Wartime in the Cotswolds - 28th/29th April 2018

We invite you to join us

Come and visit 2018's nostalgic 1940s weekend at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway. Transport yourself back to September 1940 and imagine you are waiting for a train at a small station on the Great Western Railway. Children are being evacuated to the coast, soldiers are going back to barracks, and aircrew are heading off to airfields in the South and West. "Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag, and smile, smile, smile."

Members of the public are encouraged to attend the weekend in British 1940's period dress, either military or civilian. German uniforms will NOT be allowed, especially Nazi and SS uniforms with any form of swastika or insignia. Firearms of any sort, replica or de-activated will NOT be allowed on site unless authorised in advance by the organisers.

Travel on a train between Cheltenham Race Course Station and Broadway on a beautiful heritage railway line, stopping to look at the exhibits and entertainment on offer at Gotherington, Winchcombe and Toddington stations.

Page Quick-links

Use these links to navigate around the Wartime page:

Tickets	Ti metable	What's Happening
Getting to us	Opening Times	Saturday Dance

What to expect

A light-hearted look at life on a Railway in the West of England during the Battle of Britain in 1940s. As you travel the line, you will be by charmed by Re-Enactors and Entertainers in period costume. At stations there will be vintage vehicle displays, trade stands, music and dancing with a 1940's theme.

In addition to a large collection of military vehicles and jeeps, a "Star Attraction" attending this year's Wartime in the Cotswold event will be the Replica Spitfire. It will be positioned in the car park at Toddington Station. This is a unique experience as this Spitfire, EN398, is the only full size replica Spitfire in the world. It is transported by road to events and has a full original cockpit and working Merlin engine. THE MACHINE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO SIT IN, either with the engine running or not. If you wish to do either, the booking information is SHOWN BELOW. We would strongly advise that if you do want to take up this chance, you book as soon as possible as there is only a limited number of slots available.

To add to the excitement, we will be selling Raffle Tickets for one engine run on each of the two days. The draw will take place at 3 pm on both days for an approximate 4.30pm engine start up. Tickets will be on sale either in or next to the main marquee. However to be sure of being able to sit in the machine, go on line and buy a slot.

To book your turn for the Spitfire Experience go to https://bookwhen.com/spitfirecrewsouthwest and then follow the link to our event. PLEASE NOTE: purchasing a ticket to sit in the Spitfire cockpit does not include admission to the event.

It is even possible that you will see one of Britain's historic world war two wartime aircraft overhead at some time during the weekend (subject to weather conditions and availability).

Timetable

A special wartime timetable will be in operation on both days. ~~Click here to download the special timetable~~ - coming soon).

Tickets

Tickets for the event include all-day-long "rover travel" along the full length of the GWSR, short trips on the narrow gauge railway at Toddington and all entertainment except the Saturday evening dance. On-line sales will close 7 days before the event, sales of daily tickets will be availbe on the day from the stations.

Ticket Types and Prices
Type of Ticket	One Day On the Day	One Day In Advance Online	Two Day in Advance Oneline
Adults	£22	£19	£34
Senior (aged 60+)	£21	£18	£32
Children (aged 5-15)	£11	£10	£18
Family Ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children)	£55	£48	£89

You can save money and avoid the queues at the booking office on the day by buying your tickets online in advance.
Please note a booking fee of £1 will be added to your order when you purchase your Wartime in the Cotswolds tickets on line in advance.
TWO DAY TICKETS are ONLY AVAILABLE in ADVANCE and ONLINE. They cannot be purchased on the day.
Dogs will be charged at £2.00 each for each day. Tickets for dogs can only be purchased at the booking office on the day.

Buy Tickets Now

Please note that entry to all stations and associated facilities (shops, cafés etc) on the GWSR will be by ticket only. There will be no free site entry.

Visitors will be issued with an ID card, which could be asked for at any time and place - don't forget there is a war on.

Please follow us on FACEBOOK by clicking on the logo for the latest information on the event.

Also, read what author and blogger Claire Potter wrote following her visit in 2015 by clicking on the logo. Claire is a freelance writer for The Guardian, specialising in writing about unusual and quirky places to go, with things to do with kids.

Enquiries

e-mail wartime@gwsr.com

Telephone 01242 621405 lines open 10:00am - 4:00pm

What's happening where

TODDINGTON STATION

Located at Toddington will be the main exhibits, the entertainment marquee, traders, WW2 memorabilia, 1940's hair and beauty salon, and narrow gauge railway. Tea dance on Saturday and Sunday 15:00 to 17:30 in the entertainment marquee with Glenn Miller style 1940s tunes played by the Kalamazoo Dance Band. Hot food, drinks and light refreshments will be available at The Flag and Whistle café. The station has modern toilet facilities, with baby changing, and a children's play area.

CHELTENHAM RACE COURSE STATION

The GWR shop on the platform will be open with lots of gifts for all ages. Light refreshments will be available. Modern toilet facilities, with baby changing, are available on the platform. There is extensive free parking at Cheltenham Race Course Station.

GOTHERINGTON STATION

Gotherington Station will be open for this special event by kind permission of Bryan Nicholls. There will be light refreshments on sale and portaloos available. The station is accessible only by GWSR train.

WINCHCOMBE STATION

Although there is no car parking at Winchcombe Station, it will be possible for visitors arriving on foot to buy a ticket and enter the event there. Refreshments will be available at the Coffee Pot café. There will also be a beer tent. Toilet facilities, with baby changing, are available on Platform 1. The air raid experience will be on Platform 2, and don't forget to visit the RAF plotting room on Platform 1 in the Tim Mitchell Building.

WINCHCOMBE TOWN

After last year's success Winchcombe Town will again be joining us in this event. There will be a regular bus service to and from Winchcombe Station and the King, Churchill and Monty will be giving rousing speeches in the town square - God Save the King!

BROADWAY STATION AND VILLAGE

A diesel railcar will be operating between Toddington Station and Broadway Station, with a vintage bus service running to the village. It is hoped that the King, Churchill and Monty will visit Broadway Station on Sunday afternoon to deliver speeches. PLEASE NOTE there will be no car parking at Broadway Station, but there are pay and display car parks in the village.

Getting to Wartime in the Cotswolds

By Car

Car Parking is free and is only available at Cheltenham Race Course and Toddington Stations. There is no parking at Broadway, Winchcombe or Gotherington Stations. Special provision will be made to accommodate disabled visitors in our car parks.

Toddington Station is currently the most northerly GWSR station and is the ideal joining point for visitors from the Midlands, being just 15 minutes from Junction 9 of the M5. For “Satnav” users the postcode is GL54 5DT. Parking will be signed in the field off Stow Road on the east side of the train station, with direct access to the booking office and platforms.

Cheltenham Race Course Station is the southern terminus of the GWSR, and is the most convenient joining point for visitors from Cheltenham, Gloucester and the south. The station and car park are within the grounds of the racecourse and are signposted from the roundabout at the main entrance to the racecourse. There is ample free car parking. The “Satnav” postcode for the race course is GL50 4SH.

Public Transport

Toddington Station

Marchants services from Royal Well in Cheltenham to Toddington roundabout. Call Marchants on 01242 257714.

Cheltenham Race Course Station

Stagecoach services from Cheltenham Spa mainline station and the town centre to the racecourse park and ride stop, which is about ½ mile from our station via a sign-posted walk along the racecourse internal road. Call Stagecoach on 0871 200 2233.

Gotherington Station

Gotherington Station is only accessible by GWSR train.

Winchcombe Station

Marchants services from Cheltenham to Winchcombe and Greet, stopping close to the station. Call Marchants on 01242 257714. There will also be a free Vintage Double Decker Bus service from Winchcombe Station to Winchcombe Town, which is about a mile away.

Broadway Station

NN Cresswell Saturday service from Evesham stops close to the station or in the village. Call Cresswell on 01386 48655.
Johnsons Saturday Excelbus service from Stratford-upon-Avon stops in the village.Call Johnsons on 01564 797 070.
Marchants Coaches Sunday service from Stratford-upon-Avon and weekend services from Cheltenham stop in the village. Call Marchants on 01242 257714.

Opening Times

Broadway, Toddington, Winchcombe, Gotherington and Cheltenham Race Course Stations will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 09:00 to 17:30.

Dogs

Dogs need a ticket costing £2 in standard class carriages and compartments. They are not however, allowed in First Class or in the buffet car, and should not sit on any seats or tables in the carriages.