GWSR General Discussion and Operations

Wiki says built in 1906, so I'm afraid you have missed contractual limitation by a mere 120 years. Unless the contract was executed as a deed, it's only 114 years late.

That's before you get to the problem of privity of contract.

I hate to break it to you, but your chances of recovery are... limited...

(We are happy to run the claim of course (at very reasonable rates), but we are regrettably unable to offer a "no win no fee" arrangement on this matter...)

 

Bit more info on the slip here https://bridgestobroadway.blogspot.com/2026/04/gotherington-slip-repairs-week-1.html

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Luckily the state of the embankment is seemingly such that the poor-quality material can simply be removed, without the remaining material of the embankment (including the active track-bed) collapsing (as seen in bottom image, there).

Equally happily, there's apparently no rain at the moment, so the temporary vertical face around the removed material should hopefully be stable for the few days needed to backfill the resulting hole with the new granular material. (And I hope I haven't jinxed the weather by saying that!)

I get the impression that the repair will only involve the replacement of embankment material with new granular material; apparently no piling will be needed? This could all be finished pretty quickly, then!

Noel

 

Latest updates from the civils team. Doing a great job!
https://bridgestobroadway.blogspot.com/2026/04/gotherington-slip-repairs-week-2.html?m=1

 

Excellent news - and progress! It's going better than dealing with previous slips on the line, I think - but maybe that's just that this one has caused much less upset to ordinary goings-on on the line than the Chicken Curve one did.

I guess the GWSR has hidden, buried (literally) unpleasant surprises that were 'gifted' to the line by its builders. Sigh, let's hope there are not too many more.

Some morerecent images of the work on the slip repair are on Jo's blog, here.

Big thanks also to the Cheltenham Racecourse for their assistance with the logistics on the stone!

Noel

 

Also because we were able to have confidence in being able to pay the bill up front, not something we've always been able to do! Doesn't mean donations are not still gratefully received though, not only is £100k a big dent in our reserves, but the loss of revenue during the week when the line is shut South of Winchcombe is considerable members.gwrt.org.uk/donate

 

More pictures of the slip remediation including some drone shots:









Meanwhile Manston has landed at Toddington and is straight into service every day this bank holiday weekend over the full length of the line.





GWR railcar No.22 will also be out and about on Saturday and Monday with a morning round trip to Cheltenham, then Toddington-Winchcombe shuttles during the day, plus one trip to Broadway mid-afternoon. Make the most of it whilst it's here!

 

22 looked rather good at Broadway last Saturday when it did a gauging run.
When does it go back?

 

Great images; thanks for posting them! They show excellent progress! There's enough stone down now that the chances of the sides of the excavation collapsing seem now (to this total amateur at geotechnical engineering) to be minimal. The collaboration of the weather (no downpours) has surely helped.

The fabrication of the side shute (apparently that's a real word now, different from the related 'chute') by the GWSR has worked out really well; and the use of the line's own 'dogfish' wagons and shunters for moving the material has not only worked well, but also helped keep the cost of the repair down. (I repeat my thanks also to the Cheltenham Racecourse for their assistance with the logistics on the stone; too bad the GWSR doesn't have a main-line connection the stone could have been brought in over - oh well!)

The repair of the slip should be completed very soon!

Noel

 

Super poster for the diesel gala

 

Some more images of the slip repair: GWSR Infrastructure — Drainage - Off with their heads!; half way down the page (includes details of drainage installed in the repair).

Noel

 

May 2nd 2026. Something Different at Toddington.

 

Good one!

I got No. 22 arriving at Broadway:

 

Here's my footage of 34070 Manston, 6880 Betton Grange and GWR Railcar 22 in action today at the GWSR. I hope you enjoy it.

 

Popped down today to make the most of the nice weather and see No.22 out and about on the line, along with 6880 and newly arrived 34070 getting her first runs in ahead of the gala in a few weeks.

 

Got fairly lucky with the weather yesterday: Plenty of sun in the morning but no rain until around 4/5pm

 

Pete, we were extremely lucky. I was on Manston yesterday and the first spots of rain came at 16.30 and then only a steady light rain by 17.30 when I left so we did well to miss the worst. Enjoyable day on the light pacific, nice to get onto a non western engine for the variety. Railway seemed busy as well which is good.

 

My video from yesterday.

I was very impressed with how well maintained the lineside was, I'm sure Network Rail can only dream of such standards.