 |
||
|
| You are in: Home > Enthusiasts > Latest News > News Archive > News Feb 2007 | |||
 |
|||
|
Trains start running on Saturday! Happy New Year to the GWR: trains start running for the 2007 season on Saturday 3rd March. And for this month only, kids can go free! One child can travel completely free of charge with every adult or senior citizen ticket sold. No need to book, just turn up. You can read our press release here. And for train times, see our timetable. This will also be your last chance to see Great Western 'large Prairie' tank locomotive running, too - as it will be off to the West Somerset Railway next week. This splendid engine - of a type that used to ply the Honeybourne - Cheltenham line in years gone by, arrived early in December and worked a number of the Santa specials. No. 4160 will be sharing duties with class 47 diesel no. 47105 in the railway's new dual steam/diesel roster. The class 47s (once known as Brush Type 4's) took over from steam in the 1960s and the few remaining examples are themselves reaching the end of their lives on the national network. You can see what locomotives are working over the coming month by visiting our loco roster The small print: Adult fare £10.00; Senior Citizen £8.50. One child ticket (value £6.00) per adult/senior citizen passenger. Tickets valid for unlimited travel on day of issue only. Fare for steam and diesel trains is the same. Offer available from 3rd March to 1st April inclusive. Please note the GWR’s Spring Diesel Gala takes place on 30th and 31st March and 1st April and the one child free offer is valid on these days too: however no steam locomotives will be working on these days. Please check the timetable for more information.
Fryers fill up Two of the GWR’s popular “Cheltenham Fryer” fish and chips specials are now sold out (May and June) and the rest of the trains are at least 60% full. Click here for full details of these popular events and to download a booking form.
Green Arrow on target for Cotswold Festival of Steam! The National Railway Museum has confirmed that it is to release the prototype LNER V2 2-6-2, no. 4771 Green Arrow, for a visit the GWR’s main steam event this year: The Cotswold Festival of Steam, 31st May to 3rd June. The locomotive will remain on the line for a few weeks after the event. Green Arrow joins an impressive line-up of locomotives from all four nationalised companies, a British Railways standard design and even an American! There will also a distinct Somerset & Dorset feel to the event, with three classes that once regularly worked over this much-loved route. Intrigued? Then click here for the full low-down. This will take you to the first of a special series of pages that will be regularly added to as this spectacular event approaches. Our thanks go to Benjamin Boggis for giving us permission to use these pictures of 4771 at the Great Central Railway. Click on the smaller pictures below to see the full sized versions.
You can see more of Benjamin’s excellent photos on his site.
And they’re off! Once again, Cheltenham Festival is looming – and once again, the GWR will be playing its part by taking race goers from Toddington to Cheltenham and return. Taking place from 13th to 16th March, the train is a great way to get in to and out of the racecourse – and miss the traffic jams! James Colling, managing director of hospitality company Racing Tours (the company that hires the GWR’s trains) tells us: “We’re running one train on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and two on Friday, Gold Cup day itself. “The service is proving as popular as ever although we do have just a few seats left on each day – but they are going fast!” Most travellers have signed up to Racing Tours’ excellent entertainment package which includes a superb lunch, a blow-by-blow guide to the day’s racing and some insider knowledge from a leading tipster. Trains depart Toddington at 11.00 each day but for early arrivals breakfast is available in the Flag & Whistle (advanced booking advisable, through Racing Tours). On Friday, Gold Cup day, the second train departs 11.45. The return train departs Cheltenham Race Course station (which is less than five minutes’ walk from the main entrance to the racecourse) half an hour after the final race, at approximately 18.00. On Friday, the second train departs at 18.30. Please note, tickets are not available from the GWR and can only be booked through Racing Tours, whose telephone number is 08456 52 8888. You can find out more by visiting our Race Days page and to find out what locomotives are hauling the race trains, visit our loco roster.
Toddington yard updates Further updates have been added to the new development section detailing the recent work to relay and re-ballast the mainline and siding one as a part of the Toddington yard redevelopment. We have also published the proposed plan for the whole Toddington site.
Mystery of the disappearing locomotive Regular readers may have noticed the occasional report on progress of the Cotswold Steam Preservation group’s veteran 2-8-0 no. 2807, on which steady progress has been made towards its restoration. But today, all that’s to be found of this historic locomotive at Toddington is the chassis, which is safely tucked up in the David Page shed. What’s happened to the rest of it? Early last year, pictures appeared on this website of 2807 looking to be almost complete – with much of the boiler cladding in place. But it will be some time before such a sight can be seen again. Early last year, the boiler was taken away for work at the Llangollen Railway. Now the tender has gone in the same direction. There is a little work to be completed on the tender, which is next likely to be seen paired with that railway’s 2885 class 2-8-0 no. 3802 (a later development of 2807 ). So is this a cunning ruse by the Llangollen to steal 2807 bit-by-bit? Far from it! Llangollen has been contracted to complete overhaul of 2807’s boiler and work on this has started. Meanwhile the tender will earn useful income for the group while paired with 3802, which is currently coupled to an incorrect 4,000 gallon tender. Back at Toddington, in the relative comfort of the shed, the group can press on with completing overhaul of the chassis ready to accept the boiler when it is returned. You can learn more about 2807 – which, at 102 years old this year, is the oldest Great Western locomotive in private ownership – by visiting the Cotswold Steam Preservation group’s excellent website. Footnote: 2007 marks the 150th birthday of George Jackson Churchward. His heavy freight engines were not only the UK’s first 2-8-0 design (2807 being one of the first batch, completed in 1905) but a triumph of locomotive engineering. Such was the success of this class that 167 were built between 1903 and 1942. Their number series was 2800-2899 and 3800-3866 (the prototype was first numbered 97, later changed to 2800). Many lasted to the end of steam in the 1960s. The GWR plans to celebrate Churchward’s anniversary at a special event over the weekend of 15th and 16th September.
Kids go free! What better excuse could you have to visit the GWR with your family? During the whole of March, every adult or senior citizen can claim a free ticket for an accompanied child aged between five and 15. It’s as simple as that! The offer is available from all of the GWR’s booking offices. No need to book in advance, just turn up on the day of travel and ask for a free child ticket for each adult or senior citizen ticket purchased. You can choose a steam or diesel-hauled train, too: the GWR has for March introduced its new green timetable which tells you which trains are steam and which are diesel. And if you want to know what engine is rostered to haul your chosen train, you can find out by visiting the locomotive roster. What’s more, the GWR’s tickets allow for unlimited travel on the day of issue – so you can take as many trips as you like – so why not try both diesel and steam? To do that it is best to change trains at Winchcombe – simply alight, cross the footbridge and join the train travelling from the opposite platform. But don’t dawdle – trains heading for Cheltenham only stop for one minute; trains heading towards Toddington stop for six minutes. The small print: Adult fare £10.00; Senior Citizen £8.50. One child ticket (value £6.00) per adult/senior citizen passenger. Tickets valid for unlimited travel on day of issue only. Fare for steam and diesel trains is the same. Offer available from 3rd March to 1st April inclusive. Please note the GWR’s Spring Diesel Gala takes place on 30th and 31st March and 1st April and the one child free offer is valid on these days too: however no steam locomotives will be working on these days. Please check the timetable for more information.
If you've read the news article below on the progress of the Toddington pit development you'll have noticed that severing the unloading road - over which all arrivals and departures to the railway move to or from their road transporter - has been delayed. This is because several locomotive movements are expected at the beginning of March. So here's a summary of what is happening:
Hole-diggery at Toddington! Click here for the latest report on progress of the £100,000 civil engineering project at Toddington , which will significantly improve the GWR’s locomotive servicing facilities.
Snow on the line delays work Initial work on the project to improve locomotive servicing facilities is well under way, with the main line now being reinstated, ready for the start of the 2007 season over the weekend of 3rd and 4th March. Click here to review the works schedule – this tells you what has been done and what is happening over coming weeks. We will be adding the work schedule for excavation and installation of the new locomotive inspection pits themselves in due course. Unfortunately, poor weather during February, including a liberal dose of snow, delayed the work and it was decided to postpone severing the unloading road – siding 5 – until the weekend of 9th March as it would not have been possible to complete this part of the works before visiting locomotives arrived. This means that from then until 26th March it won’t be possible to despatch or accept any locomotives or rolling stock. Meanwhile, the Gloucestershire Echo arrived at Toddington on 7th February to photograph progress and we hope to bring you examples of their work shortly!
March diesel gala Click here for the official advert for the GWR’s upcoming diesel gala. There is a much larger version available, if you would like a copy please contact the webmaster. The advert is a PDF document, click here to download Adobe Acrobat.
Loco roster updated The start of the 2007 season is rapidly approaching and we have a busy month, with our new green timetable operating. This provides a chance to try both diesel and steam haulage, with trains alternating between the two forms of traction. March also sees the annual Cheltenham Festival with our race trains running for Racing Tours - for details of the services and how to book click here (please note, this is Racing Tours' website for which the GWSR holds no responsibility). Bookings can only be made through Racing Tours - please do not contact Toddington station. So which locomotives are kicking off the new season? Well on the steam front, the weekend of 3rd and 4th March will be your last opportunity to enjoy 'Larch Prairie' no 4160 in action before it departs for the West Somerset Railway for an expected two years. However, we do hope to attract this fine engine for visits from time to time. As for diesel traction, the railway's trusty class 47 no 47105 will be in charge - it is currently the only diesel locomotive in the fleet capable of providing steam heat for the train. For full details check the locomotive roster here.
Black Prince stays at Toddington David Shepherd's 9F 2-10-0 is not now setting off for a spring holiday on the West Somerset Railway. Unfortunately, because of over-running repairs on Foremarke Hall and City of Truro (which has been complicated by the civil engineering works in the yard, including severing of the unloading track from 9th March) and a delay in the Churnet Valley Railway's USA S.160 class 2-8-0, we cannot spare Black Prince. We understand that the WSR has found a replacement visiting locomotive for its gala event later in March. During the month Black Prince will be seeing service on timetabled services, race trains and on the Elegant Excursions dining train on 18th March. For full details of what trains are being worked by which locomotives, check our loco roster.
New season, new timetable The GWR is going green - at least on its timetable! A new alternating steam / diesel service is running during March offering the opportunity to try both forms of traction. The GWR has one of the finest fleets of heritage diesels in the UK and this presents a rare opportunity to enjoy a train ride behind a classic diesel. During each 'green' timetable day, steam and diesel locomotives alternate, crossing at Winchcombe, each offering three return trips to Cheltenham from Toddington. You can check out our 2007 timetable here and to find out what locomotives are rostered each day, visit our locomotive roster.
February carriage and wagon department update Richard Johnson has submitted the latest Carriage and Wagon department update. Click here to view the report.
Kids go free in March! The GWR is pleased to announce a new initiative for start of the 2007 running season. On all trains during the first month of operations (3rd March to 1st April inclusive) children (aged 5 to 15) can travel free providing each child is accompanied by a fare paying adult or senior citizen. Children under the age of 5 can of course travel free as usual. This offer includes the diesel gala on 30th March - 1st April. Also new to the start of the 2007 season is the green timetable which alternates steam and diesel hauled trains during the first month of operations. The timetable increases the number of trains running during March by 50%. Further details will follow but for now here’s a link to the 2007 timetable and fares.
Three days and Three Thirty-Sevens for Toddington gala! The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway’s diesel department are kicking off 2007 in style! The first big diesel gala of the year (Friday 30th March to Sunday 1st April) will not only see the resident loco fleet in action, but also 37219 (preserved in 2005 at the Chasewater Railway) has been confirmed as a visiting loco meaning there will be no less than THREE preserved Class 37/0s hauling passenger trains along the 10-mile line over the three days! The event should also see 24081 return to traffic following extensive radiator repairs and it will be After the diesel gala, 37215, currently numbered as pre-TOPS 6915, will be taken out of traffic for further bodywork repairs and a fresh BR blue repaint, re-appearing as 37215. 37219 will therefore take ‘215’s place for the remainder of the year working service trains, galas and driver experience courses alongside fellow 37324 until ‘215 is released back into service - expected to be sometime around October. Meanwhile, 37324 will remain in service throughout the year and following its successful visit to the Swanage Railway in 2006, may well be visiting other lines later this year... 37219, which will be fully repainted and re-branded into Mainline Blue livery by the time it arrives at Toddington, will be on loan to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway for the majority of 2007 and will be sharing the general workload with its stable mates – work which includes the newly-introduced three return trips along the line for the diesel turn on all weekends in March and October – an improvement over the previous arrangement of one out-and-back turn last year. Departures from Toddington are at 11.30, 14.15 and 16.35, returning from Cheltenham Racecourse at 12.15, 15.00 and 17.20 respectively – giving up to 60 miles of diesel haulage available each day. The other dates for GWR diesel galas this year are 15th to 17th June, 3rd and 4th November and the post Christmas ‘diesel day’ bash on the 27th December. The GWR have also recently announced a “one child travels FREE with fare paying adult or senior citizen” offer for every weekend in the whole of March, including all three days of the diesel gala, giving even better value for money for those with families! Click here to download a PDF of the diesel department’s press release.
Diesel fleet status report Paul Fuller, the diesel department’s new publicity officer has provided an update on the status of the various diesel locomotives on the railway.
|
| <Home> <About GWR> <Travelling> <Supporting Us> <Ownership> <Development> <Enthusiasts> <Contact Us> <Links> |