On Saturday, 8th July, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) welcomed its President, Pete Waterman OBE, DL, for the second day of the railway’s hugely successful Summer Heritage Diesel Gala.

As well as being President of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, Pete Waterman is a record producer and songwriter and is a trustee of the Waterman Heritage Railway Trust.

While Pete was at the railway, he echoed his support for the £1.5 million appeal to raise funds for essential repairs to the line’s Stanway Viaduct, which is a 50-foot-high structure with 15 arches between Toddington and Broadway.

The charitable Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Trust has already received support for the appeal from its own President, Sir Timothy Laurence KCVO, CB, ADC, CSM.

While he was at the railway, Mr Waterman was able to view his 56-year-old Sulzer Type 2 locomotive no. D7659 that he had lent to the railway for the Gala. It had undergone a long and complex overhaul before returning to service last year and proved to be a great hit with the trains it was hauling being full to standing.

Phillip Young, Chairman of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Trust, said: “Pete Waterman has lent his support to past successful appeals on the railway including for work to repair landslips and the effort to extend the railway to Broadway.

“His enthusiasm for our railway and support for the appeal to fund repairs to Stanway Viaduct is timely and very welcome as the GWRT is just over halfway to its first funding goal to replace the waterproofing this winter. We are very fortunate to enjoy the support of both Pete and Sir Timothy.”

After crossing the Stanway Viaduct, Mr Waterman said: “Running a heritage railway is much more than just restoring steam and diesel locomotives and rolling stock. There are the buildings, bridges and infrastructure to maintain too – including huge structures such as Stanway Viaduct.

“The viaduct was built in 1903 and it is showing its age. I fully support the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Trust’s (GWR Trust) appeal to fund, firstly: replacement of the waterproof membrane on the deck which has failed and, secondly, repair water-damaged brickwork in the structure itself.

“This is a significant project that will ensure the long-term future of the viaduct for future generations to enjoy and it underlines the kind of challenges faced by heritage railways, which make a huge contribution to the UK’s tourist economy.”

The charitable Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Trust supports the living museum of the railway, which is operated by Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway Plc.