GWSR 2014 gala may 24th -26th 'Back to Black'

For those that haven't noticed, the timetable is now up here, really looking forward to the late running, I should be there for the whole of Sunday and Monday as well as Saturday afternoon (have lunch, go to C+W, work, wait until evening ticket, play trains ) holding the fort at C+W, so if anyone fancies popping in say hello, I'll probably be the only one with colour in my hair (tin hat etc.)

 

Anyone know what time the Flag & Whistle at Toddington will be open from on the days of the Gala, and does it do all day breakfasts ?

Cheers
Stephen

 

Well on normal days it opens 30 mins before the first train according to the website, so if it follows that it will open at 8:10 (first train 8:40) and might be earlier being gala, but wouldn't have thought it would be later than that. I think it does all day breakfast, I seem to recall it being referred to on the steam loco blog, I'm sure someone can confirm though.

 

It's going to the wire with 4270 and 2807 by the look of things. Hope all is sorted in time for these two locos to take part.

 

Any update from the GWSR loco department on these two?

 

Not too sure about 4270, I seem to remember a little while ago she was coaled up for weighing and balancing to check the weight is evenly distributed on the wheels, I think final calibration of gauges is taking place. it's booked into the paint shopat winchcombe very soon, I don't know the exact date but what is in the paint shop at the moment oughtn't be there anyway (only so it's kept undercover whilst other work is going on) and will be whisked out as soon as 4270 is there. I'll find out on Saturday if there's an exact date yet, you never know, by then it might already be in there! As for 2807, this was copied and pasted from the 2807 blog:

"They are making good progress.

The driving wheels are back in, the intermediates are due back shortly and they will then remove the rear wheels. They have the new longer castings and these have been machined. Our driving centres are not quite the correct drawing distance from the rear cylinder face. They are aware of our "slightly longer" connecting rod, but did a bump test of the piston against the front and rear covers to ensure that all is well.

Also on one of the intermediate axle boxes the thrust face white metal was barely attached and virtually fell off. This has now been put on properly. The good news is that they did not have to remove the step to grind the intermediate horns and the slide bars will not be a problem either. He thought the work could well be completed within two weeks or so "

So it will be very very touch and go for both of them by the looks of things. At least they're not headlining locos, they aren't even black! Perhaps their absence might persuade people to visit again after the gala...

 

News update.
As John says things are going down to the wire! 4270 is hopefully going to makes its first moves today (Tuesday) all being well it will hopefully rack up a few miles this week. It's then scheduled to move to winchcombe at the weekend for a quick topcoat and finishing. It will be professionally glossed and sign written at a later date. Both 3850 and 45379 are expected to arrive over the next three days so look out for them on the M5! The less good news is that 2807 looks very unlikely to make an appearance in steam at the event. Delays in procuring materials have neant that the bottom end work has taken longer than expected and even with the loco back at toddington it then needs valve gear, con. rods and brake gear refitting before running in. I'll keep everyone posted with developments.

 

Good to hear about 4270, looking forward to seeing her at the weekend. Can't we use some transfers as with the coaches just for the short term? Just a thought. Pity about 2807, hope it all gets sorted soon though, really looking forward to it, especially as I'm there for almost all of it!

 

Dinmore Manors fb page showing 3850 leaving Minehead.

Just a quick question. Will she be heading back the WSR since she is a 7820 group loco?

 

3850 successfully delivered to toddington, the picture shows a happy day for DMLL with 3850 and 7820 shown with 2874 in the background. We have only hired the 38 for the gala so it will be returning to the wsr.

 

Just to clarify, 3850 is under long term hire to the WSR Plc for the duration of her current boiler certificate. Contary to popular belief in some quarters we enjoy a good working relationship with the WSR and are most grateful to them for agreeing to let 3850 visit the GWSR to be paired up with 7820 as restored engines for the first time in preservation whilst the WSR itself is busy over a bank holiday weekend. She is booked to return 24/48 hours after the gala.

We shall have a stand within the marquee at Toddington, do please come and see us and say hello, we are all very much looking forward to it, shaping up to be a great event.


Mike Solloway,

DMLL

 

I've now convinced me self to attend this shindig - just booked the rail tickets, I'll be there on the Saturday - looking forward to it, never ever been before ............... and what's the betting that the first loco I clap eyes on is 45379! (see the damn thing every time I'm down at the MHR volunteering.......... )

One question - are there any decent photting spots near the stations where you can get a decent shot/view without having to walk too far, as me mate has dodgy knees and walking any great distance kills him..... he only just survived last Saturday at the GCR!

 

I don't know personally but if you go "on the trains" first, at Winchcombe definitely and probably Toddington and Cheltenham there is a book of walks around the railway. You might not be up to doing a whole walk but it'll still show you the footpaths around the railway, and I assume they all start and end at stations. I'm going to pick one up, might make a change from the usual dog walks, although my dog isn't especially keen on trains, not since 925 blew off right underneath the footbridge we were standing on at Bewdley anyway.

 

Thanks for that FS123.

I'm just going to "go with the flow" ie what me mate does or doesn't want to do................. he originally wasn't going to come, but I phoned him up and told him there isn't too much walking involved! So doing a bit of line siding would be good!!

Where did you say you'd be on the Saturday?...................... I'll try & look you up, and talk carriages & wagons............... more likely wagons ( being a member of the MHR wagon group. BTW the milk tank you lot let us have has come up a treat - made its debut at the spring gala! Not my handy work!!)

 

I think I'm correct in saying that throughout the Gala there will be 'informal' group visits to C&W at Winchcombe (staff availability permitting) for those interested. It won't be like previous displays and demonstrations but will be more like, WYSIWYG. Just an escorted tour with, the inevitable 'Donation Box' in prominence.

I believe there is an intention to display boards on the platform at Winchcombe indicating 'assembly' times.

Saturday will be a normal working day so.......woe betide anyone who gets 'under my feet' when I'm hurrying to get something finished.

 

Sounds good, I doubt I'll plan too carefully my train rides either, just so long as I clap eyes on everything I'm happy. Saturday I'll only be there from after lunch until the evening ticket comes into effect, at that point I'm becoming a member of the public for the rest of the day that tanker looks rather nice, didn't know we'd given away any of them. There's a few on the other side of the yard with Tidmouth milk on, but they don't run for whatever reason, I suspect we don't bother as you can't put anything useful in unlike box vans.

 

That's what I've been told, I'm fairly sure we've just got enough people to cover all three days, looking forward to it.

 

There is a footpath that follows the line South from Toddington see http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?...ty/Town/Village]&searchp=ids.srf&mapp=map.srf

 

How has 4720 got on the last few days, should have chuffed up and down by now...

 

Photos on Facebook show that it has had a trundle down to Racecourse and back in the evening, don't know what the results were with regards to how well the run went but it has moved under its own power!