GWSR autumn showcase 28th and 29th October

Next weekend sees the final event of the year at the gwsr. Intensive timetables using 3 steam, 3 diesel and the dmu operating on both days with freight trains and three sets on operation. The Saturday sees the 2 47’s and the 24 alongside 35006, 7903 and 7820 whilst Sunday the diesels are the 2 37’s and the class 20. Additionally there is the good chance that 2807 may make an appearance. Pre book ti lets are still available at a discount whilst on the day tickets are priced at£30 - which isn’t bad for what’s on offer. There will also be the normal opening of the carriage and wagon works at winchcombe whilst the loco shed at toddington will host owning group stands and engines under restoration and overhaul available for viewing.

 

We are coming for the weekend, looking forward to it!

 

Now confirmed that 2807 will be out on the Sunday, taking Foremarke Hall's diagram. On Saturday it should be on static display somewhere and hopefully allowing cab visits.

Always a very happening event with lots going on, do come along - I'm guard on the goods train on Sunday and hoping the forecast will change!

 

That's a shame - I was hoping it would be out on Saturday as I can't make it on Sunday. I'm not a fan of Class 47s (would have preferred the 37s on Sunday), but the appearance of 2807 would have been enough to persuade me to visit on Saturday.

UPDATE - I've just had a look whether I could get there on Sunday, but then I looked at the GWSR timetable - no steam hauled passenger train from Cheltenham between 09.23 (before I can get there) and 14.57. Disappointing!

 

Well done to the teams at G&WR for this event. Although I regret they're decision to cease line side photography I enjoyed riding the cushions. I hope you enjoy taking a look at my photos from Saturday.

https://evergreen.zenfolio.com/p594507556#hb3019302

 

Some lovely images there Clive. Likewise, I really enjoyed Saturday at the railway. I can only manage an annual visit now, but really like this railway. Thanks again to everyone involved in allowing us the privilege of enjoying travelling on and watching these historic trains!

 

We had a brilliant weekend, thank you to everyone involved! Saturday we had travel tickets, morning and evening round trip with time at Winchcombe, Gotherington and Toddington in between. Sunday watching, Didbrook, Broadway, Hayles Abbey Halt then Winchcombe. Great weather, fantastic scenery, intresting timetable with everything running pretty much to time - a perfect gala. My video, photos to follow...

 

A few snaps from Saturday.

 

Photos from Saturday & Sunday... https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/albums/72177720307572635

 

Great to hear, thanks for the feedback, I'll pass it on to the rest of the gala team Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves, passengers and volunteers alike, definitely a staple in our events calendar now, very much a 'get all the toys out the box for a big play session'! Aside from having the goods train out which is always good news, the atmosphere after dark on the Sunday after the clocks go back is always a highlight for me:

 

Done action from the GWSR Autumn Showcase Gala featuring 2807




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Very biased but I do like that one of 248 (as you might expect!)

 

It looked a pretty great event, nice to see 2807 out and about again.
It's a shame they don't put 35006 on goods trains more often, it's certainly a novelty no other railway has done before.

 

Does a WC/BB qualify??

 

Uumm.... Not really??
Are'nt they smaller amd lighter than MN's?
Didn't they also pull [more] goods trains than MN's?

 

Which is exactly my point, I know GWSR want maximum passenger mileage at CFOS / Showcase events, but it would certainly be different.

 

P&O had a fair chunk of mileage in front of the goods train this time, far more than I expected when I suggested it would be fun to put it on for a run. Just the way the diagrams worked out. It was fun and generated a lot of comment which is always good, but generally for obvious reasons we like to try and put more appropriate engines on, hence last year 4270 spent quite a lot of time on it, and next year no doubt 2807 and 3850 will both have some good turns on it. We like doing daft things but we also like making things look spot on, which we think it really does with a GWR freight engine in GWR livery pulling our GWR goods train.

 

On a technicality the design was a genuine mixed traffic loco on paper, (owing to the constraints of the war effort) - however, the reality was one of the finest express passenger locos to appear on this country.