GWSR Cotswold Festival of Steam 2015: 23rd to 25th May

I assume he was head drawing office chap or something similar, Bulleid takes the credit but not involved a huge amount in the design?

 

You really should take the opportunity to see 007 and Wells together. As you say, the GWSR can run a P&O mini gala later when she's finally ready for the road.

Yes, Yeovil Town is one candidate, but there are several places where GW and SR locos would have been seen togther, including Salisbury and Weymouth.

Does the GWSR go in for photo sessions around the shed, before or after normal services? I have a hankering for a few shots of the spamcans on shed together, being prep'ed or disposed, espcially if they could be posed close to P&O.

 

There hasn't been one to my knowledge since the new photo charter charter was arranged, but in sure if there was demand someone would organise one, I know Marton has said he's doing something with some of the guests...

 

The latest visitor has just been announced on the GWR's website. 35029 will be on static display in Toddington car park for the duration of the gala in order to demonstrate the work that has been put into 35006.

 

Where's this? I'm wary of the date, but this has been done before at GWR175..,

 

I think you may be right - check the date of the posting...

 

April fool!

 

Afterwards I remembered which MN it was, definitely an April fools! I was hoping for an announcement that the P&O group have decided to rebuild their loco to unrebuilt condition!

 

With a yard full of locomotives and multiple movements in a confined area, I would say that it's unlikely to have visits into the yard area, however there is now public access to the side of the yard that will facilitate the opportunity to see locos being prepped. http://www.gwsr.com/enthusiasts/toddington-yard-viewing-area.aspx

 

If it was a properly organised photo event with locos positioned prior to everyone traipsing in I think it would be okay. As I said, I'm not sure what the new photo charter charter so to speak has said on this, or whether it was covered.

 

Anymore news on the locomotive front the visiting ones

 

Nope.

 

Would I be correct in asuming that there will be no 3rd visiting locomotive- just the two spam cans???

Havent heard much about this event recently although am thrilled to see the hymek visitor for the diesel gala!!!

 

It has all gone rather quiet, much to my (and everyone else's) disappointment. Two spam cans plus 7820+2807+5542+4270 only comes to six though, and whilst our usual gala timetable can do that, it's much happier with 7 - if there's a failure as there was last year then we'd be in trouble. As it was, last year when the black five failed for a little while no one really noticed timewise! I'm still hopeful for a third visitor, and I say that as someone not involved in any way with gala prep or with any knowledge about behind the scenes talks.

humph, diseasels. I suppose I'll be there, but only in C+W mind! (we're opening all three days for the diesel gala this year after complaints last year on the Friday!)

 

This was on the steam loco blog today:
"And finally, whilst we are still waiting for our third gala guest loco to be finalised, I have good news regarding the two that are confirmed. There will be an evening photo charter using both Wells & Wadebridge double headed on the Saturday evening after the gala on the maroon rake."
Sounds like there is definitely plans for a third engine.

 

Just spotted that, beaten to it! That's good news; still no idea what it is though any more.

 

Someone on Facebook posted a photo of a fire in a certain locomotives firebox... Still might be a chance it seems.

 

There will be a Castle at the gala, according to the advertising poster.

 

Will there by Jove! Looking forward to it! I think castles have been covered in this thread before, we couldn't think of any actual likely possibilities - although what with the WCRC ban maybe owners will be more desperate now...

Any chance of a link please? (edit - just spotted the post in the Bulleids thread) The current plan is to have 35006 light steam at Winchcombe I believe, someone was talking about in the yard but I might have got the wrong end of the stick. I'd say it's incredibly unlikely unfortunately, even if it does make its first few moves very soon, a beast of such complexity will need to be troubleshooted for ages until it's in fine fettle - it took some time for 2807 to be in a state to pull passenger trains - I've heard a story of someone spending hours scouring the trackbed around Gotherington looking for a bolt that had fallen off - to his credit he found it apparently, in the tunnel eventually!

At least the prospect of a third loco is sounding more definite again now.