as does, of course, his locomotive, 9F class 2-10-0 'Black Prince'. The filming on the GWR was carried out over two days during October. Apart from David Shepherd and Black Prince on the GWR, the programme includes Jenny Agutter and The Railway Children; The Orient Express; Brief Encounter; Pete Waterman; Flying Scotsman; Roy Marsden; Paddington Bear; Deltic; Sir Jimmy Saville and The Great St. Trinians Train Robbery.

ITV's publicity for the programme includes the classic train set image below.

Steaming over Christmas
posted 19th December 2005, updated 20th December 2005

Just a few days remaining now until Christmas and the last few lucky children (and adults!) will be visiting Santa at Winchcombe via our ever-popular Santa Specials. But steam continues through to the New Year! Visit our loco roster to find out what engines are rostered for 26th December and new year services from 28th December to 2nd January. Trains after Christmas run to the 2005 Blue timetable and additionally stop at Gotherington by request - ideal for a brisk winter walk up Nottingham Hill, perhaps?

And something for diesel fans...
The GWR's Christmas Diesel Gala takes place on 27th December when every available locomotive from our impressive diesel fleet will be in operation, working to an intensive timetable. The day includes brake van rides in the line's recently delivered unusual Southern Railway bogie brake van - now there's a rare treat. The working timetable will be on this site very shortly.

Update 20th December: Download the diesel gala working timetable by clicking here. This is a PDF file. Remember that this timetable is intended mainly for use by our volunteers , and is subject to change without notice.

Santa specials in full swing
posted 17th December 2005

As you can see from the pictures below, our “Elfin Safety Department” have been mobilised to help during the Santa Season. There’s still several days of Santa Specials left, so even if you don’t have a ticket, why not come down to Toddington to sample the festive atmosphere? Don’t forget, our shop will be open for those last minute gifts!

Thanks to Tony Stockwell, GWSR Commercial Director, for the pictures and the terrible pun. Thanks to Chris Stockman, for really getting into his role!

We are of course running trains after Christmas through into the New Year, from the 26th of December until the 2nd of January, including our Christmas Diesel Day on the the 27th. An deal opportunity to get away from those endless repeats of “The Morecambe & Wise 1973 Christmas Special”, and the like!

A special year...
posted 9th December 2006

Those with an eye for anniversaries will be full of anticipation to see how the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway is going to celebrate during 2006. To celebrate what? Well, 2006 marks:

• The centenary of the opening of the Stratford to Cheltenham line throughout
• The 25th anniversary of the creation of Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway plc (GWSR), the company formed to rebuild the line
• The 200th birthday of Isambard Kingdom Brunel - father of the Great Western Railway

To mark these very special events, the GWR is planning a major nine-day festival on the line from 27th May to 4th June 2006. The week will include visiting locomotives that will both help illustrate the types of motive power that used to operate over the line before it closed (both steam and diesel) and guest locomotives to represent the 'Big Four'. A range of other activities will take place to illustrate the history of our line and its restoration.

More news will follow, but for now make sure that this special week is firmly in your diary.

2006 timetable now out
posted 7th December 2005

The 2006 brochure and timetable has been published and if you would like a printed copy, please call in to Toddington station or your local tourist information office, or send a stamped-addressed envelope to:

2006 Timetable
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
The Railway Station
Toddington, Glos.
GL54 5DT

Click here for the online version of our 2006 timetable. Please note that for 2006 the special events are coloured dark brown.

The railway is planning a range of special events throughout the year, starting with a major celebration at the end of May, marking both the centenary of the opening of the line over part of which the GWR now operates and the 25th anniversary of the formation of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway Plc. Click here for our 2006 online events guide.

Announcement
posted 4th December 2005

It is with regret that the directors of the GWSR plc and GWR ltd boards have to announce the death of Roger Hawkins. Roger, former Chairman, Station Master, and long-standing volunteer passed away suddenly on Tuesday 29th November, aged 77.

Special moments with Foremarke Hall
posted 3rd December 2005

Modified Hall no. 7903 departed from Toddington for its usual day's work on the GWR recently - but this was a special occasion for two reasons. Actor Chris Barry - Mr Brittas of “The Brittas Empire” and Rimmer of “Red Dwarf” fame - visited the GWR that day with his family and enjoyed a chilly footplate ride to Cheltenham, in the company of Jim Clarke, chairman of the owning group, the Foremarke Hall Transport Group. Chris is pictured below in the left-hand picture, with Jim at Toddington.

A family affair:
The trip was special for another reason, too. The locomotive was driven by Ian Windscheffel, past chairman of GWR supporting company GWR Ltd. Ian is one of the railway's most experienced drivers - and his fireman was son Jonathan, who was enjoying his first trip following passing out as a fireman. The pair are pictured above. in the right-hand picture. This is not the only 'family affair' in the locomotive department - there is a husband and wife team also, driver Tim Crockford and his wife Judith, who insists on being called a 'fireman'.

Foremarke's own site:
The Foremarke Hall Transport Group has launched its own website. The site - which Jim Clarke admits is not finished yet - nevertheless includes some excellent historical and technical information about the locomotive and includes an impressive gallery of the locomotive during its British Railways days. You can also read our own commentary on the Hall class locomotives in News Extra - both the original version (such as 4936 Kinlet Hall and the Hawksworth modified version, such as Foremarke Hall, Owsden Hall and Raveningham Hall).

Click here to visit the Foremarke Hall Transport Group’s site.

Caption Competition
posted 1st December 2005

Another month, another Caption Competition. The worthy winner of the November Caption Competition was Peter Simmons. Well done Peter! November’s competition attracted a record 47 entries, so let’s hope the new competition is just as successful. Click here to view and hopefully enter the new competition.

Click here to return to the News Archive.