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Festival of Steam review Click here for a review of the gala and some early photographs.
Latest Permanent Way update The latest P-way report is now available here. Thanks to Paul Fuller for the update.
North or south? Festival locomotives will be pointing as follows (north, chimney towards Toddington, south towards Cheltenham). 88 - South This information is also now detailed on the working timetable. Note that there are two versions of the timetable for Thursday and Saturday; and Friday and Sunday.
Latest Festival news: loco roster confirmed The locomotive allocations have been confirmed for the Cotswold Festival of Steam. There are two variations Thursday and Saturday; and Friday and Sunday. Click here to find out more by downloading the working timetable.
Yard tours Having said in Festival news that the yard is out of bounds, we’re happy to tell you that work has been suspended for the time being. Tours will be conducted over the four days of the festival. But there’s not much to see for all the effort of recent weeks apart from some inspection covers although visitors will be able to see progress on locomotives under restoration such as the 8F and 2807, as well as the diesels, in the yard and the David Page shed. The yard becomes out of bounds again immediately after the end of the gala.
Green Arrow braves the rain Sunday 27th May was by any measure, a pretty appalling day with persistent rain all day. But as dusk arrived early thanks to the thick cloud, a bright flash of apple-green could be seen making its way to Cheltenham and back after the end of normal services. This was the National Railway Museum's iconic V2 class locomotive, Green Arrow which after a scare about the condition of its boiler proved to well up to the task. These pictures taken by Darin Fryatt, show what is probably the first ever occasion that an LNER V2 2-6-2 has ever traversed the line (unless you know different, of course!). So this is a taste of things to come for the Cotswold Festival of Steam which starts next Thursday 31st May and runs for four days. Don't miss it! 1. 1: Green Arrow being prepared at Toddington
Fancy a brake van ride to Cheltenham? Port Talbot/GWR 0-6-0ST no. 813 will be at Cheltenham Race Course station throughout the Cotswold Festival of Steam offering rides in the Toad brake van attached to it, within station limits. But each morning, No. 813 will set off from Toddington with Toad brake van and a five-plank open wagon - a treat for those lineside photographers up with the lark, we hope. But if you fancy taking a ride in the van to Cheltenham, you are welcome to do so and it will be strictly on a first-come, first served basis - maximum 10 passengers. This is truly a rare opportunity to see the whole length of the line from the veranda of a brake van. All we ask in exchange is a generous donation to the 813 locomotive fund! Please make yourself known at Toddington at about 8.00 am - you will see the locomotive being prepared for the run. It will depart absolutely no later than 08.30 as indicated in the working timetable because Modified Hall no. 7903 will be hot on its heels with the non-stop 09.00 express passenger service to Cheltenham. Similarly, there will be opportunities to ride the brake van back to Toddington in the early evening. This opportunity will be available on all four days of the festival.
Picture: 813 will be taking an open wagon and a GWR Toad brake van to Cheltenham each day, and back to Toddington each evening - and if you are lucky you can enjoy the ride! (photo: Paddy Goss, owner of the locomotive)
Show star arrives Brightening up a dull Friday morning, the apple-green form of a classic LNER locomotive was carefully winched off its low-loader at Toddington on 25th May. It was of course, the National Railway Museum’s V2 Prairie no 4771, Green Arrow – the first arrival for next week’s Cotswold Festival of Steam. Accompanied by Rod Lytton, the Museum’s chief engineer, the engine was paired with its tender and thoroughly checked over after its long road journey from York. Pronouncing himself happy with the engine’s condition, the V2 was shunted in to the David Page shed. On Sunday 27th the engine – which shows its obvious design similarity to its larger sister Flying Scotsman – will be steamed and taken for a test run to Cheltenham and back. “After concern that the engine might be stopped permanently during its recent boiler examination, it’s a relief to see it safely on GWR metals,” said Ian Crowder, a member of the event organising team. “While Green Arrow is no longer passed for main line work, it is fit for visiting heritage railways and it is a real privilege to host this fine machine.” Green Arrow remains on the GWR until the end of August. The other Festival visitors – Somerset & Dorset 2-8-0 no. 88; Port Talbot Railway 0-6-0ST no. 813 and Southern Railway West Country class pacific no. 34007 Wadebridge – are expected to arrive early next week, in time the four-day festival which starts on Thursday 31st May. You can discover what’s happening at the show by clicking here. You can find out about the history of Gresley’s fine V2 class and the prototype, Green Arrow, here. These useful and powerful engines found their way to many parts of the UK but we don’t have a record of one ever traversing the Cheltenham to Stratford line – unless you know different, of course. If you do, let the Webmaster know! 1. Photographs:
Show update The working timetable has been slightly revised. The first passenger train to Cheltenham each day will be in the charge of 7903 Foremarke Hall and it will run non-stop, departing Toddington at 09.00. This has been a popular feature of previous events so, for a rare chance at riding a non-stop train on the GWR, make sure you’re there in good time!
Permanent way department progress update In what we hope will become a regular report the Permanent Way department have provided an update of their activities of the last few months. Click here to read the report.
And a word from our sponsors! The Cotswold Festival of Steam doesn’t happen by itself – it happens because a lot of people put huge amounts of time and effort to get the event off the ground. And this year, we’re delighted that we have sponsors who are helping to make the event a financial success, too.
Many thanks to Steam Railway Magazine, Britain’s biggest-selling railway magazine who will be present throughout the Festival; Goffs Brewery of Winchcombe, the CAMRA award-winning brewers who produce the GWR’s acclaimed Rail Ale – and there will be plenty of stock on our buffet cars throughout the Festival! Then there is Moveright International, heavy haulage contractors who will shift anything from a tractor to a transformer with an enormous number of steam locomotives in between – Moveright transported the locomotives to the Festival from as far away as Somerset and Yorkshire. And finally, but not least, David Andrews Locomotive Kits – locally-based maker of top-rated 7mm scale (‘0’-gauge) and 10mm (gauge 1) locomotive kits for the discerning modeller. An example of one of David’s models is shown above and can be inspected at Cheltenham Racecourse on Thursday and Friday of the Gala.
Festival update We’re pleased to confirm that the National Railway Museum’s locomotive Green Arrow successfully passed its steam test this week and will be brought to the GWR early next week, in good time for the Cotswold Festival of Steam. If you explore the railway press, take a look at the current issue of Heritage Railway magazine which has a six-page feature with some excellent photographs, exploring the history of galas on the GWR ever since the first “Steam Extravaganza” which featured three industrial locomotives, way back in 1989. How things have progressed since then! Steam Railway magazine is about to appear on the magazine racks too and that also contains coverage of the Festival.
Festival update Click here for details and a short history of the visiting locomotives for the upcoming Cotswold Festival of Steam. We have also released a revised version of the working timetable. This is still a provisional document and the details may change.
Latest Festival news - all you need to know! The Cotswold Festival of Steam on the GWR is fast approaching. For everything you need to know, from accommodation to lineside photo spots and attractions to watercolours click here! You can also download the working timetable from here. And stop press: Paddy Goss's lovely Port Talbot/GWR 0-6-0ST no. 813 will be offering brake van rides in a Toad van at Cheltenham Racecourse throughout the festival. It's all shaping up to be a great event - we have even put in an order for good weather...
Diesel driving experience courses If diesel locomotives are your thing and you’ve always wanted to drive one why try the GWR’s diesel driving experience. Places are available for the September, October and November events are still available. For full details and an application form click here.
June diesel gala details The GWR’s diesel department are gearing up for their own upcoming gala, June 15th-17th. Click here to view the latest gala press release and here for the gala’s poster. The working timetable is now also available here.
Festival of steam press release Today the GWR issued this press release regarding the upcoming Cotswold Festival of Steam. Details include ticket details.
Latest carriage and wagon department report The latest carriage and wagon department report is now available here. Thanks as always to Richard Johnson for the report.
Class 37 photo charter On Tuesday 8th May the EMRPS (East midlands railway photography society) ran a photo charter on the GWR using class 37 37219. The event was a sell out and the society are keen to re-visit the line. The three pictures below are thanks to Mike Pember. 1. 1 - 37324 collecting the train for the day from the north headshunt over the viaduct.
The V2 Prairies - Gresley's finest visiting the GWR Ian Crowder has put together a brief history of the V2s. Click here for the article.
Honeybourne line reinstatement proposal: threat or opportunity? The independent sustainable transport lobby group, Transport 2000, has listed the Cheltenham-Stratford route among 37 ‘disused’ railway lines it recommends the Government should consider for reinstatement, in order to reduce traffic congestion and improve the national pubic transport infrastructure. Whilst this might be regarded as a potential threat to the GWR’s operation, in fact it could offer a unique opportunity to expand the railway for both heritage and public transport use. This isn’t the first time re-integration of the line as a through route has been proposed – some years ago the Strategic Railway Authority proposed that it be used to relieve pressure on the existing former Midland route from Cheltenham to Birmingham. However, any progress is likely to be some years away – at this stage; the lobby group is simply pressing the Government to protect closed railway routes from development that could put a stop to any chance of future reinstatement – and that’s something we should applaud. The GWR has issued a press release which you can read by clicking here. To see Transport 2000’s own press release, go to www.transport2000.org.uk and then click on their news item: Protect and re-open disused rail lines, say Transport 2000.
Green Arrow still on for Cotswold Festival of Steam! The National Railway Museum has confirmed that its flagship locomotive, no. 4771 Green Arrow, is still coming to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway in time for the Cotswold Festival of Steam from 31st May to 3rd June. This follows a recent examination which stopped the locomotive for main line use. It is however, approved for heritage railway visits. Click here for the full story on our Cotswold Festival of Steam pages, where you will also find the working timetable (although locomotive allocations have yet to be made).
Vital statistics April sunshine has helped to continue the GWR’s successful start to the season. To the end of April, the total number of train tickets sold was 12,847, compared with 10,211 over the same period last year. While this is an encouraging figure, it’s worth noting that April includes figures for “Days Out with Thomas” last year, Thomas came on a very wet weekend in June. “Thomas” was very successful with a total of 3,226 tickets sold, compared with 2,707 during the June event last year. The low-down so far:
The above figures include the following:
* 2006 Thomas took place in June when 2,707 tickets were sold Comments Colin Dymock, a cross-board director and Head Station Master: It’s still too early to say whether we are setting a trend. While this represents a 20.5 per cent increase over 2006, this is contributed to by the “one child free” promotion in March, and the fact that Days Out with Thomas took place in June last year. But these are nevertheless encouraging figures. Of the totals, 21 per cent of 2007 tickets to date were sold at Cheltenham. Visit the GWR soon and tell your friends and family what a great railway this is, too - and we’ll soon be heading for another record year! |
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