2014 on the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway

[Andy Y]

Yesterday the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway held a day to help obtain more visitors for this year and explain the 'Bridges to Broadway' share offer.
 

 
After a busy weekend at Alexandra Palace it was a relaxing day with tea and coffee to start for the healthy number of local tourist information people, hotel and B&B owners and the local press. It's easy to see that the local businesses will be better placed to recommend the railway to visitors as an attraction worth visiting.
 
We were treated to a non-stop run from Toddington down to Cheltenham racecourse with a very well turned out 5542.
 

 
The friendly and amiable staff were on top form and it shows that volunteers aren't just for the weekend with a chance to put on a show to drum up trade.
 

 
The run-around at Cheltenham Racecourse gave the visitors chance to see the operation and loco at close quarters.
 

 

 
Don't worry about the signals as it was one engine in steam on the southern section!
 

 
Obviously a breezy but a sunny spring day helps to blow away the cobwebs!
 

 

The railway has some good events planned for this year http://www.gwsr.com/planning-your-visit/2014-events-calendar.aspx but the forthcoming 'Wartime in the Cotswolds' was enthusiastically pitched!
 

 

Following the great success of our first 1940's event in 2013, we are pleased to announce there will be a further "Wartime in the Cotswolds" weekend on Saturday and Sunday April 26th and 27th .

 

Please mark the date in your diary now for another nostalgic light hearted weekend with plenty to do. Trains will be running from Toddington to Cheltenham Race Course (air raids permitting of course) and there will be lots of entertainment for the whole family.

 

Enjoy the distraction of wartime songs and melodies while mingling with soldiers on leave and on duty; wonder at the bravery of the auxiliary fire service and see displays of military and civilian vehicles from the period and lots more.

 

New for this year, a display and demonstrations of a fully manned RAF ops room provided by WWII RAF Group.

 

 To add to the weekend's atmosphere, we are pleased to announce that subject to operational requirements and weather conditions, an RAF Spitfire will overfly the event on the Sunday afternoon.

 

We will be running a special timetable for the weekend featuring our steam locomotives. You can download it here.

 

Prices for Wartime in the Cotswolds tickets purchased on line in advance are:

 

1 day tickets - Adults £18, Seniors £16; Children £8; Family (2 adults plus up to 3 children) £48

2 day tickets - Adults £32, Seniors  £28; Children £12; Family (2 adults plus up to 3 children) £89

There will be a £1 postage and package charge per complete booking.

Red button

 

On the day prices are:

 

1 day tickets - Adults £20; Seniors £18; Children £10; Family (2 Adults plus up to 3 Children) £55

2 day tickets - Adults £35; Seniors £30; Children £15; Family (2 adults plus up to 3 children)  £99

 

We are inviting exhibitors,traders and owners of period vehicles to help make this a weekend to remember.

 

 

 
Many visitors left after that run but the railway also put on a run from Toddington Station up to Laverton Loop with the Class 117 DMU.
 

 
After the BBC had filmed the outward run I put the camera on the driver's desk to record the run back so readers can see the run over this newer section albeit in reverse over Stanway viaduct.
 

 
Ultimately the line will extend up to the tourist trap of Broadway but to reach Broadway there's essential bridgework needed and the railway is currently seeking share buyers to fund this.
 

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) launched its Bridges to Broadway Share Offer on Monday, 30 September 2013, underlining the railway's determination to extend from its present northern extent to Broadway, as soon as possible. 
 
The 'Bridges to Broadway' Share Offer seeks to raise £500,000 to pay for the refurbishment of five bridges over which the line will pass.  
 
It is an exciting opportunity to invest in the future growth of the railway and see the delightful town of Broadway linked by rail to Cheltenham for the first time since 1960.    
 
The total cost of completing the two-mile stretch of line is £1.5 million, which includes embankment works, drainage, track, signalling and completion of Broadway station as well as repair of the bridges.  
 
The Offer will cover the cost of refurbishing to modern standards (see breakdown below) all five bridges between Laverton and Broadway. Two require significant expenditure to repair damage caused by corrosion, movement of the embankments or strikes by over-height lorries. 
 
Putting the past behind us
 
The railway has emerged from major setbacks with two serious embankment collapses on its existing running line.  The appeal to fund repair of the failures prompted an emergency appeal which raised in excess of £1 million, which meant that the rebuilding of the embankments has been completed on time and paid for.  
 
Chairman of GWSR Plc Malcolm Temple said that he was overwhelmed by the generosity of the public and particularly the heritage railway movement, who responded magnificently to the railway's plight.  
 
"That we are launching this Offer less than a year after the last embankment repair works were finished, says much for the sheer grit of our volunteer workforce and their determination to press on with the expansion of our railway." 
 
When the two mile extension north from Laverton, all of it on an embankment, is completed the railway will be 14 miles long, starting at Cheltenham Racecourse and passing through Gotherington, Winchcombe, Toddington, Laverton and Broadway. 
 
Work on rebuilding Broadway station has been underway for some time, with construction of two 10-coach length platforms now substantially complete.  Now planning permission has been granted for the station buildings, which will be similar to those that stood there until after the original station was closed by British Railways in 1960, and a signal box on Platform 2. 
 
Railway development
 
The railway has learned important lessons from the embankment collapses. 
 
All trading surpluses are now ploughed back into renewal, repair and improvement of existing assets and infrastructure. 
 
A number of major projects are under way - gulley and drainage repair, fencing, track replacement and signalling; building a second platform at Cheltenham Racecourse station; improvements to the locomotive shed and workshops at Toddington; and provision of a paint shop, carpentry shop and upholstery loft at the Carriage and Wagon department at Winchcombe. 
 
As a result, funding for extensions and new facilities must come from external sources - grants, donations, partnerships and share offers, such as the Bridges to Broadway share offer launched on 30 September 2013 for bridge repairs. 
 
Experience of fundraising for the embankment appeal has led to the creation of a Development Foundation between GWSR Plc and the charitable Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Trust (GWRT). 
 
The Development Foundation is led by a full time Development Manager, Maxine Barton-Hawkins.  Three grants have already been secured while long term donation commitments have also been established.  
 
The Share Offer is being adminstered by the Development Foundation. 
 
The bridges:
 
Bridge 1 - Station Road, Broadway: steel bridge, with brick abutments. Strikes from road vehicles and corrosion mean major repairs are necessary, making this the most expensive bridge to repair of the five. At 43ft long Station Road is the second-longest steel span on the line (the longest is at Gotherington). Expected cost: £215,000 
 
Bridge 2 - Childswickham Road, Broadway: similarly constructed to the bridge over Station Road, this one fortunately needs less in the way 66of repairs. Expected cost: £86,000 
 
Bridge 3 - Pry Lane: in good condition, this small brick arch bridge needs relatively minor work. Expected cost: £18,000 
 
Bridge 4 - Peasebrook Farm: a small structure, with a deck comprising concrete-filled steel troughs resting on brick abutments. Work needed includes significant repairs to the wing walls. Expected cost: £46,000 
 
Bridge 5 - Little Buckland: of similar design to the bridges at Station Road and Childswickham Road, this one requires major work to the brick wing walls, which have suffered from significant movement and have serious cracks. Expected cost: £192,000

 
The full prospectus can be found here - http://www.gwsr.com/BridgestoBroadway.pdf
 
Discussing the offer with one of the railway's staff it does represent a great opportunity for good value with a benefit being a minimum of 3 free round-trip  tickets per year.
 

Shareholders receive complimentary GWSRstandard or first class tickets valid for ordinary services,
depending on the number of Shares held by the Shareholder.
Shareholders entered into the register of members at 31 January 2014 shall be entitled to the following
free travel on the Railway until 31 October 2015 and similarly for subsequent years.
Note: Free trips are valid for all ordinary services shown in the GWSR public timetable. 
 
Shareholding Annual Benefits
100 - 500 shares  -  3 free round trips per annum
501 - 1,000 shares  -  4 free round trips per annum
1,001 - 3,000 shares - 5 free round trips per annum
3,001 - 5,000 shares  -  Free unlimited travel for the named shareholder and two accompanying guests
5,001 shares or more  -  Free unlimited first class travel for the namedshareholder and three accompanying guests

Income tax relief under EIS is available to investors meaning the 100 shares cost a net figure of £70 to those claiming the relief.
 
After the visit Richard and I took the opportunity to take a look at the ultimate goal of Broadway with work well underway at the station which is a really beautiful spot and will surely make the railway more accessible for many visitors which, I'm sure, will lead to a substantial increase in visitor numbers.
 

 

[gwrrob]

What a great day out Andy.You just can't beat a small prariie and she looks resplendent shining in the sunshine.

[Twright]

I'm glad you enjoyed the day and as a volunteer and a member of the public, I look forward to being able to ride on the train from Cheltenham to Broadway (I just hope that we won't have any more landslips in the future ).

[steve fay]

I'm taking my first visit this year to the back to black event in May

Looking forward to it

[MJI]

As a very long term but lapsed member, I need to get back down there

[Captain Kernow]

One of my favourite lines, well worth a visit.

[Phil Bullock]

Took Abbotswood to the diesel gala last year - a very friendly crew, thoroughly enjoyable and to top it all met two old school chums one of whom I took on his first spotting trip to Crewe many years ago....

 

Well worthy of support

 

Thanks for the gen Andy and appeal  - they cant survive on Waterman alone!

 

Phil

[brianthesnail96]

Spent a fantastic day on the Glos Warks yesterday on a driving and firing day (a delayed 21st Birthday present).

The staff were great, friendly and helpful and the whole thing was run very smoothly without being too regimented.

 

One of the highlights was the yard full of (mostly black) engines being lit up and generally slowly coming to life ready for the gala this weekend. Looks like it should be a good gig, despite the weather!

 

P&O S.N. Co had been shunted into the car park and is looking very "nearly there", freshly restored (and green) 4270 was in the shed yard and looks stunning. Was good to see 1501 in steam as well- a favourite of mine.

 

Would be nice to see some photos from the weekend from those of you that are there, hint hint

[Twright]

Spent a fantastic day on the Glos Warks yesterday on a driving and firing day (a delayed 21st Birthday present).

 

The staff were great, friendly and helpful and the whole thing was run very smoothly without being too regimented.

 

One of the highlights was the yard full of (mostly black) engines being lit up and generally slowly coming to life ready for the gala this weekend. Looks like it should be a good gig, despite the weather!

 

P&O S.N. Co had been shunted into the car park and is looking very "nearly there", freshly restored (and green) 4270 was in the shed yard and looks stunning. Was good to see 1501 in steam as well- a favourite of mine.

 

Would be nice to see some photos from the weekend from those of you that are there, hint hint

 

I'll post some up then tomorrow

[steve fay]

Looking forward to seeing the pictures, I was hoping to get there this weekend but due to ill health I can't make it.

[Weaselfish]

I was up there today and had a great time. Don't be deterred by the weather. The locomotive lineup for this weekend's gala is impressive and the newly restored 4270 is something a bit special.

[Twright]

My humble offering, some of the pictures I took today:

 

 

45379 and 48274

 

 

35006 P&O

 

 

Classics in the carpark

 

 

5542

 

 

1501

 

 

2857

 

 

3850

 

 

4270

 

 

7820 Dinmore Manor

 

 

45379

[brianusa]

Going back a bit on this topic and going back a bit on our last visit back home about ten years ago, its to its credit how far the GW/R has come in that time.  What with all the landslips, etc, they still have the ability to progress to Broadway and on.  Fantastic railway especially if they stick to the GWR although if any railway needs a turntable, this one does!

 

Brian.

[Rugd1022]

Some shots from last weekend, which I mostly spent chasing the fabulous Hymek...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Phil Bullock]

Smashing shots Nidge

 

Was a great weekend - we were there with the layout again in the shed, managed to escape for a run behind 7017 on the beerex Saturday evening - fantastic loco

 

Cheers

 

Phil

[Rugd1022]

Cheers Phil - I was tootling up and down in the car with the missus so wasn't able to get in the yard at Todd (the gate was closed to non ticket holders unfortunately), however the very kind signalman at the Racecourse allowed me onto the platform to grab some shots of 7017 while it was running up and down giving people the chance for a quick drive.

 

We nipped up to Broadway for a shuftie too and were amazed at the physical progress being made by the fantastic team of volunteers there, it's incredible how the G&W have come along in the last few years especially. Next time I'm down there I'll be spending a few more sovs in the shop at Todd.

[Phil Bullock]

Yep should shift them up several gears when they get to Broadway - will be a real tourist line then.

 

We did feel a little isolated in the shed - its a great venue to set up in and having the locos coming and going just 10 yards away whilst we were operating certainly gives another dimension for sure. There were 6 layouts but I don't think enough publicity was given to the models although as we pointed out afterwards those coming to a diesel gala are possibly the least likely to wander off to side shows like model railways as many are confirmed bashers trying to cram in as much haulage as possible

 

Would the models work better at a different style of event perhaps? I think the link between modelling and preservation is underplayed - witness the recent GCR event for instance which was a hit by common acclaim...

 

Phil