‘GlosWarks’ confirms first gala guest

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway has confirmed the first visiting engine for its forthcoming ‘Cotswold Festival of Steam’ gala – ‘King’ No. 6023 King Edward II.


Soon to be reunited at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway’s ‘Cotswold Festival of Steam’, ‘King’ No. 6023 King Edward II stands alongside ‘Modified Hall’ No. 7903 Foremarke Hall and Churchward Railmotor No. 93 at the Old Oak Common open day on September 2. NICK BRODRICK/SR

The confirmation follows the announcement that the BR Blue 4-6-0 will also be attending the Severn Valley Railway’s ‘Spring Steam Gala’ on March 16-18.

‘KEII’ will be making its debut on the Cheltenham-Broadway line at the May 26-28 event, and it is believed that the only time a ‘King’ ever graced the ‘Honeybourne Line’ was during a positioning move for No. 6000 King George V in the mid-1970s, before the line was closed by BR in 1976.

The event will also be the first time that gala trains will be able to run the full 15 miles of railway as far as Broadway, which will be officially opened on March 30.

It is understood that at least two further guest locomotives will be announced nearer the gala, but the ‘King’ will be in good company at the event, as the GWSR will be able to field four of its own Swindon-built engines – ‘28XX’ No. 2807, ‘42XX’ No. 4270, ‘Manor’ No. 7820 Dinmore Manor and ‘Modified Hall’ No. 7903 Foremarke Hall – as well as resident ‘Merchant Navy’ No. 35006 Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co.

Further details will be revealed closer to the event. For more information, visit: www.gwsr.com/Cotswold_Festival_of_Steam__26th28th_May--post--19.html.

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