The Cotswold Festival of Steam attracted hundreds of travellers and line-siders on Saturday as the 2008 event got underway. From the footplate, crews saw a forest of hi-viz at the lineside in some of the more appealing places, while dots of dayglo orange could be seen scattered over the fields and hedgerows.  The auto trailers were a real hit - no. 163 from the Llangollen Railway leading, and no. 178 from the Dean Forest sandwiched between 163 and the locomotive, small Prairie no. 5542.  The double heading towards the end of the day with 34007 and 92203, the former being the leading engine sporting the Pines Express headboard prompted one visitor to warn of a temporary speed restriction near Midsomer Norton!  Ah! Those were the days! Many also commented on the grubby condition of 92203 and a remarkably large number of people remembered with affection the day that the 9F - newly owned by David Shepherd - travelled under its own steam from Crewe to the Longmoor Military Railway in Hampshire.  It's a salutary reminder for those of us of a certain age who witnessed that occasion, just how fast time passes...  You can read more of the 9F and its journey in 1968 here.

Fair weather of course helped to push passenger numbers towards the 900 mark, although Sunday proved a real washout in terms of weather.  Nevertheless, the variety of motive power on offer still attracted visitors in their hundreds to enjoy the journey if not the spectacle from the lineside!  Of particular interest was 4F 0-6-0 no. 44422 carrying its final shed allocation plate, Gloucester (85B).  4Fs were no strangers to this line during the dying days of steam, as mentioned in our news item of 6th May where we have a photograph to prove it!

Unfortunately, Lord Nelson suffered further leaks from its firebox on Saturday and the decision was taken to stop the locomotive until the engineers from the National Railway Museum could properly inspect the firebox, which will happen on Tuesday. Meanwhile, 7903 Foremarke Hall is deputising for the Southern locomotive but visitors will be able to inspect the immaculate Maunsell 4-6-0 which will be on view at Toddington. During the coming week (Tuesday to Friday), 34007 Wadebridge is expected to take Lord Nelson's turns.  More news later.

David Shepherd visits

Artist, wildlife conservationist and owner of 92203 Black Prince is visiting the railway on Monday 26th May and again on Sunday 1st June - on the latter occasion the RAF Memorial Flight passes over with the Hurricane, Spitfire and Lancaster. David will be with his locomotive at Winchcombe - so don't hesitate to pay a visit and have a chat with the locomotive's owner who, no doubt, will be only too happy to comment on those exciting, pioneering days as BR steam faded from view. You can read more here.