GWSR - Cheltenham Spa and possible extensions

In theory there would be, but no room for a run-round loop as well.

 

Meanwhile, some of the new rail for the Broadway extension arrived yesterday.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gwr_permanent_way_photo_log/

 

Brilliant pictures.

 

Should all be laid pretty sharpish too as the next lot comes in a fortnight I believe and the flat wagons need to be empty again!

 

Real sharpish, the next lot come in a week tomorrow! These will get us over Little Buckland bridge if we had the sleepers there, 11 panels worth are now ready to load at Gotherington. 3rd batch of rail to arrive 10/10/16, that will allow us to go over Peasbrook bridge well in sight of Broadway.

 

As it seems the GWSR is happy for Cheltenham Malvern Rd shed to be lost to redevelopment, have they considered a deal with the developers to allow the shed to be dismantled and moved to somewhere like Toddington? As the photo shows, taken from the station platform, it is a Churchward 2 road shed, with a 1936 extension to the left, made of cheaper less attractive materials. Ironically, that part would be easier to dismantle than the brick building. The developer would get good publicity for helping a local concern and, the GWSR gets a genuine GWR 4 or 2 road engine shed. How good would that look at Toddington?

Looking at Google view and zooming in to the 45 degree angle, the building at Lansdown does have room for a single track connection to the main line. It is now a fitness centre but I think was built as a Royal Mail depot.

 

A nice idea indeed. But while we're focused on Broadway how is this going to happen? And where would it go?

I would like to see the ending rescued if possible, as this shouldn't be as difficult and may even serve a more immediate use at Broadway. (and perhaps at Winchcombe at some point?)

That's what I thought.

 

https://www.taylorwimpey.co.uk/prop...stershire/cheltenham/land-off-gloucester-road

Well, here are the plans. The plan shows a boundary right up to the edge of the rail route, although lined with a row of trees. The road leading down to the line is the station access road, which is unaffected by the development. Another site mentions October for the Travis depot to be open at the new site so, perhaps they have started the move away from Malvern Rd already.

Taylor Woodrow. Perhaps they will donate the building and, who knows, pay for it to be moved, in return for publicity, advertising etc. If you don't ask, you don't know.

 

Toddington already has a loco shed, well 2 really, one side for steam the other for diesel. I don't think there would be much room for the one currently at Malvern Road, even if the permission, money and manpower existed to dismantle and relocate it. I agree with the "if you don't ask" comment. This photo, which I bought some years ago as a postcard shows the original shed on the right and the 1930s addition on the left, added when the MSWJR shed on the Midland line in Cheltenham closed in the 1930s. There appears to be a good line in vegetables being grown in the right foreground of this shot! The diesel railcar is an interesting "cop."

 

I wonder if the photo was taken during - or immediately after - WWII, and if the vegetables were a result of the 'Dig for Victory' campaign?

 

I'd put it as early 50s — 43xx/53xx on the right has a smokebox numberplate, Prairie is wearing the large unicycling lion & the railcar looks to be in B 'n' C with minimal lining & a tiny number.
The allotment could still be a hangover from the war though, if the powers that be gave dispensation during the conflict & were tardy about rescinding it (or didn't bother as rationing was still in effect).

The piles of new timber boarding in the background are intriguing. The shed doesn't appear to have any doors - maybe for that?

 

Railway allotments lasted well in to the 50s. Parks Bridge Junction near Lewisham in SE London had plots inbetween the connecting loops for use by the signalmen.

Just for interest the 1950s/60s glasshouse style signal box at Hither Green was when suplanted by the London Bridge resignalling was used to grow tomatoes. At least I think they were tomatoes!

 

I noticed the stacks of timber as well. Perhaps there was already a builders merchant next door and, they just took over the shed when it closed in 1963.

 

I think the allorment at Skew Bridge, Salisbury, lasted a lot later than that. Checking through my own photos, it had definitely gone by 1989, but I'm sure it was still in use when I first started visiting that area for the class 50s a few years earlier.

 

The allotments on the top of the embankment approaching Cheadle Hume from the Stoke direction were certainly in full and productive use in the late 70s, well after electrification.

 

As a GWSR member and volunteer, I have never heard any mention of the possibility of extending the line into Cheltenham itself. Certainly it was mooted that we may extend as far as the Prince of Wales Stadium, which is as far as our currently owned trackbed approaches the town. This, at least, would allow pedestrian access to the town centre, along the foot/cycle path. Cheltenham Town Council themselves, have considered a light tram/railway to link up with us but I doubt the money is available to finance this. Honeybourne is not out of the question but it won't be in my lifetime!

No, let us consolidate an extended railway to Broadway first and raise the funds to complete the footbridge and build the Waiting Room on platform 2. If this doesn't gain us another Heritage Award award, I don't know what will! Plus our B&S department are re-constructing Hayles Abbey Halt, which, should be completed by the end of 2017, so there is a lot of work going on! How many miles of railway can 900 volunteers manage?

JimBob

 

p.s. In terms of coach rakes, it is anticipated that there will be three, each of 8 coaches. Broadway's platforms have been constructed to a length to accomodate these AND allow the loco to be included, thus allowing visitors to view the loco at platform height, not off the end of the ramp! Clever initial foresight by Mr Bill Britton, et. al.

 

This lot is down, former storage siding area upgraded and connection remade back to Laverton to Little Buckland section, welding early next week, another 56 rails in Monday. Rails laid up to 3 panels short of L. Buckland bridge as well. We now need sleepers loaded and bought up from Gotherington to continue northwards.

 

As an update on Cheltenham Malvern Road Shed, it would appear that at least some of the fencing, gates and fittings from the Malvern Road Shed site have been secured for preservation - by the Vale of Berkeley Railway at Sharpness. See link to their website.http://valeofberkeleyrailway.co.uk/2017/04/21/old-gwr-steam-shed-railings-reclaimed/

 

I would love for them to extend to Cheltenham before honeyborne however honeyborne will be the mainline connection, which is perfect for Galas