This page contains a selection of recent feedback received at the GWR, either through this website, by letter or by email. If you would like to add your own comments, please click here.

“Once again we had a fantastic day today on the Santa Special. The present was great, good quality and appropriate and you have the organisation of so many people down to a fine art. A big thanks to the elves for entertainment value and directions. The mince pies were great too, and the present for the tiny baby was a nice touch. See you again next year.” (visitors book, December 2006)

“An excellent very informative and enjoyable website that has caused me to stay up way too late! The interactive footplate guide has answered questions I have wanted to know for years in an easy way. The photos and galleries are a credit to you. I will definitely be visiting shortly. Many thanks.” (visitors book, November 2006)

“As a long-time enthusiast I have visited many 'Heritage' railways over the last 25-30 years but, until your gala in the early summer, for some reason I had never got round to you. My loss! I was so impressed that I came up from Southampton a second time that week. The entire 'package' was so good and a credit to all those people who had obviously worked b..... hard to make the event a success. Also those members of staff I spoke to were so helpful, the gentleman who gave me a conducted tour of the loco shed and yard in particular. Well done all of you and keep up the good work. Be assured, I'll be back!!” (visitors book, September 2006)

“I visited the GWR last week and I have to say it was a very pleasurable experience. Having visited many preserved lines in the UK I can certainly say that whilst the GWR may not be the biggest or most scenic it was a very nice pleasurable experience for myself and my wife (and dog! ). The Guard being most friendly and courteous and even bringing our dog a "dog biscuit" what more can I say. Your staff are a credit to Railway Volunteers from the ticket office man to the very nice buffet car staff and the Guard, a real credit to a well run preserved line. Keep up the excellent work, I will certainly vist again when I'm in the area.” (visitors book, September 2006)

I have just spent a very enjoyable hour on your website and I feel I must congratulate you on the standard of the site. It is probably the best laid out website I have ever browsed through! (visitors book, January 2006)

“I greatly enjoyed my afternoon's visit in the middle of winter. If I had known that you had so much to offer, I should have made it a day! The computer slideshows on the history of the line added a dimension so often missing in heritage railways. Your people are very friendly and the facilities excellent - nothing is more welcoming than a hot bowl of soup at the Flag & Whistle on a cold winter's day. I can't wait to come back during the summer!” (visitors book, January 2006)

“The Santa's special day was just great, well organised, great presents for the kids, a lovely day out. Thanks for making it very special indeed.” (visitors book, December 2005)

”Just had to say what an excellent, as usual, newsletter you have just transmitted to me. No doubt about it, the GWR is becoming a premier heritage railway.” (visitor books, November 2005)

“I just found your website via a link. I haven't seen a lot of it yet but I am greatly impressed by what I have seen. As an ex BR fitter at Bolton in the 1950s and 60s I was also impressed by the explanations about the retyring of "Black Prince", clear as a bell and in layman’s terms. Well done to all concerned.” (visitors book, from New Zealand, July 2005)

“I'm writing to thank you for the positive and friendly welcome we received from everyone at the Railway yesterday as we visited for one of the running days with 56003. My son and I travelled up from Devon and we were impressed with the standards of preservation at Toddington and by the many different photo opportunities that the station site offers. I was also struck by the way that 56003 was always made lead loco even though this added much extra work for all concerned. It was good to be able to have a tour of the yard and being from the 'BR Blue' era good to see the high standard of work on 47105, 37215 and 24081 (as well as 37324 on the service train) - the new paint job on Foremarke Hall was very impressive too.  Again - thank you for a good day out - well worth a repeat visit which I'm sure we'll make before every long. Thanks to all the volunteers that make the railway happen and for the high standards that you have achieved all down the line.” (visitors book, July 2005)

“Congratulations on a well structured and informative website. I attended the steam gala on Sunday 15th May and enjoyed it very much. The GWR has a secondary main line feel unusual in preserved railways which was well matched to the trains and locomotives that ran. The weather was good and trains were full. Couldn't be better!” (visitors book, May 2005)

“Having just returned from spending the day at your railway's wonderful ‘Day out with Thomas’ event, I felt that I must express my thanks to all concerned for putting on such a wonderful event and making the day so enjoyable. The staff were warm, patient and friendly which contributed to a fantastic atmosphere throughout the day, and most of all, our two Children LOVED it! Many thanks!” (visitors book, April 2005)

“My husband & I had a wonderful journey on Easter Sunday from Toddington to Cheltenham & back again - we were lucky enough to just catch the first train at 10.30am. It was my first trip on a steam train, though my husband had been on your train before in 1993 when our son was tiny. It was a fantastic trip, the train was spotless & very comfortable & all the staff were helpful, friendly & enthusiastic. The heating was faulty in our carriage, & this was apologised for many times, though in fact we hadn't noticed it wasn't working! The journey was very interesting, & we were able to see areas you don't normally notice when travelling by car. The home-made cakes in the buffet were also excellent. We only wished we'd had time that day to make another journey, but we will visit again later this year. Everything was so very clean - & it was a pleasure to travel in such comfort. 'Normal' trains & stations should take note of your high standards. Many thanks for a wonderful trip.” (visitors book, April 2005)

“I am very impressed by your website. It is simple, clear, well designed and easy to navigate. Many of those 'professionals' should be ashamed” (website feedback, March 2005)

“Great website, interesting reading. I particularly enjoyed reading the line's history. I have visited many Heritage Railways, yours is high on my list for this year. Keep up the good work, and keep the spirit of the old Great Western alive” (visitors book, February 2005)

“I would like to congratulate all of the people involved in the marvellous diesel gala held on 27th December. I have not been to this railway before but I thoroughly enjoyed it despite the cold weather. To see 47105 on front of various trains with steam oozing out of this loco brought back many memories of the last days of steam heat in Scotland back in 1986, so once again congratulations to all involved” (“Email the Press Office”, January 2005)

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. I have visited the railway a number of times in 2004, for steam and diesel galas and several other days all of which were organised very well. Everyone is friendly and helpful. I am looking forward to visits in 2005, once again many thanks to all” (visitors book, January 2005)

“I was particularly pleased to see that you provide information on how to get to the railway by public transport. This will be very helpful to me as I will be travelling by rail from Edinburgh” (visitors book, January 2005)

“I would just like to say how much we enjoyed the Christmas lunch on the 19/12/04. I think the staff on board deserve a round of applause they were great and so was the food. Thank you very much” (visitors book, December 2004)

“Thank you for a brilliant diesel gala today! There was lots going on all the time, and I particularly enjoyed the noisy run behind the 14 and the 24!!! All the staff I met were very cheerful, and seemed to be enjoying themselves - like me! Please pass my comments on to the diesel department. I will certainly visit again!” (visitors book, November 2004)

“May I say what a great event too [the Harvest Festival of Steam] and also I think you should keep with the Great Western Theme, I suggest you try and get the king or even a castle maybe for your next gala, that would pull in the crowds!” (by email, September 2004)

“I enjoyed a pleasant day at the GWR with my elderly parents recently. We divided our afternoon with a visit to the 'Flag & Whistle'  for a cup of coffee and a cake. My mother - resigned to the likelihood that she would have to go without a cake, because she is a Coeliac (intolerant to gluten, which means no flour or other wheat-based products) was thrilled to find a small selection of gluten-free cakes on the counter.

This is an enlightened attitude - many people suffer from food allergies and find their enjoyment of cafes, pubs and restaurants reduced because their choices are limited. Simply by providing these cakes, the Flag & Whistle significantly enhanced our enjoyment of the day. My Mum enjoyed her gluten-free cake and we went back later for another. But clearly there were other Coeliacs there that day because the cakes had sold out!

Finally, I would like to add our compliments for the way you look after disabled passengers. A customer ahead of us at the ticket office was delighted to find that although her wheelchair-bound partner was charged normal fare, as his carer she was allowed to travel free. We later saw a member of the on-train staff chatting to the customer in a special area where the wheelchair was placed by a window in the train. The same member of staff was seen helping the customer down a ramp from the carriage so he could watch the locomotive running round its train at Cheltenham” (by email, August 2004)

“It was nice to travel in a good solid railway carriage with compartments or seats at tables instead of the tinny tram-like things they have now! Incidentally I found out yesterday that, at the time of the battle of Tewkesbury 1471 in the Wars of the Roses, King Edward IV's line of march from Cheltenham to Tewkesbury was more or less along the line of the railway. It might make an interesting future event. It happened in May at the start of the tourist season and both the Battlefield Trust and the people who commemorate Richard III who led one division of troops as Richard of Gloucester still attract a fair amount of interest.” (by email, July 2004)

“I would like to take the opportunity to use this new communication forum to thank members of the Glos Warks Railway for their hospitality to our small group from the Grantham Railway Society when we visited the Railway on 22 May last. In addition to an excellent train journey, we were able to have a guided tour of the Carriage and Wagon Dept and also the Toddington Yard. I would like to give especial thanks to the C&W staff who gave us a fascinating tour of their department and also to the 2807 volunteers who even permitted one of our brave members to have a go at reaming out a boiler stay! As some of you may have guessed, I have been involved, one way or another with the GWR and 2807 since 1900 and frozen to death but distance also lends enchantment. We were very privileged to travel behind City of Truro and 5199 on that sunny day and memories will remain. Indeed, Grantham Railway Society has already decided that I should arrange a repeat visit in 2005!” (posted in The Waiting Room, July 2004)

“As a volunteer on another preserved railway - Talyllyn - where I am a driver, it is always interesting to visit other preserved lines. I have made many visits to the GWR, sometimes on my way home from a working spell on the Talyllyn, sometimes as a full day visit from my home in Bucks. As some of the other comments received on this web site indicate, the progress that has been made in recent years is significant, and congratulations are due to all concerned for that. Following my most recent visit on May 22nd for the prime reason of seeing 3440 'City of Truro', I am pleased to record that I had a most pleasant day observing/travelling behind 3440 and watching 5199 and 3822 in action. Whilst I accept, and know from my own involvement with the TR, loco shed/workshop access is a problem due to safety requirements, I wondered whether a footpath could be provided, perhaps alongside the narrow gauge, to allow visitors to see better what is happening in and around the new loco shed/workshop, but from a 'safe' distance.” (visitors book, June 2004)

“Brought here on a surprise day out, very impressed with the standards and professionalism of the whole set-up. The stations as well as the rolling stock made it a very nostalgic day for all of us. We are sure we will return.” (visitors book, June 2004)

“I take my hat off to you for creating and managing an excellent web-site. It is very easy to navigate and provides full information for all persons, whether they be just interested visitors, or serious enthusiasts who have studied the history of the 'Honeybourne Line'. I was brought up in Bishops Cleeve in the 1950s so I know the line like the back of my hand and I have been a member of the GWSR since 1985. The progress the railway has made over the last quarter of a century has been truly phenomenal and credit is due to the real heroes of the railway, all those volunteers who have given so much to recreate the railway and place it in the premier league of heritage railways.” (by email from Middlesex, May 2004)

“Celebration of Swindon Steam was an excellent event despite the weather. Congratulations to the restoration teams who turned out the beautiful locomotives. Also praise is due to the owner of Gotherington Station who has obviously put a lot of his time, effort and money into providing a truly picturesque and authentic Great Western Station environment - pity about the 'Do Not Alight Here' signs which are unnecessary because no trains stop at Gotherington, and even if they did, a two coach train could easily be accommodated on the down platform. Nevertheless, it is hats off to all the volunteers who have given so freely of their time, dedication and determination to recreate a railway that could eventually be the best heritage line in the United Kingdom. These people are the real heroes of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway and they deserve all the credit. I always look forward to my annual visit to the line as there is always fresh evidence of further progress. All aboard ! Next stop Broadway !” (visitors book, May 2004)

“Comments on Swindon Steam Gala: Overall a very good day out despite the weather on Saturday. Everything seemed to work well and the trains were well patronised. The railway is certainly making good progress. Just a few suggestions to maybe improve things a bit:
1) It would be nice to produce a Souvenir Guide to the event - if there was one I didn't see it, to include details of the locos and the working timetable.
2) Obviously this was billed as a "Swindon" event, but for future galas it would be good to hire something non-GWR if possible ("Green Arrow" drew huge crowds to the Bluebell last year).
3) At least one double-headed train during the day would add interest.
4) There should be more opportunity for us enthusiasts to do some shopping - the shop is currently full of Thomas merchandise with little to interest the genuine enthusiast.
But as I say - it was a most enjoyable event and I look forward to the next one.”
(visitors book, May 2004)

“May I congratulate the GWR on a excellent Swindon Steam gala event. The locomotives were very well turned out and all trains ran to timetable (if only all the national ones did the same......).  Thanks also for the guided tours around the shed and yard, which yielded much interesting info that normally we would not get.  The many photo opportunities were also much appreciated. A great day was had by all.” (visitors book, May 2004)

“I would also like to say a BIG thank you to everybody involved with the railway as every body that we met on the day was very helpful and polite and couldn’t do enough for us. I enjoyed the whole day thoroughly and the way everything just fell into place was just brilliant. I believe the conduct of all the staff was impeccable, they were always on hand to ensure that the best possible experience was delivered on the day and I think I can vouch for the others on the driving course as well. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway will certainly be seeing me again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” (by email, May 2004)

“I must compliment you on your really brilliant website - the GWR must be delighted with it, and we can all now keep right up to date with all the latest news. The loco roster is a real treat - many thanks for all the updates.” (by email, April 2004)

“The Loco Roster is a great new feature. There has been considerable criticism from photographers in the past about the lack of advance information particularly for galas. I hope you can get the steam lads to give as good timetable info., as the diesel lads do for their galas.” (website feedback, April 2004)

“Just a quick note to say thanks for probably the best website in railway preservation - quick loading, full of information, easy to navigate and, most importantly, updated on a daily basis. I did indeed share your disappointment yesterday at City of Truro's problems, but at least I was able to avoid an abortive trip from Bath today by checking the site. I shall be back as soon as good news about the loco is posted!” (website feedback, April 2004)

“Congratulations on a most excellent website. Very easy to use. Lots of information. One small criticism. I could only get to "Elegant Excursions" by clicking on the link in "3/4 of a mile in 8 weeks" on the news page. I would have liked a direct link from the Home page.” (website feedback, March 2004)

“Without any hesitation, the GWR stood out as being the most comprehensive, comprehensible, informative and enjoyable [website] of the lot to the extent that I felt I had to join immediately.” (by post, February 2004)

“As a long time member (ex working prior to moving away!) I found the new site on New Year's Day. What a credit to you all !! Interesting, nostalgic and easy to traverse. Makes me want to move back again!” (website feedback, January 2004)

“When I print off the Timetable from the website, the blocks of colour around each date are not printed out, so making the printout meaningless. Is it possible that I am doing something wrong, or is it a problem with the website?” (website feedback, January 2004)