During the weekend following the Cotswold Festival of Steam, there was another railway event taking place on the route of the former Stratford to Cheltenham line.

This was the annual open day at the Motorail Logistics, at the former MoD site at Long Marston.  Motorail store wagons, locomotives, coaches and other equipment here. It is also the home of the Stratford & Broadway Railway Society (SRBS), whose aim has been to reopen some of the route north of Broadway, although little progress has been made to that end.

The complex, which has several miles of sidings, is still connected to the national network, via Honeybourne Junction, and the open day provides a rare opportunity to see what is stored there and enjoy train rides over part of the network.

The GWR provided two locomotives for the occasion - the 'fictional' Class 04 diesel shunter no. 11230, owned by Chris Bagley (the engine can normally be found at Winchcombe); and Andrew Goodman's Wemyss Private Railway 'Austerity' 0-6-0ST no. 15 'Earl David'.  The two locomotives provided train rides over a 2-mile return trip; while visiting modern locomotives included a class 66; Virgin-liveried 'Thunderbird' class 57/3; class 47s and two class 50s, one of which was in fresh Loadhaul livery.

GWR Member and volunteer Jack Boskett, who works for Motorail, comments: "It was a great success - months of hard work resulted in a weekend that was thoroughly enjoyed by visitors. I especially enjoyed photographing 'Earl David' running underneath the 200 yards of overhead catenery on Sunday evening (see photo)."
 
Over 40 trade stands were in attendance, while the SRBS opened their doors to the public to show off their current projects. Of particular interest was former WD 0-4-0 diesel shunter no. 70047 "Mulberry" which was shipped to France in 1944 during the Normandy campaign (hence its name, after the British forces' Mulberry harbour) to work at the no. 102 transportation stores depot in Bayeux. The open day coincided with the 65th anniversary of the Normandy landings, This interesting survivor is now owned by one of the SBRS members days.

"What was especially rewarding was that the two-day event raised over £30,000 for the Help for Heroes charity, which provides support for forces personnel who return home injured from conflicts overseas - and the money is still coming in!"

Enjoy these photographs by Jack Boskett, which show off Earl David (which was named at Toddington during the Cotswold Festival of Steam - any photographs of this occasion will be very welcome! - webmaster)