Where to photograph and film the action!
There are some smashing points for photography along the route. OS Landranger maps are 150 (Worcester & the Malverns; Evesham & Tewkesbury) and 163 (Cheltenham & Cirencester). You’ll find plenty of access points to the line and a wealth of public footpaths that run alongside or cross the route. Some favourite locations are:

• Between Toddington and Winchcombe:
• Didbrook area (trains in both directions)
• Hailes Bridge (both directions)
• Chicken Curve (just outside Winchcombe – trains leaving Winchcombe)
• Between Winchcombe and Gotherington
• Cutting just outside Winchcombe station (trains leaving Winchcombe)
• Each end of Greet Tunnel – including the top of the tunnel at the Cheltenham end. Do not under any circumstances attempt to walk through the tunnel. In any case the tunnel is haunted (yes, really!)
• Dixton cutting and bridge – this elegant three-arch bridge crossing the line is a popular and attractive feature (trains in both directions, but especially Toddington-bound)
• From the approach to the bridge there is a good view over the field (which may be populated by sheep) of trains accelerating away from the slack at Gotherington station. (Toddington-bound trains)
• Gotherington station surrounds – please note that the original station and yard area is a private residence, although the owner is an enthusiast as his collection (including a perfect GWR ‘pagoda’ halt) demonstrates.
• Between Gotherington and Cheltenham
• Manor Lane (on the curve just beyond the passing loop). Near this point there are some of the best viewpoints – both close to the track and near it. There is a public footpath crossing the line part way down the embankment, towards Bishops Cleeve and there are excellent opportunities for shots of trains climbing the 1-in-150 gradient. Trains are normally working reasonably hard up the gradient before the slack for Gotherington – drivers shut off normally just before the start of the curve.
• Southam Lane: this is the first bridge over the line out of Cheltenham and it borders the racecourse. (Trains are accelerating here out of Cheltenham station)
• Cheltenham Race Course station itself – nice pictures of the locomotive running into the headshunt can be had here as well as in this attractive, Corsican-pine fringed station area.

Lineside passes
You’re welcome to walk the route if you are in possession of a lineside pass. You can obtain a day pass from Toddington station booking office or click here. Annual passes are also available. A couple of do’s and don’t’s though:

• Always wear an orange high-visibility vest (if you forgot yours, the station shop at Toddington offers a fetching example)
• Always respect instructions of station staff
• Please avoid walking around Toddington yard – this is out of bounds for safety reasons while civil engineering work continues
• Please acknowledge warning whistles from locomotives
• Don’t walk in the four-foot
• Please respect the land and fences of neighbouring landowners
• Do not under any circumstances attempt to walk through Greet Tunnel. As it is on a curve it is pitch black in the middle.