AForce Posted September 5, 2023 Share Posted September 5, 2023 (edited) Hello All, I thought I'd start a thread for the GWSR Steam Department Blog that I have written since November last year. BR Standard Class 4 4-6-0 No. 75014 'Braveheart' on shed at Toddington - 24th March 2023 A little about me. I have had an interest in railways from an early age ever since watching a collection of VHS videos about Steam Trains belonging to my late grandfather. Films such as 'A Steam Train Passes', 'Steam On The Settle & Carlisle', and '3801: A Legend In Steam' from the 'Great Trains' series dating from the mid to late 1980s just might sound familiar to some of you. Not forgetting of course, the heavily used Duplo train set that my parents bought me in my formative years (which broke down!). Unfortunately, the motor in the locomotive had failed and Duplo kindly sent out a brand-new diesel. I must stress that a steam locomotive option wasn't available at the time! Here's one of the aforementioned VHS videos on YouTube: Steam On The Settle & Carlisle Frankly, if it runs on rails then you can pretty much guarantee that I'm interested in it, whether that be steam, diesel or electric. I come from an IT support and retail background with aspirations to join the mainline, so it was only natural that I would get involved with the heritage railway movement in one form or another at some stage. I applied to join the GWSR Steam department back in January 2020 and after three years down the tracks, with a global pandemic thrown in for good measure, I find myself still here and strangely attached to the place! I can't fathom why that is, however? If I’m not cleaning, disposing, or lighting up an engine, I can usually be found drinking tea or scoffing food of some description, normally out of my rather distinctive blue picnic bag, which some in the department believe is akin to Doctor Who’s Tardis – I’m pleased to report that there have been no sightings of the Daleks or Cybermen just yet! Main Blogger link: https://gwsrsteamloco.blogspot.com/ A few of the most recent entries can be found below. https://gwsrsteamloco.blogspot.com/2023/04/anyone-fancy-ride-with-u-boat.html https://gwsrsteamloco.blogspot.com/2023/05/off-to-races-and-beyond.html https://gwsrsteamloco.blogspot.com/2023/07/Dapol-announces-brand-new-oo-gauge-28xx.html Latest blog update: https://gwsrsteamloco.blogspot.com/2023/09/blimey-parky-is-that-time.html Anyway, thank you for your interest. Edited September 5, 2023 by AForce 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingEdwardII Posted September 6, 2023 Share Posted September 6, 2023 Congratulations on the GWSR blogs, including the steam department. They are all very good and give an excellent insight into the behind the scenes activities at the heritage line. Keep up the good work! Yours, Mike. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerzilla Posted October 24, 2023 Share Posted October 24, 2023 What are the latest chances of the freshly overhauled 28xx running this weekend? It was a "hope" in the railway press. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Welchester Posted October 24, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 24, 2023 42 minutes ago, rogerzilla said: What are the latest chances of the freshly overhauled 28xx running this weekend? It was a "hope" in the railway press. Facebook says she will be running on Sunday and in Toddington on Saturday for cab visits. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=631657692512310&set=a.480108161000598 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerzilla Posted October 24, 2023 Share Posted October 24, 2023 We're there on Sunday so that's great news. I was sad when 2857 bowed out at the end of last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithHC Posted October 24, 2023 Share Posted October 24, 2023 On 06/09/2023 at 13:13, KingEdwardII said: Congratulations on the GWSR blogs, including the steam department. They are all very good and give an excellent insight into the behind the scenes activities at the heritage line. Keep up the good work! Yours, Mike. Agree on the blogs for the railway they are great at giving an insight as to what is happening. There is also very much a theme that runs through them and that seams to be about tea and various cakes/doughnuts………. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium figworthy Posted October 24, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 24, 2023 1 hour ago, KeithHC said: Agree on the blogs for the railway they are great at giving an insight as to what is happening. There is also very much a theme that runs through them and that seams to be about tea and various cakes/doughnuts………. Keith As any flu kno, everything runs on cake. Adrian 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingEdwardII Posted October 24, 2023 Share Posted October 24, 2023 3 hours ago, KeithHC said: cakes/doughnuts That is pure volunteer fuel - keeps them coming back for more! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerzilla Posted October 29, 2023 Share Posted October 29, 2023 We had to abandon plans to visit today due to one of the cats going AWOL since Wednesday. He predictably reappeared last night, too late for us to set off for the hotel. Hope it was well-attended! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mow Posted October 29, 2023 Share Posted October 29, 2023 2807 at Broadway about to leave about 5.00 pm. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingEdwardII Posted October 31, 2023 Share Posted October 31, 2023 On 29/10/2023 at 20:37, mow said: 2807 at Broadway Superbly atmospheric photo - wisps of steam in the gloaming and light blazing out from the lanterns along the platform. Could almost imagine yourself back in 1906 - apart from the (hard to see) loco livery and the coaching stock... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mow Posted October 31, 2023 Share Posted October 31, 2023 21 minutes ago, KingEdwardII said: Superbly atmospheric photo - wisps of steam in the gloaming and light blazing out from the lanterns along the platform. Could almost imagine yourself back in 1906 - apart from the (hard to see) loco livery and the coaching stock... Thank you, I did wonder if I should have taken a tripod with me. This was a slightly earlier shot. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AForce Posted December 4, 2023 Author Share Posted December 4, 2023 (edited) 2807 is currently rostered on our Santa Experience trains until Sunday 17th December. 5526 is also visiting for the festive season. Here's the latest blog update: https://gwsrsteamloco.blogspot.com/2023/12/time-to-remember-what-really-matters.html My apologies for the lack of updates. Due to recent health issues and starting a new job, updates on the blog mentioned above haven't been as frequent. Edited December 4, 2023 by AForce 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingEdwardII Posted December 20, 2023 Share Posted December 20, 2023 On 04/12/2023 at 09:19, AForce said: 2807 Come on, Dapol. Hurry up with your new 28xx OO model... Yours, Mike. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AForce Posted December 21, 2023 Author Share Posted December 21, 2023 Here's the latest blog update: https://gwsrsteamloco.blogspot.com/2023/12/weve-got-tank-for-christmas.html Reminiscent of the 1960s perhaps? 35006 inside the DP shed undergoing maintenance - 15th December 2023 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingEdwardII Posted December 22, 2023 Share Posted December 22, 2023 15 hours ago, AForce said: Reminiscent of the 1960s perhaps? Nah, 35006 is far too clean and shiny. :-) Yours, Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerzilla Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 On 20/12/2023 at 13:02, KingEdwardII said: Come on, Dapol. Hurry up with your new 28xx OO model... Yours, Mike. Is the Hornby one that bad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingEdwardII Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 1 hour ago, rogerzilla said: Is the Hornby one that bad? The Hornby one is out of production and is difficult to obtain new. It does have some compromises. I am hoping that the new Dapol one will be equivalent in quality to the Dapol Manor that I have, which is superb. Yours, Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AForce Posted February 3 Author Share Posted February 3 (edited) I hope I'm OK to post this here, but you might like to put the following date in your diaries. GALA ANNOUNCEMENT: We’re pleased to announce our theme for this year’s Cotswold Festival of Steam; “Western Workhorses”! Join us on 25th-27th May for an action-packed weekend at our biggest steam event of the year. We’re celebrating the locomotives that worked turn and turnabout on the GWR network, with appropriate guest locos joining our predominantly western home fleet of steam engines. Look out for our first guest loco announcement this Monday, when early bird tickets will also go on sale. For further information, visit: www.gwsr.com/events/cotswold-festival-of-steam-2024 Edited February 3 by AForce 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AForce Posted April 20 Author Share Posted April 20 Here's the latest blog update: https://gwsrsteamloco.blogspot.com/2024/04/dusting-off-trusty-keyboard.html I have a lot of content in the pipeline so there should be more fairly soon. I'm about four months behind at present. Confirmed visitors for this year’s Cotswold Festival of Steam are as follows: 6880 'Betton Grange' courtesy of The 6880 Betton Grange Society. 2999 'Lady of Legend' courtesy of the Great Western Society & Didcot Railway Centre. 9351 courtesy of the West Somerset Railway. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AForce Posted April 27 Author Share Posted April 27 Another update: https://gwsrsteamloco.blogspot.com/2024/04/freezing-our-collective-nuts-off.html 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AForce Posted May 9 Author Share Posted May 9 Latest update: https://gwsrsteamloco.blogspot.com/2024/05/whose-idea-was-this.html 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerzilla Posted Monday at 06:19 Share Posted Monday at 06:19 (edited) We went to the gala, sorry, festival of steam, yesterday. The weather held and there was a lot going on. It looked as if every single piece of coaching stock had been pressed into service for the day. Betton Grange looked good, as did all the locos. P&O (although not really a "Western Workhorse") must only have a couple of years left on its ticket and we'll miss that when it's gone - we rode behind it when it was only just back in service. Edited Monday at 06:19 by rogerzilla Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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