It seems only yesterday that I was penning a similar article for this website to mark the highlights of the 2006 season. But now the last few hours of the 2007 season have ebbed away and Modified Hall class no. 7903 has cooled after running the last steam services while the very last public train service arrived back at Toddington behind class 47 diesel no. 47105.

Christmas was by any measure highly successful: Santa Claus met more youngsters (and the young at heart) in his special coach at Winchcombe than ever; we've seen thousands of happy faces at the diesel running day on 27th December and the Christmas Cracker steam extravaganza on the 29th and 30th. During the year, we've hosted an interesting range of visiting locomotives (both steam and diesel) and, subject to final audit, it looks as if 2007 has been a record year both in terms of visitor numbers and income. What a way to end the year.

2007 will be remembered for perhaps both the highest and lowest points in the preservation history of our railway.  For me, the highest point was turning out two National Railway Museum locomotives - Green Arrow and City of Truro - at the same time.  And the lowest? The loss of several days' operation in the aftermath of the July floods - a time which should have been near the height of the summer season.

Click here for Ian Crowder's reminder of some of the events that characterised a truly great year!