37248 and 7903 Foremarke Hall share the day as a pair and work in a double headed formation to recreate scenes from the 1960s
While Class 37 locomotives were frequently double-headed with other Class 37s or Class 31s, there's no evidence to suggest they commonly double-headed with Halls (GWR Hall Class steam locomotives). Double-heading of steam and diesel locomotives was rare, especially on passenger services. Class 37s were primarily paired with other diesels for increased power or speed on specific routes.
Here's why:
Double-heading in general:
Double-heading, where two locomotives haul a single train, was common for various reasons including increased power requirements, route limitations, or maintaining schedules.
Class 37s:
Class 37s were often paired with other Class 37s or Class 31s for freight or passenger services where extra power was needed or to maintain schedules on routes like the Cambridge-Kings Cross line according to Class 37 enthusiasts.
Steam and diesel:
Double-heading steam and diesel locomotives was rare, especially on passenger trains, due to the complexities of coordinating two different types of motive power.
Halls and Class 37s:
While Class 37s did work on some of the routes previously served by Halls, there's no documented instance of them regularly double-heading with them.
Until Now !
How things might look :
10.00 departure from Toddington to Cheltenham Race Course hauled by 7903 Foremarke Hall
10.55 departure form Cheltenham Race Course to Broadway hauled by 7903 Foremarke Hall as far as Toddington, where 37248 will join the front of train and lead to Broadway
12.15 departure from Broadway to Cheltenham Race Course, both locos on the front with Foremarke Hall piloting and 37248 as the front engine
14.10 departure from Cheltenham Race Course to Broadway, both locos on the front with 37248 piloting and Foremarke Hall as the front engine
15.20 departure from Broadway to Cheltenham Race Course , both locos on the front to Toddington where Foremarke Hall drops off and goes to shed. 37248 will work solo to Cheltenham Race Course.
16.35 departure from Cheltenham Race Course to Toddington with 37248 at the helm
Prices
Adult
Child
Family
Dog
Prices
Adult
Child
Dog
Family
2 Adults and up to 3 Children
Extended Family
4 Adults and up to 3 Children
Contact Information
01242 621405
Trains Running
TSO 4763
Preserved in 1987 by the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway, moved to the GWSR by March 2004.
BSK 34929
Preserved 1982 By Stratford area group of GWSR.
FO 3132 (Mary)
Named 'Mary' in honour of a long-serving volunteer on the railway.
Class 122
DMU / Railcar
W55003 is a Class 122 'Bubblecar' owned by Cotswold Diesel Railcar Limited and is currently undergoing refurbishment plus the creation of wheelchair-friendly accommodation at Toddington.
John
Steam Locomotive
'John' has been on the Railway for over 30 years. The loco is presently undergoing restoration including the construction of a virtually new boiler.
20228
Diesel Locomotive
20228 (D8128) - Class 20 Diesel Electric Locomotive. 20228 is privately owned and is now a permanent resident on the GWR. 20228 moved to the GWR in 2020 and should become serviceable during the 2022 season.
D2280
Diesel Locomotive
D2280 arrived on the GWSR in 2018 and is now part of the shunting fleet at Toddington. It is privately owned . There is a Bachman model of this locomotive available in BR green.
11230
Diesel Locomotive
11230 arrived on the GWSR in 2003 and is now working at Toddington with its restoration almost complete.
D2182
Diesel Locomotive
D2182 is usually to be seen shunting at the carriage works at Winchcombe
47376
Diesel Locomotive
47376 is owned by The Brush Type 4 Fund and is a permanent resident on the GWR. The Brush Type 4 Fund was formed in 1992 and, in November 2002, bought No 47376. The loco was transported to the GWR in 2003 after receiving a replacement engine at Ashchurch from sister loco No 47295.
47105
Diesel Locomotive
The Brush Type 4 Fund was formed in 1992 with the aim of preserving a Series Parallel Class 47, after 2 years of fund raising 47105 was bought from Crewe in January 1994.
45149
Diesel Locomotive
A class 45/1 Diesel Electric Locomotive. This locomotive is owned by The Cotswold Mainline Diesel Group and is a permanent resident on the GWR. It first ran in preservation during the 2013 Heritage Diesel Weekend.
37215
Diesel Locomotive
A class 37/0 Diesel Electric Locomotive, is owned by The Growler Group and is a permanent resident on the GWR. 37215 was preserved in 1994 and was returned to working order in 1998.
D6948
Diesel Locomotive
A class 37/0 Diesel Electric Locomotive, is owned by four individuals who are both Growler Group members and active working members of the GWR diesel department and is a permanent resident on the GWR. 37248 came to Toddington in 2010 and has undergone an extensive refurbishment including the provision of steam heating and a return to BR green.
D5343
Diesel Locomotive
A class 26 Diesel Electric Locomotive. This locomotive is owned by The Cotswold Mainline Diesel Group and is a permanent resident on the GWR. 26043 ran for the first time in preservation during the 2013 Heritage Diesel Weekend.
5081
Diesel Locomotive
A privately owned and is a permanent resident on the GWR. 24081 was preserved in 1981 and has remained operational throughout its life in preservation. Its bogie refurbishment is now complete and the loco is fit for service.
20137
Diesel Locomotive
A class 20 Diesel Electric Locomotive. 20137 is privately owned and is a permanent resident on the GWR. 20137 was purchased from British Rail at Wigan in 1994 and moved to the GWR. 20137 was returned to working order in 1995.
76077
Steam Locomotive
A BR Standard Class 4 mixed traffic locomotive, built 1956. Restoration started.
3850
Steam Locomotive
A '2884' class heavy freight locomotive, built 1942. Owned by Dinmore Manor Locomotive Limited. It's comprehensive 10-year overhaul has just been completed at Toddington. It returned to steam on August 2024, bearing the wartime black GWR livery it carried when new.
2874
Steam Locomotive
A '28xx' class heavy freight locomotive, built 1918. This locomotive is owned by The 2874 Trust Limited and it is slowly being restored from 'Barry Scrapyard' condition.
2807
Steam Locomotive
A '28xx' class heavy freight locomotive, built in 1905. This locomotive is owned by Cotswold Steam Preservation Limited and, after a 29 year restoration, is one of the GWR's resident locomotives.
Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co.
Steam Locomotive
35006 Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co. is a Southern Railway rebuilt Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 steam locomotive. It was built at Eastleigh locomotive works in December 1941 and given the Southern Railway number 21C6.
Foremarke Hall
Steam Locomotive
Although every inch a Great Western Railway thoroughbred, No. 7903 Foremarke Hall was one of the 79XX series, in the last batch of the Modified Hall class built at Swindon in 1949 under BR auspices.
Dinmore Manor
Steam Locomotive
7820 Dinmore Manor is a British Railways locomotive, part of the Manor Class. It is one of nine locomotives preserved from the class, which originally numbered 30.
Gallery
