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Clearing the way at Broadway Broadway station once proudly served the local community with both passenger and freight. But in 1960 the passenger service ended, then four years later the goods yard closed. Soon after, the station buildings were demolished leaving just the through main line. Even that disappeared in 1979 leaving nature to take over to the extent that it eventually became difficult to tell that a station ever stood there at all. But all that is changing. The railhead is progressively getting further away from Toddington and ever closer to Broadway. Work is starting on the decaying bridges and a contract will soon be placed for replacement of the missing span near Laverton. But there is a lot of work still to do – and it’s happening literally from the ground up. And this is how you can help! If you fancy some exercise and can spare an hour or a day over this weekend (Saturday and Sunday, 30th June and 1st July) why not turn up at the site of Broadway station to assist with clearing up the undergrowth? You will discover the remains of the platform and building foundations and begin to get an idea of how the station might look once again. Bring any useful tools you might have and report to Chris Stockman who will welcome any assistance. Oh, and wear stout shoes, gloves and scruffy clothes! Here’s some inspiration: this photograph, from an old postcard and provided by courtesy of the Railway Archiving Trust, is a charming view of Broadway station in 1960, soon before the local train service ended. In the up (northbound) platform is Collett 0-4-2 tank locomotive no. 1424 propelling an autotrailer, forming a local train from Cheltenham to Honeybourne. Who is the schoolboy on the platform – was it you? Keep this image in mind as you attack the undergrowth: it’s how the station could look once again in a few year’s time…
Finding Broadway station From Broadway village centre: take the B4632 towards Evesham, the station approach is on the right just before the railway bridge From Cheltenham / Winchcombe / Toddington: take the B4632 towards Broadway. When you reach Broadway, turn left towards Evesham, the station approach is on the right just before the railway bridge. From Evesham: Take the A44 towards Broadway, taking the third exit on to the B4632 towards the village. You will see the railway bridge over the road; the station approach is immediately to the left after passing under the bridge.
Change at Honeybourne for Cheltenham From August, it will once again be possible to depart from Honeybourne Junction and arrive on a train at Cheltenham Race Course. No, the GWR hasn’t re-laid the track between Toddington and Honeybourne in double-quick time - but in an exciting joint initiative with the Cotswold Line Promotion Group (CLPG), a mini-bus service will connect First Great Western trains stopping at Honeybourne (on the Hereford-Worcester-Oxford line) with GWR trains from Toddington. The link will operate over five Sundays from 12th August, the service stopping at Broadway en-route. The bus service is free and vouchers issued to travellers will be exchangeable for discounted tickets on the GWR. The Cotswold line is nowadays largely singled but thanks to the efforts of CLPG Network Rail is exploring the feasibility of doubling it once again, which would give the GWR an opportunity to use one side of the vacant island platform at the former Honeybourne Junction station. Services from Honeybourne to Cheltenham ceased in 1960 although trains from Worcester to Stratford continued until May 1969, when this service, and Honeybourne station, were closed. The route south of Honeybourne ceased being used in 1976 following a derailment at Winchcombe and the last freight service used the northern part of the line in 1977. The whole line was officially closed in 1979, after which the track was lifted, with the exception of a single line to the Army depot at Long Marston, which remains in place to this day. Honeybourne station re-opened in 1981 as a short two-coach-length halt. Most trains including HSTs and Adelantes using the route now stop here but it is a shadow of its former status as an important junction. The original station name board gave an clue to its status: it read "HONEYBOURNE JUNCTION FOR STRATFORD-ON-AVON BRANCH WARWICK LEAMINGTON BIRMINGHAM BROADWAY WINCHCOMBE AND CHELTENHAM. This initiative is a long way from restoration of such services. But maybe it gives a taste of what might one day become a through rail connection once again. The bus service runs on Sundays 12th, 19th and 26th August and 2nd and 9th September. Departures from Honeybourne: 10.15; 12.00; 13.50 and 15.30 Journey time approx. 25 minutes, stop to pick up/set down at Broadway. Click here to visit the CLPG website. Click here for our chronology on the history of the Stratford-Cheltenham line
Wildlife and Steam on tour at the GWR – 21st and 22nd July There’s rare opportunity to see some of David Shepherd’s recent wildlife paintings – and some of his iconic work painted during the dying days of steam on British Railways, all in the aid of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation – at the GWR over the weekend of 21st and 22nd July. The exhibition, which appears at the Bluebell Railway the previous week, then goes on to the North Norfolk Railway, along with David Shepherd’s locomotive Black Prince, in August. David Shepherd, who was recently described by The Times as ‘possibly Britain’s greatest living artist’, will be putting on a show at Winchcombe station over the weekend. The Foundation will be located in the main room at Winchcombe station with both wildlife and railway paintings, along with oil sketches painted during the last months of Southern Region steam at Nine Elms and Guildford sheds, will be exhibited in both the main room and the Travelling Post Office in the bay next to platform 1. Marking the 40th anniversary of the end of steam on the Southern (steam ended on 9th July) this is one of the very rare occasions that these wonderfully evocative pictures have been exhibited together. 1. 4. 1 - David Shepherd poses in front of one of his iconic elephant paintings David Shepherd specialises in painting endangered species – and that applied as much to steam locomotives as it now does to mammals such as tigers, rhinos, bears, elephants and dozens of others clinging to the edge of survival. Auction of his paintings contributes significant sums to conservation work. Prints, cards and of course originals will be available for sale during the weekend. On both days, David Shepherd will be available at Winchcombe to discuss his work while on Saturday evening, 21st July, there will be a special Evening with David Shepherd for which tickets are available at £15. Click here to download an application form which should be posted to Toddington station (or apply in person). Starting at 6.30 for 7.00pm in the Flag & Whistle at Toddington station, the evening starts with an entertaining hour-long presentation of his career and conservation work, followed by a trip behind his locomotive Black Prince* to Winchcombe for a private view of the gallery with David Shepherd. Light refreshments will be served. Black Prince will then return to Toddington via Cheltenham. Click here for a short profile of David Shepherd and click here to read a sobering summary of the plight of endangered species during David’s lifetime. And to find out what the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation does, click here or visit his website. * David Shepherd is owner of British Railways 9F 2-10-0 no. 92203 Black Prince, which is resident on the GWR. This was one of the last steam locomotives to be built by British Railways, emerging from Swindon works in 1959. Just nine years later, David saved it from extinction by purchasing it straight out of British Railways service. It is now resident on the GWR but will be visiting the North Norfolk Railway during the latter part of August and early September.
Severn Valley Railway – flood damage The Severn Valley Railway – which runs between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth and is the nearest large heritage railway to the GWR – suffered severe damage to its track during the recent heavy rains. Sections of embankment were washed away by a ‘wall of water’, leaving the track suspended in mid-air. Initial estimates suggest that the cost of reinstating the line could be in the order of £ half-million and take up to four months to complete. There was considerable damage to roads and properties in the area as well. Garry Owen, Chairman of GWSR Plc has written to the Chairman of the Severn Valley Railway expressing the concern and support of the GWR. Already, the GWR’s permanent way team has offered assistance in re-instating the track. We offer our best wishes to all at the SVR during this distressing time and hope that the necessary repairs can be completed soon. The Severn Valley Railway have now launched an appeal to raise fund towards the repair work needed. Details of the appeal and and update on the current situation can be found on this page on the SVR’s website.
Diesel-hauled passenger trains: when did you last see one? Diesels – see them any day of the week on the national network. Or can you? Once, that was true – at the end of the steam era, diesels simply took over hauling the trains that steam locomotives were in charge of. But things have moved on and today, it’s rare to see a diesel-hauled passenger train in normal service amongst the colourful variety of multiple units, HSTs, Adelantes, turbos, EMUs etc that today carry the nation’s travellers. True, bulk freight and freightliner trains are diesel hauled – but usually by modern locomotives that seem to make light – and silent – work of even the heaviest freight services. The forthcoming diesel gala on the GWR – from 15th to 17th June – celebrates those days when green or blue British Rail diesels kept Britain on the move. Classic classes such as the 37s or 47s were once commonplace but are today few and far between on the national network. These locomotives have been painstakingly restored and are a real credit to the teams who have put them back into working order and you can enjoy the sight and sound of them once again. Also working will be the SR class 73 Electro Diesel, no. 73129, on one of its rare outings with passenger trains. It is usually coupled to the GWR’s permanent way train and can often be found a couple of miles north of Toddington, on the extension to Broadway. Another favourite in action will be a class 20, in its British Railways green livery – a class that really is a rarity today. You can download a full working timetable or a simplified timetable. You will see that there are double headed class 37 trains, as well as freight workings. Lots to see and enjoy. The run-down of locomotives in action: Class 20 no. D8137
Mainline-liveried class 37 visitor no. 37219, which is on loan from the Chasewater Railway. In action during the diesel gala this weekend, it remains with the GWR until October (photograph by Mike Pember)
Standing room only! The records are a-tumbling this year on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. Ticket sales show that the end of May showed a healthy increase in total passenger numbers compared with last year, while the Cotswold Festival of Steam broke all records for sales of tickets on one day – with 1,625 tickets sold on Saturday 2nd June. The previous best (excluding Thomas events) was 1,256 on 14th October 2001. So here’s the low-down: Year to date It’s worth noting that the 2006 figures include five days of the Centenary Festival but only one day of the recent Cotswold Festival of Steam. 22 per cent of the tickets were sold at Cheltenham Race Course station. Cotswold Festival of Steam Here’s the low-down:
Green Arrow stays a while The National Railway Museum’s celebrated V2 Prairie, no. 4771 Green Arrow, is the only visiting locomotive remaining of the Cotswold Festival of Steam stars. The engine remains on the GWR until the end of August. The engine is expected to be used on another 15 or so days between now and then, including some Elegant Excursions outings. To find out when the engine is working these and normal passenger services, keep an eye on our locomotive roster. Make the most the sight, sound and smell of this unique, apple-green machine – because in November, Green Arrow’s boiler certificate expires and the engine is expected to be put on permanent static display in the York museum.
Why is Green Arrow so special? Well, this three-cylinder engine is the prototype – and sole survivor – of a celebrated and powerful class of mixed-traffic engines designed by the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) to handle express freight – but in practice, they could handle express passenger services too. They are like a small version of the famous A1/A3 class pacifics, of which Flying Scotsman is the most celebrated example. You can find out more about the history of the V2 class by reading our history where you will find a couple of evocative black-and-white pictures from British Railways days, too. In August, another iconic National Railway Museum locomotive, Great Western record-breaker no. 3440 City of Truro is expected to return to the GWR. This offers the mouth-watering prospect of two of the most highly treasured working locomotives in the National Collection working together. More news of this tantalising event later!
Diesel gala 15th June - 17th June 2007 Following the great success of the recent Cotswold Festival of Steam this weekend the diesel fans get their chance. The gala runs from Friday to Sunday and will feature as many of the diesels based on the GWR as possible. Click here to download the full working timetable or here to download a simplified version showing just the train times and goods trains indicated in colour.
Latest P&O progress report The latest P&O progress report from John McMillan is how available here.
Final fish and chip special sold out The additional fish and chip special scheduled for 18th August is now sold out. Many thanks to everyone who has made these trains sell outs. |
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