The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway’s final event of its main operating season is its Autumn Showcase Gala over the weekend of 28 and 29 October.
During the weekend, visitors can ride in brake vans on a demonstration freight train from Toddington or Cheltenham Racecourse, tour the Carriage & Wagon Department a Winchcombe, and delve through stands from other preservation societies in the David Page shed at Toddington. Tickets for the brake van rides can be purchased on the day from Toddington and Cheltenham Racecourse stations.
At Toddington, visitors can view ongoing locomotive projects, including a rare chance to see three Great Western Railway 2-8-0s that are being restored or overhauled.
These include 3850 which required new cylinders and frame extensions to be cast, 2807 dating from 1905 which will be the oldest-working Great Western-built locomotive when it returns to traffic later this year, and 2874 which is being restored from ex-Barry scrapyard condition.
The Toddington narrow-gauge railway will also be running, and the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Trust (GWRT) Office will be open where visitors to discuss becoming a member or volunteer, and learn about the Stanway Viaduct appeal.
At Winchcombe, the railway’s Discovery coach and model railway coach will both be open.
All main stations will have a range of refreshment facilities available as well as free car parking (except at Broadway).
The weekend promises plenty of action from an intensive timetable, with non-stop runs and double-heading with both steam and diesel haulage, goods trains. On Sunday, there will be the added attraction of trains running after dark.
Steam loco cab visits and footplate rides will also be on offer, but footplate rides must be booked in advance. On Saturday, a free bus will provide a connection between the Cheltenham Racecourse station and Cheltenham Spa mainline station.
Tickets for the Autumn Showcase can be purchased online at www.gwsr.com at £28 for adults, offering a £2 discount on the ticket cost of £30 when purchased on the day. Multi-day rover tickets are also available that provide substantial savings, but these must be booked in advance.
Subject to locomotive availability, the following locomotives from the railway’s home fleet will be in service:
- Manor Class No. 7820 Dinmore Manor
- Modified Hall Class No. 7903 Foremarke Hall
- Rebuilt Merchant Navy Class No. 35006 Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co.
- Class 20 Diesel No. 20137
- Class 24 Diesel No. 5081
- Class 37 Diesel Nos 37215 and D6948
- Class 47 Diesel Nos 47105 & 47376 Freightliner 1995
- Class 117 diesel multiple unit No. L425
Tom Willson, GWSR Gala Committee Chair. commented: “We are excited to put on the Autumn Showcase for you. A final hurrah for the end of the normal operating season, and a chance for the volunteers to showcase the railway, doing what it does best!”
“The team have been working hard to organise this event in conjunction with the loco-owning groups. Who knows, there may even be a surprise loco out on the line…”
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