A week of ‘Southern Services’ on the timetable for the GWSR in May

Home resident SR rebuilt Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 locomotive No. 35006 ‘Peninsular &Oriental S. N. Co’. will be joined by visiting SR ‘U’ Class 2-6-0 Mogul locomotive No. 31806, courtesy of the Swanage Railway and JMB Locomotive Services, for three days of ‘Southern Mid-Week Services’ in celebration of all things ‘Southern’ between Tuesday 16^th & Thursday 18^th May 2023 on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR).

‘U’ class engines such as 31806 were no strangers to the area, visiting Cheltenham back when steam still ruled the rails. The SR reached Cheltenham via the former Midland & South Western Junction Railway (MSWJR) from Andover via Swindon,Cirencester and Andoversford. At Cheltenham, the SR trains originally used the former Midland station at Cheltenham Spa but latterly Cheltenham St. James, the SR locomotives being serviced at Cheltenham Malvern Road depot.

The GWSR has received its fair share of Southern Region visitors over the years including: SR Merchant Navy class pacific 35005 ‘Canadian Pacific’; West Country Class4-6-2 locomotives Nos 34007 ‘Wadebridge’, 34092 'City of Wells' and, 34028‘ Eddystone’; A1X ‘Terrier’ class 0-6-0T no. 62 ‘Martello’; SR Lord Nelson Class 4-6-0 locomotive No. 850 ‘Lord Nelson’ and SR V (Schools) Class 4-4-0 Nos. 926 ‘Repton’ and 925 ‘Cheltenham’. The visit of SR ‘U’ Class 2-6-0 Mogul locomotive No. 31806 adds toan ever-increasing tally.

Following the visiting‘U’ Class’s participation in the Cotswold Festival of Steam (CFoS) between the 12^th & 14^th May, the three-day event gives visitors a further opportunity to travel behind the locomotive along with 35006, before the ‘U-Boat’ returns to its home base at the Swanage Railway. If you’re a Southern Region aficionado then this is an event not to be missed!

Tickets for the‘Southern Mid-Week Services’ are available to purchase online at www.gwsr.com

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31806 image - Kenny Felstead

35006 image - Alex Farran