Once again 2010 will be packed with events on The Honeybourne Line. The centrepiece of the year will be the GWR 175 celebrations running from May 29th to June 6th but we also welcome the return of Thomas the Tank engine and his friends and also Olton Hall which stars as Hogwarts Castle in the Harry Potter films.

So here's a quick summary of what is happening and when - click the links for more or just scroll down the page. This is a 'live' page that will be updated regularly as each event draws near. The larger events will have their own pages devoted to them which will eventually appear as links in the menu on the left hand side.

March

Sunday 14th: Elegant Excursions Sunday lunch
Tuesday 16th to Friday 19th: Cheltenham Gold Cup meeting race specials. Contact Classic Hospitality for details.
Friday 26th: Diesel driving experience
Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th:  Spring diesel gala

April

Sunday 4th: Elegant Excursions Sunday lunch
Friday 16th: Steam firing and driving course
Saturday 17th (evening): Fish and Chips special
Sunday 18th: Elegant Excursions Sunday lunch
Friday 23rd: Diesel driving experience
Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th: Day out with Thomas

May

Saturday 1st (evening): Elegant Excursions evening wine and dine
Friday 7th: Steam firing and driving course
Sunday 9th: Elegant Excursions Sunday lunch
Saturday 15th (evening): Fish and Chips special and Elegant Excursions evening wine and dine
Friday 21st: Steam firing and driving course
Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd: Real ale weekend
Sunday 23rd: Elegant Excursions Sunday lunch
Friday 28th: Diesel driving experience
Saturday 29th May to Sunday 6th June: Cotswold Festival of Steam GWR 175 Celebration

June

Tuesday 1st to Sunday 6th: Cotswold Festival of Steam GWR 175 Celebration continues
Sunday 13th: Transport nostalgia day
Friday 18th: Steam firing and driving course
Saturday 19th: Elegant Excursions evening wine and dine
Friday 25th: Diesel driving experience
Saturday 26th: Fish and Chips special
Sunday 27th: Elegant Excursions Sunday lunch 

July

Friday 2nd: Steam firing and driving course
Saturday 3rd: Fish and Chips special
Sunday 4th: Elegant Excursions Sunday lunch
Friday 9th to Sunday 11th: Summer diesel gala
Sunday 11th: Bus rally
Friday 16th: Steam firing and driving course
Friday 23rd: Diesel driving experience
Saturday 24th: Fish and Chips special
Sunday 25th: Elegant Excursions Sunday lunch
Saturday 31st: Elegant Excursions evening wine and dine 

August

Saturday 7th: Fish and Chips special
Sunday 8th: Elegant Excursions Sunday lunch
Saturday 14th: Elegant Excursions evening wine and dine
Saturday 21st: Fish and Chips special
Sunday 22nd: Elegant Excursions Sunday lunch 

September

Friday 3rd: Steam firing and driving course
Saturday 4th: Fish and Chips special
Sunday 5th: Elegant Excursions Sunday lunch
Friday 10th: Steam firing and driving course
Saturday 11th: Elegant Excursions evening wine and dine 
Sunday 12th: Transport nostalgia day
Sunday 19th: Elegant Excursions Sunday lunch
Friday 24th: Diesel driving experience
Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th: Day out with Thomas

October

Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd: Autumn diesel gala
Friday 8th: Steam firing and driving course
Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th: Steam and vintage gala
Sunday 17th: Elegant Excursions Sunday lunch
Friday 22nd: Steam firing and driving course
Saturday 23rd, Sunday 24th, Tuesday 26th to Thursday 28th, Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st: Wiazrd days out
Friday 29th: Diesel driving experience

November

Friday 5th: Diesel driving experience
Saturday 6th: Fireworks special
Friday 12th and Saturday 13th: Race specials. Contact Classic Hospitality for details.
Sunday 14th: Elegant Excursions Sunday lunch 
Friday 26th: Diesel driving experience 

December

Saturday 4th, Sunday 5th, Saturday 11th, Sunday 12th, Saturday 18th, Sunday 19th, Wednesday 22nd, Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th: Santa Specials
Sunday 5th: Elegant Excursions Sunday lunch
Saturday 11th: Elegant Excursions evening wine and dine
Saturday 18th: Carol special
Sunday 19th: Elegant Excursions evening wine and dine
Sunday 26th: Mince pie special
Monday 27th: Christmas Diesel Day
Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th: Christmas Cracker steam gala 

Spring diesel gala - Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th March

The first big event of 2010 is the Spring Diesel Spectacular when all operating locomotives in the GWR's acclaimed fleet of heritage diesels will be working an intensive train service over the 10-mile line.  Features will include freight trains, local services and brake van rides as well as at least on visiting locomotives. If you enjoy the growl of a class 37 or the distinctive whistling sound of a class 20; if you yearn for a ride behind a Class 47 or even a rare chance to ride in a brake van behind a class 08 shunter, then this is the event for you. Keep watching this website for more details!

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Day out with Thomas - Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th April

Enjoy an day with Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends. Featuring Thomas himself, Diesel and Sir Topham Hat. More details and a timetable will be included on our Thomas pages.

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Real ale weekend - Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd May

In association with the North Cotswold branch of CAMRA. Travel to Winchcombe where a wide range of real ales will be available to sample.

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Cotswold Festival of Steam GWR 175 Celebration - Saturday 29th May to Sunday 6th June

A spectacular 9 day event of visiting locomotives and static displays to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Great Western Railway. Further details will appear in the GWR 175 section of the site.

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Transport nostalgia day - Sunday 13th June

The first of these special days when the GWR welcomes classic cars, buses and commercial vehicles.  There will be plenty to enjoy and you will without doubt hear the exclamation: 'My Dad used to have one of those!' dozens of times, while those of a certain age wonder why they ever got rid of their beloved Morris 1000 or Ford Popular.  Cars that our grandparents will remember with fondness can be expected too -Daimler, Jowett, Talbot, Wolsley, MG, Austin, Ford ... you name it, there's a chance it will be there.  Do you have a car you would like to bring along?  Then contact the event organiser Jim Clarke by clicking  here and let him know. The more the merrier! You can download an entry for by clicking this link. If you have a trade stand and would like an entry form download one here.

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Summer diesel gala (featuring bus rally on Sunday 11th July) - Friday 9th July to Sunday 11th July

When was the last time you travelled on the national network on a train with a diesel locomotive at the front? In this age of HSTs, DMUs, Virgin Voyagers and the like the chances are you won't have done recently unless you were on a special. Well, here's a chance to enjoy train travel as it was after the end of steam in the 1970s and 1980s. The GWR has one of the country's best fleets of heritage diesels, many of which have long since disappeared from Network Rail.  Every locomotive able to operate will be running, along with visitors. The programme will include local trains, freight trains, double-heading, brake van rides and more.  One more thing: have you noticed how quiet modern trains are? The throb of a classic diesel locomotive on the GWR is bound to test your aural senses to the full and send a shiver down your spine. Full details will appear on the site nearer the date.  And, in conjunction with this Gala, on Sunday you can enjoy...

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GWR bus rally - Sunday 11th July

The last two GWR bus rallies have been spectacular occasions, with Toddington car park crammed with buses of every shape and size from the late 1920s to those that have graced our roads in more recent times.  Enjoy the sight, sound, feel and even the smell as visiting buses, including classic London Routemasters, will be sharing duties on trips from Toddington to Broadway.  If this doesn't bring memories of school trips, catching the double-decker into town or long-distance coach travel, then nothing will. Don't hesitate to ask questions either, the owners and drivers are a knowledgeable bunch and love nothing more than to share their enthusiasm! Details of the bus rally will appear on the site nearer to the event.

Bus owners wishing to participant can download an entry form here.

Trade stall owners can download an entry form here.

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Transport nostalgia day - Sunday 12th September

The second of these special days for classic petrol-heads when the GWR once again hosts historic cars & motorcycles, buses and commercial vehicles.  There will again be plenty to enjoy when you can marvel at the once-familiar marques that have pretty much disappeared off our roads while it's a chance to see how still-familiar names have evolved over the years.  If you have a classic vehicle, why don't you bring it along?  Contact the event organiser Jim Clarke by  clicking here and let him know.  The more the merrier! Download an entry form here. Trade stand owners can download an entry form here.

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Day out with Thomas - Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th September

Join Thomas and his friends for his second visit of the year to the GWR. Check out our dedicated Thomas page for details.

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Autumn diesel gala - Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd October

The last big diesel gala of the year is right up your street if you enjoy the sight and spectacular sound of big, blue locomotives.  All available working diesel locomotives from the GWR's own well-turned-out fleet will be operating along with visiting locomotives. The GWR's diesel galas have a loyal following and are hugely enjoyable occasions.  If you've wondered what all the interest is about, why don't you come to find out? Full details of the locomotive roster and the timetable of an intensive service will be published on this site in due course.

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Wizard days out - Saturday 23rd, Sunday 24th, Tuesday 26th to Thursday 28th, Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st October

The GWR is very pleased to welcome the return of Olton Hall which stars as Hogwarts Castle in the Harry Potter films. You will have the chance to travel behind the scarlet locomotive in red carriages just as Harry, Ron and Hermione do in the films. Full details will be on the site nearer the time.

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Fireworks special - Saturday 6th November

In conjunction with the Cheltenham Round Table the GWR is running a special train from Toddington to what is probably the best fireworks display in the region, for which you can literally enjoy a grand stand seat at the Racecourse.  The display attracts literally thousands of people - and their cars and once it is over, it can take an awfully long time to get away again. So, by far the best way to travel is from Toddington station.  A night time journey by steam train is something special in itself - and is the perfect way to round off a fantastic evening's entertainment.  This is a treat not to be missed!

Normal fares apply.  The train departs Toddington station at 18.00 and will depart Cheltenham Racecourse about 20 minutes after the show has finished.  Check with station and train staff on the night to be sure.

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Santa Specials - 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, 18th, 19th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th Decemeber

This is without doubt the best 'Santa Experience' for miles around.  Excellent value, every youngster receives a quality Christmas gift after a steam train trip from Toddington to Winchcombe while both kids and grown-ups can enjoy excellent mince pies and refreshments at Winchcombe station.  Advanced booking is essential as seats very quickly book up. Tickets will be available online, details nearer the time.

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Enjoy steam and diesel after Christmas

The GWR rounds of its year in spectacular fashion between Christmas and New Year.
On Boxing Day is are our Mince Pie Specials operating to our Blue Timetable, which also operates on 28th December, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.  But Monday 27th December is the last chance to enjoy a 'diesel thrash' as a special timetable operates with a wide choice of heritage diesel traction running between Toddington and Cheltenham.

Then Wednesday and Thursday, 29th and 30th December, is the GWR's acclaimed 'Christmas Cracker' which is an excuse for the steam locomotive department to turn out every available steam engine with an intensive timetable.  If the weather is cold and crisp, you can enjoy some truly spectacular steam and smoke effects.  Your ticket allows you as many trips as you wish on the day you visit. Your challenge, then, is to be travel behind every engine in operation!

Finally, the last day of the season is the first day of the New Year, 1st January 2011.

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