Shop updates
posted 27th November 2005

There have been a number of recent changes to our online shop’s catalogue, including the addition of a binder for “The Cornishman” magazine, and the 2006 GWR Calendar.

If you’re looking for an ideal Christmas gift for a railway enthusiast, why not visit our online shop? Better still, why not come down to Toddington and visit the shop in person!

Last public trains before Santa Specials
posted 25th November 2005

This coming weekend is the last opportunity to ride on the GWR before the start of the Santa Specials (there are still some places available for the Santas - please contact us for details).

With the return of the cold weather, there should be plenty of opportunities to see some magnificent sights, like this great shot of Black Prince captured by Steve George last weekend. So why not come down to the GWR, but remember to wrap up warm!

Site Updates
posted 24th November 2005

There have been two updates to the site recently. Firstly, a new press release has been added, heralding the Christmas Diesel Day on the 27th of December. We are expecting eight of our fleet of diesel locomotives to be in action, so drag yourselves away from the TV and get down to the GWR! Click here to read the press release. As usual for our special events, we hope to publish a working timetable nearer the date.

Secondly, the latest in the series of excellent Carriage & Wagon reports from Richard Johnson has just been published. It looks like they’ve had a busy summer! Click here to read the report.

Winter working on the GWR
posted 15th November 2005

The winter may be approaching but there is plenty of activity on the GWR over December and Christmas:

Santa Specials
Of course the main feature of December is the Santa Specials - the best Santa experience around! Trains are booking up fast and some are already fully booked. But you can still buy tickets - click here for full information and a printable booking form.

Elegant Excursions
You might be lucky to book a place on the GWR's celebrated dining train - during December there are two Sunday Lunch trains and one evening dinner train. Although the trains are reported to be pretty full, there may be some tickets still available. For full details visit Elegant Excursions - for dates and details click here.

Christmas and New Year trains
The perfect way to round off your Christmas celebrations - a ride on the GWR! The Blue Timetable operates with steam hauled trains (except for the last train of the day) on the 26th and 28th to 30th of December. Although not advertised in the current printed timetable, trains will be running on New Year's Day and the 2nd of January 2006. And if the Met Office is to be believed, perhaps we'll have snow on the ground. Now that will be something special - steam and snow!

Not forgetting diesels...
in addition to the last return service each day, the Diesel Department will be turning out their usual wide variety of motive power for a diesel day on the 27th of December, for which a special timetable will apply - this will be published on this website nearer the time, so keep tuning in!

Over the arches - at last!
posted 14th November 2005

On the 12th of November, the 15-arch, 50ft high Stanway Viaduct north of Toddington station, bore the weight of a train for the first time 1979. As seen in the photo by Andy Manley, the honours fell to electro-diesel no 73129, hauling the permanent way train. Although the viaduct is built for double track, the new single line is laid down the centre to help keep weight distribution even and reduce future maintenance requirements of this historic structure.

The viaduct has an interesting history in that it collapsed during construction in 1903 during very wet weather. Arch 10 collapsed first, quickly followed by arches 9 and 8. The following day arch number 7 fell, causing a crack in arch number 6. There were four fatalities. The main reason for the disaster is believed to have been removal of the formers too soon.

So it may have been with some trepidation that the permanent way team gingerly took the train on to the as yet unballasted track, which comprises 60ft rail lengths on hardwood sleepers. Concrete sleepers are used on either side of the viaduct. Work is progressing north of the viaduct now with undergrowth clearance, particularly at bridges, and cleaning of the substantial amount of ballast remaining on the trackbed.

After a short break for winter maintenance activities, the GWR's Permanent Way department will resume track laying northwards towards the village of Broadway.

Platform 2 - is missing!
posted 8th November 2005

It was there one minute then gone the next - platform 2, that is, at Cheltenham Race Course station. The picture shows 9F 2-10-0 backing on to its train taken on 16th October, from the new signalbox with a fine starting signal ready and waiting for use in the foreground. But what is most striking about this view is the neat banking where the edge of the up platform, or platform 2, stood only a few days previously.

There are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, as some visitors may have noticed, the platform wall was gradually leaning towards the track. The original platform edging slabs had already been removed and stored because they would have fouled the cylinders of passing steam locomotives. According to Bruce Ward, building director, the clay geology has meant that the soil is prone to movement and that movement has accelerated since trains returned to the race course station. So for safety reasons, it needed to be removed.

In addition, next year's timetable will include an increased number of Elegant Excursions Sunday lunch trains (more news later!) and these will work between ordinary services. This will mean the train 'laying over' for a time at Cheltenham on up line. For safety reasons, passengers would not be able to alight from the train and removal of the platform edge discourages this. And just in case someone is tempted, 'Do not alight here' signs will also appear before the start of the 2006 timetable in March. And the signalling? Well that should be fully operational as well, thus allowing Elegant Excursions to use platform 2 - or at least, the track where platform 2 stood!

Please note that this arrangement is not permanent. Platform 2 will be rebuilt in due course as the station develops. Longer term plans include a footbridge linking the path near the booking office to both platforms.

Santa Specials booking fast
posted 5th November 2005

It seems hardly possible that once again, Christmas is coming at express train speed. And as usual, demand is heavy for the GWR's popular Santa Specials and a number of trains are already booked. But there are still tickets available - click here for more information and booking details. The GWR has built an enviable reputation for the best Santa experience for miles around and the railway's Carriage and Wagon department has spent part of the summer refurbishing Santa's home for December. This is the special coach converted to provide a warm welcome for visitors young and old, which is now back in the bay at Winchcombe station.

We promise that this year will be better than ever - so secure your special steam Santa seats soon!

City of Truro returns
posted 4th November 2005

Another locomotive quietly slipped in to Toddington yard last week - the National Railway Museum's celebrated record-breaker, no. 3440 City of Truro. This Edwardian masterpiece will remain on the GWR for the winter and will make appearances on the Santa Specials and Elegant Excursions dining trains during December. The locomotive is expected to remain nominally based on the line in the future although it has a busy diary on other heritage railways during 2006. Keep your eyes open on this website for more news shortly.

The Rocket this weekend...
posted 3rd November 2005

Mix steam and sparklers this Saturday evening, the 5th of November, with the GWR's steam-hauled fireworks special to Cheltenham Racecourse, for the Round Table's annual fireworks spectacular. The train, in the charge of 7903 Foremarke Hall (now returned from the Severn Valley Railway), departs Toddington at 18:00 and returns from Cheltenham at 20:30 - missing the traffic jams as it does so. Usual fares apply and refreshments, including the line's famed Rail Ale and Track Cider, will be available from the on-train buffet.

Revised diesel gala timetable
posted 3rd November 2005

Click here to find an updated version of the working timetable for this weekend's diesel event. The revision now includes class 24, no 24081 which has been out of service, but is now back in operation earlier than expected. It should be a good weekend with a variety of locomotives and trains, including freight between Toddington and Winchcombe. And don't miss 56003 - which has remained on the GWR for longer than expected - so make the most of it, this could be its last appearance on GWR passenger services!

Caption Competition - the gruesome twosome!
posted 1st November 2005

Another month nearer Christmas, and the nights are drawing in. Once again, we have a new Caption Competition, and I’m sure this month’s photo will get your creative juices flowing! Click here to view the competition, and to submit an entry.

October’s competition has been won by Richard Mott - well done Richard! Click here to view the results, including some of the best runners up.

Click here to return to the News Archive.