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November the 6th - it’s getting dark and the crowds are piling in to Cheltenham Racecourse for the Cheltenham Round Table’s annual firework spectacular. There’s no doubt that this is one of the best firework displays in the west and includes a host of attractions including a fun fair. Getting in to the event is one thing but getting out is quite another! If only there was the convenience of a train that could whisk you away and miss the traffic - adding to the enjoyment of the evening at the same time!
There’s no need to book - just turn up. Normal fares apply*: £9.00 return for adults, £7.50 for senior citizens and £5.50 for children ages 5-15. Under fives travel free. You can buy a family ticket (two adults and up to three children) for only £24.00. * Shareholder, member and other discount vouchers not valid on this train. Fares do not include entrance in to the firework extravaganza.
Recent site additions As regular viewers of the Site Updates page may already know, the latest Carriage & Wagon and 35006 progress reports have just been added. Click on the links below to view the latest reports:
‘Black Prince’ triumph
Or were they there because they hoped for a glimpse of - or even an autograph from - Britain’s most popular gardener, Alan Titchmarsh, who David had invited to help things go with a swing? Whatever the reason, there was no doubt that for many, the real star was ‘Black Prince’. The locomotive department had spent hours, never mind getting on for a litre of car polish, making the engine’s rich black livery dazzle in the sunshine.
One couple enjoyed their visit to Toddington perhaps more than most. Don Taylor and his wife were winners of a competition on BBC Radio Gloucestershire and apart from meeting David Shepherd and Alan Titchmarsh and spending the day on the railway, they received a wonderful book of David Shepherd’s paintings and signed by him. “It’s been a great day,” said Don. “We’ve enjoyed ourselves so much we’ve signed up as members - and are volunteering to help look after the gardens on the railway!” So perhaps Alan Titchmarsh has had a little influence on the future appearance of the GWR’s stations!
Black Prince rededication - final call! With the assistance of Alan Titchmarsh, David Shepherd is rededicating his locomotive, 9F class 2-10-0 no 92203 'Black Prince' at Toddington on Monday the 18th of October. The rededication will take place at about 12:30, when the locomotive returns from Winchcombe with the first return train of the day. Black Prince will remain in steam at Toddington for the rest of the day, while 1916-built heavy freight 2-8-0 tank locomotive no 4247 handles three return services to Cheltenham. The winners of a competition run in conjunction with BBC Radio Gloucestershire will also receive their prize, a day on the railway as well as David Shepherd's magnificent book 'My Painting Life' which will be signed by the artist on the day. The reason for the limited use of Black Prince is explained here. For more information about the relationship between 4247 and 92203, click here. All three stations will be open on Monday. Departures from Toddington are at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00. Trains from Cheltenham Race Course are at 11:45, 13:45 and 15:45.
Diesel gala this weekend! Riding on a diesel locomotive-hauled train on the national network is now pretty much a thing of the past with the almost universal use of multiple units and high-speed trains. Following the successful formula of the Harvest Festival of Steam in September, an intensive timetable has been arranged. Features include:
No need to book - just turn up. Normal train fares apply - offering perhaps the best-value diesel gala on the market! You can see the working timetable by clicking here.
Thomas spectacular The gloomy weather forecast - ‘squally rain coming in from the south-west’ - threatened to make Thomas the Tank Engine’s October visit to the GWR a bit of a washout but, fortunately , the forecasters were wrong. Both Saturday and Sunday, the 9th and 10th of October, were bright and sunny, encouraging around 3,500 people to descend on the GWR to enjoy the antics of Thomas and friends. For the first time at a Thomas event, a special diesel service was laid on between Cheltenham Race Course and Winchcombe. This was a tremendous success with well over a quarter of visitors using this service. There was a very happy atmosphere as the cheeky blue tank engine ran backwards and forwards between Toddington and Winchcombe, all watched over, of course, by Sir Topham Hatt, the Fat Controller. Staff and visitors really entered into the spirit of the occasion - especially when Thomas and Bertie ‘raced’ each other from Winchcombe to Toddington.
Stationmaster Colin Dymock says that the railway’s volunteer staff pulled out all the stops to make it a great day. “Most of us can remember being brought up on the timeless Thomas stories and I’m sure that for many, this was the foundation of our interest in railways and eventually becoming a volunteer on the GWR. “The obvious enjoyment of so many families is a great reward for us. Maybe there are some future guards, engine drivers and signalmen who visited us over the weekend and who will help to ensure the GWR goes on from strength to strength in the future.” Thomas will be visiting the GWR again next year - on the 23rd and 24th of April, and the 8th and 9th of October, 2005. What kind of locomotive is Thomas in real life, some adults asked? Well, he is an LMS 3F ‘Jinty’ 0-6-0T built in 1924 as no. 7298, becoming British Railways no. 47298. The engine was loaned to the GWR courtesy of the Llangollen Railway.
Alan Titchmarsh & David Shepherd welcome Black Prince to the GWR With the help of Alan Titchmarsh - described as ‘Britain’s best-loved gardener’ and currently presenting BBC 1’s ‘British Isles: A natural history’ - wildlife conservationist and artist David Shepherd will rededicate his magnificent steam locomotive Black Prince, following its recent overhaul, on Monday the 18th of October. The public are welcome to enjoy this special day when three return train services will operate between Toddington and Cheltenham Race Course.
Because some work still remains to be completed, Black Prince will undertake just one run on this special day. Other services will be hauled by Great Western Railway heavy freight tank locomotive no. 4247 which was built in 1916 - and is the oldest operating locomotive on the line. Bob Stark, Chairman of Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Plc says: “Black Prince is a truly impressive machine. It was a resident on our line before it went for overhaul three years ago and it was one of the most popular locomotives on our line. We’re looking forward to its return to full service next year.” Trains depart Toddington at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00, and from Cheltenham Race Course at 11:45, 13:45 and 15:45. Black Prince will take over the 11:45 from Cheltenham at Winchcombe. The rededication ceremony takes place at about 12:30 at Toddington station and the engine will then remain at Toddington, running within the station. There will also be opportunities to visit the locomotive’s footplate and to talk with both David and Alan. Click here for more information about Black Prince and 4247
Caption competition results posted The results of the September caption competition have just been annouced. The winner is Jack Hawes, so congratulations to Jack. You can read Jack’s winning entry here, together with some of the best runners up. October’s competition is well under way, so click here to enter.
Thomas weekend - final reminder The GWR’s final Thomas event of 2004 is only two days away. This year, for the first time, you’ll be able to travel to the event from Cheltenham Race Course. Click here for full details.
Autumn Diesel Gala just two weeks away It’s an exciting period on the GWR, with Thomas and his friends visiting next weekend (9th/10th October), and the Autumn Diesel Gala on the following weeked (16th/17th October ). We’ll publish more details on the Autumn Diesel Gala soon, but to whet your appetite, you can view the working timetable* for the gala by clicking here, and read the press release by clicking here. To get you in the mood, October’s desktop wallpaper for your PC features The Growler Group’s two magnificent English Electric type 3’s, 37215 & 37324, so why not download it now and brighten up your computer? * Please be advised that the working timetable is subject to change without notice. |
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Sparklers on the GWR
Some estimates put the number of people who
crowded Toddington station on Monday the 18th of October at 1,000. But what was certain is that hundreds of people enjoyed the autumnal sunshine to see David Shepherd’s celebrated 9F class locomotive ‘Black Prince’ rededicated
by its artist and wildlife conservationist owner.
After Alan Titchmarsh finished the ceremonial spraying of the nameplate with Champagne and declaring that he hadn’t enjoyed a day so much for
years (he had just ridden the footplate of 4247 from Cheltenham and then with David Shepherd on ‘Black Prince’ from Winchcombe), David handed his beloved locomotive over to the care of the GWR. “It
will be here for the next 10 years,” he declared. “It’s good to be back at Toddington and although there is some 
Our Autumn Diesel Gala offers a rare chance to experience train travel of the 'sixties to the 'nineties and it takes place this
weekend!
Black Prince has been owned by David
Shepherd since 1968, when he bought it straight out of British Railway’s service. The engine, a 9F class heavy freight locomotive, was among the last steam engines to be built in the UK for main line use. It was turned out of
Swindon works in 1959. The picture shows David Shepherd & Black Prince, when it was based at the East Somerset Railway (photograph courtesy David Shepherd).| <Home> <About GWR> <Travelling> <Supporting Us> <Ownership> <Development> <Enthusiasts> <Contact Us> <Links> |