Next weekend, 29th and 30th October, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) is holding a Mixed Traction Gala when its steam locomotives and heritage diesel locomotives will operate to an intensive timetable.
A mixture of passenger and demonstration goods trains will work between Cheltenham Racecourse and Broadway, and a diesel multiple-unit railcar will also be operating.
Some of the trains will be double-headed, and there will be a non-stop run between Broadway and Cheltenham Racecourse each day.
Refreshments will be available at all the major stations on the railway and on many of the trains.
A special feature of the weekend will be the chance to experience what life was like for goods train guards in the days of steam by taking a ride in a goods brake van on one of the demonstration goods trains.
Throughout the weekend, the locomotive workshops at Toddington and the carriage and wagon works at Winchcombe will be open for visitors to catch a rare glimpse behind the scenes.
Owning groups of locomotives that are currently being restored or overhauled will have information and sales stands in the sheds at Toddington, whilst in the car park at Toddington will be a diesel locomotive which will be available for visitors to explore the driving cab.
As well as its own diesel locomotives, visiting Deltic Class 55 locomotive No. 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier will be working for the last time before leaving the railway. Deltics were once the mainstay of express services on the East Coast Main Line between London Kings Cross / and Edinburgh.
Locomotives operating during the weekend include:
Steam operating both days:
- Merchant Navy class Pacific no. 35006 Peninsular & Oriental SN Co
- Modified Hall class no. 7903 Foremarke Hall
- Manor class no. 7820 Dinmore Manor
- GW 2-8-0T tank locomotive no. 4270. This was built in 1919 and is the oldest operating steam loco at present on the railway. It is shortly to be withdrawn for its ten-year overhaul.
Diesels operating both days:
- Class 55 Deltic no. 55019
- Class 117 diesel railcar; this will also be making stops at Hayles Abbey Halt
Diesels operating Saturday:
- Class 47 no. 47105
- Class 47 no. 47375 Freightliner 1995
Diesels operating Sunday:
- Class 37 no. 37215
Class 20 no. 20137– now not available- Class 24 No. 5081
Full details of the locomotives and their direction of travel can be found at https://www.gwsr.com/Locomotives_2.html
Tickets are available online in advance or can be bought from the main station ticket offices on the day. There is free car parking at Cheltenham Racecourse and Toddington, and pay and display parking at Broadway. Tickets for the brake van rides cost £10 and should be bought from the guard’s van at Toddington or Cheltenham Racecourse.
On Saturday, a free bus service will operate between Queens Road (outside Cheltenham Spa Network Rail station) and Cheltenham Racecourse GWSR station, via Royal Well bus station. Times of buses are on the website at https://www.gwsr.com/Bus_Service.html
Full information and a downloadable brochure of the event, can be found at.
https://www.gwsr.com/enthusiasts/Mixed_Traction_Gala.html
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