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1st Responders in action! The GWR's Community 1st Responder teams were in action on Saturday the 27th of November. Following completion of their training and the presentation of two defibrillators from the Mayor of Cheltenham's appeal, two teams were on call for the first time. Within 15 minutes of going on duty, the team at Winchcombe Station were called to an elderly lady at Gretton with serious bleeding, arriving just seconds before the ambulance crew. Later in the day, the Toddington team were called to a member of the local hunt who had been thrown from his horse and had a potential spinal injury. Despite being in a 4x4 vehicle the location was inaccessible and the vehicle became stuck in deep mud. The Three Counties Air Ambulance was diverted to the incident, and as the team struggled across three muddy fields with their kit they saw the helicopter land about a quarter mile ahead of them. The team were able to assist the airborne paramedics to transfer the casualty to a spinal board and load him into the helicopter. Head of Fire department Phil Harbron said, "This just shows how much the Community Responder Teams are needed, especially in rural areas. The GWR teams did a first-class professional job".
Diesel orchestra tunes up for the weekend
All of the line's operating diesels will be working an intensive train service, following the Green timetable which includes a local service between Toddington and Winchcombe. A popular feature includes a generous amount of double-heading with various combinations as well as solo performances, presenting a veritable orchestra of nostalgic sounds now virtually absent from Britain's main lines. Click here to see the working timetable. Normal fares apply for the weekend, representing one of the best-value diesel concerts in the country. Don't miss it!
Santa Specials - still a few tickets available There are still some tickets available to see Santa - but only for Saturday the 4th of December - so for last minute bookings you are advised to contact us as soon as you can! There are also still tickets available for the RNLI Carol Service at Winchcombe. Details below (see news item of 21st November).
Latest report from Carriage & Wagon Click here to read the latest news from the GWR’s Carriage & Wagon department.
The best archive film of the GWR? The late Jim Clemens has become renowned for railway nostalgia at its best. The latest offering, Gloucester (sic) & Warwickshire Steam Archive, offers an hour of pure nostalgia with plenty to interest devotees of our railway and of both steam and diesel traction that ran over it. Apart from familiar features of the Stratford to Cheltenham route, some of the lines that connected with it are included - for example to Woodford Halse, to Kingham and at Gloucester. This former GWR route was popular with photographers and cinematographers because it offered the kind of features that make for a ‘great shot’ - the backdrop of Cleeve Hill; gradients sufficient to make engines work; tunnels and of course a spectacular viaduct. Throw in an interesting variety of trains and motive power and there is rich vein of archive material to be mined. And Jim has successfully done this from his remarkable collection. Most of the footage would not have included a sound track but the dubbing on the whole is excellent - the sounds appear to be authentic and the exhaust beats mostly match the image - even with cylinder drain cocks leaking! Diesel sounds seem authentic, too - for example Hymeks, Brush type 4’s (class 47s) and Peaks (class 40’s) all put in appearances. Above all there is no intrusion of silly music - simply a well-considered narration. A few things struck me – first of all, how the line changed over a relatively short period as stations closed, buildings were demolished and embankments became overgrown. This came home particularly in the comparison of some admittedly shaky black-and-white footage of the last stopping train over the route in 1960 and views from one of the last multiple unit services between Honeybourne and Cheltenham passing through a neglected Toddington. Secondly, how badly run-down some of the last steam locomotives were - there is a shot of a Castle with seemingly more steam emerging from around the cylinders and frames than the chimney! And thirdly, the variety of motive power that could be seen. Apart from the GW types one would expect, there are Black 5’s, Britannia’s, Midland 4F on an SLS special, 9F’s, WD’s, Jubilee, LMS compound, 0-6-0ST’s at Long Marston and even a West Country pacific. This is a collection that will give hours of pleasure, mixed with perhaps anger that so much of our railway heritage has gone and gratitude that these scenes have been captured for future generations to enjoy. And delight that the present-day GWR is very effectively re-creating what has gone before. Title: Gloucester & Warwickshire Steam Archive Buy online here! This is just one of a wide range of videos available from the GWR shop at Toddington. View our online shop to see a wider range of books and other merchandise to suit all tastes or visit the shop at Toddington, which is open throughout the winter. We sell many great Christmas gift ideas and Christmas cards too, including Frederick Lea’s latest water-colour of ‘City of Truro’ in the snow at Cheltenham Race Course station. Please note: in our online shop we have listed this item as “Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Archive” - this is just to avoid perpetuation of this common misnaming of our railway!
O come all ye faithful!
The event is run in conjunction with and in aid of the RNLI. Tickets are just £7.50 for adults and £4.00 for children, and must be booked in advance. You can book tickets at Toddington station or by telephoning 01242 621 405. The station office is manned most days between 11:00am and 3:00pm, and at weekends. If you call out of hours, please leave a message and your telephone number and we’ll contact you. But hurry - when the tickets have all been sold there will be no more!
2004 Sponsored Walk - update Remember those glorious days of summer, and the sponsored walk from Toddington to Broadway (and back again, for the more enthusiastic walkers). It’s amazing to think that was over 5 months ago! David Mee, the event organiser, has just sent us an update on the total raised so far. It now stands at a fantastic £5,636. You can read David’s report on the event here. Donations are still being gratefully accepted - you can find details at the end of David’s report.
Make a difference Vote now in our online carriage livery survey. Although this is just a bit of fun, and the results are non-binding on our Carriage & Wagon Department, they will take your opinions into account. So this is an ideal opportunity to make a real difference to your favourite railway.
No public services this weekend With the Cheltenham Open race meeting in full swing there are no public services running this weekend, as indicated in our timetable. The trains running on Saturday have been hired by Racing Tours Limited for the exclusive use of race goers who have pre-booked the complete package, including entry to the races and hospitality. For more information about Racing Tours, click here. On Sunday there is, in addition, a full day of diesel driver experience training over the whole length of the line.
Going off with a bang
Regular contributor Zol's picture sums up the evening while, courtesy of the Gloucestershire Echo, we have an additional picture of a really memorable evening. There is certainly something special about travelling behind a steam locomotive at night. There's a true sense of adventure and the happy mood among both passengers and staff underlined an excellent evening. Will be be doing the same again next year? We're sure the answer is 'yes' - this was a resounding success!
King George goes to Barry Island The GWR’s Hunslet 0-6-0ST ‘King George’ has gone to Barry Island - not the famed locomotive graveyard of the 1960’s and 70’s, but the Vale of Glamorgan Railway which now runs past the site.
The Vale of Glamorgan Railway has grown rapidly from its beginnings just seven years ago. It was formed from the short-lived Butetown Railway Historical Society. The VoGR now offers an attractive run in this fast developing business and tourist destination. The line was recently extended to ‘Woodham Halt’ and the platform opened in April this year by Netta Woodham, widow of Dai Woodham who owned the Barry Island scrapyard from where hundreds of steam locomotives found their way to heritage railways throughout the UK. ‘King George’ is ideally suited to the short and sharply-curved line and will be a fine ambassador for the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. To date the VoGR has largely used former industrial locomotives although the Severn Valley Railway’s ex- Port Talbot Railway 0-6-0ST no 813 has been a highly appropriate and popular visitor. For more information about the Vale of Glamorgan Railway, and the ‘Barry 10’ locomotives stored nearby, click here. For information about ‘King George’ click here.
A day at the races No, it’s not the 1970’s album by Queen (the one with the interesting sleeve, or was that “Jazz”?). It’s the Cheltenham Open race meeting, on the 12th, 13th and 14th of November. Racing Tours will be running special trains from Toddington to Cheltenham Race Course station. Please note that travel is by prior booking only, and tickets are not available from the GWSR. For further details or last minute booking, visit the Racing Tours website, or telephone them on 01386 834013. Please note: there are no public trains running on these days. Tickets for the race trains are not available from the GWSR, and travel is by prior booking only. The Flag & Whistle staff will be taking a well-earned rest during this event, and hence the Flag & Whistle Tea Room will be closed to both visitors and volunteers.
Black Prince - the wheels turn David Shepherd's magnificent 9F class 2-10-0 'Black Prince' has left Toddington again - this time to a Bury engineering works for all 10 driving wheel tyres to be replaced. The need for this work to be done became evident after the locomotive was returned to the GWR following its recent overhaul. However, this did not prevent 'Black Prince' from being steamed firstly for the GWR's highly successful 'Harvest Festival of Steam' when it was on display at Toddington station and for its rededication on 18 October.
He went on to thank everyone on the railway who helped to make the day such a success. As to the re-tyring work, David Shepherd says: "This is clearly disappointing and I wish we had fully appreciated the extent of the wear, particularly on the rear set of driving wheels, before the overhaul. But I think the right decision has been reached. When the work is completed, the wheels will be fit for many thousands of miles' running. Those wheels will carry 'Black Prince' forward over years to come, for future generations to enjoy." The locomotive has now left Toddington for Ian Riley's workshops in Bury where his team have expertise in the specialised process of fitting new locomotive tyres. For an explanation of why the tyres need renewing click here. Says Bob Stark, "the number of people who turned out on the 18th of October underlines the popularity of this huge locomotive. Over the past three years, one of the most frequently asked questions has been: 'when is Black Prince coming back?' "It's frustrating that there will be more time before the engine is back earning its keep. But I believe the work will be finished by April for what will hopefully be a long and successful working life on the GWR."
Caption Competition - results Another month has gone by (it’ll soon be Christmas), which of course means that another caption competition has been completed. Given the subject matter in October’s competition , not surprising many of the entries had an alcohol-related theme. You can see the winning entry (well done Richard Good), and some of the best runners up, by clicking here. Of course, there’s a new picture posted for November, and if you have any interesting or amusing (and vaguely railway-related) pictures you think might make a suitable subject for a future competition, please email them to “webmaster” (at gwsr.com). Whilst on the subject of pictures, courtesy of Zol, a regular contributor to this site, we have another excellent desktop wallpaper to brighten up your computer during these miserable autumn months. |
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The Cotswolds will reverberate to the music of Brush, English Electric, Paxman
and Sulzer as the GWR's impressive fleet of diesel locomotives take to the rails this weekend for the Autumn Diesel Gala.
There are just a few tickets left for the popular RNLI carol concert.
Travel by train from Toddington station to Winchcombe, where the concert takes place in the delightful surroundings of the beautifully restored station. With brass band accompaniment, here’s a
chance to get into the real spirit of Christmas, enjoying some of your favourite carols. After the service, take the train back to Toddington for some warming mulled wine and mince pies in the
Flag & Whistle. And if the weather forecast is to be believed, there may even be a sprinkling of snow on the ground to really set the scene!
The locomotive has been hired from the GWR for
November and December and will handle the line’s Santa Specials. It may also be used for driver and fireman training over this period.
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