Gala adds traction to season
Resident steam and diesel fleet helps celebrate GWSR’s 40th anniversary year.
THE Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) has ended its preChristmas operating season in spectacular style, with a two-day mixed traction gala that attracted almost 2,000 passengers.
The event, over the weekend of November 6/7, was staged as a finale to the railway’s
40th anniversary with eight locomotives operating – four steam, four diesel plus a diesel multiple-unit – working an intensive timetable that included a freight train.
In addition, there were double-headed and non-stop services each day.
Operated entirely using the home fleet, the steam line-up included GWR 2-8-0T No. 4270, SR ‘Merchant Navy’ No. 35006
Peninsular & Oriental SN Co, WR ‘Modified Hall’ No. 7903
Foremarke Hall and WR ‘Manor’ No. 7820 Dinmore Manor. The diesel fleet was also showcased with performances by Sulzer Type 2 (Class 24) No. 5081, Sulzer Type 4 ‘Peak’ (Class 45) No. 45149, Brush Type 4 (Class 47) No. 47105 and English Electric Type 3 (Class 37)
No. 37215 – plus Class 117 three-car DMU comprising DMS No. W51405, TCL No. W59510 and DMBS No. W51363.
Attractions
Entirely organised and run by the railway’s volunteers, the railway also threw open the doors of its David Page steam shed, as well as the Carriage & Wagon department’s works at Winchcombe.
Also operating was the 2ft gauge Toddington Narrow Gauge Railway.
In addition, the railway offered on-the-day tickets for rides in the newly restored SR Queen Mary bogie goods brake van (see opposite), as well as pre-bookable footplate rides.
Janet Gough, the GWSR’s volunteer resources director said: “Scheduling a big event for early November and running it on a small budget was always going to be something of risk. However, blessed with good weather, almost 2,000 people bought tickets and, for the first time ever for such an event, online ticket sales exceeded those bought on the day.
“Visitors enjoyed a variety of experiences showcasing our impressive home fleet of steam and diesel locomotives. All departments pulled out the stops to work together to prepare and run locos and rolling stock to meet a very full timetable.
“Operationally, station and train staff, crossing monitors, signalling staff, catering, retail and everyone else ensured that we put on a first-class show.
Efforts
“All of this was done by volunteers and it was a fitting tribute to those early volunteers who, back in 1981, took occupation of a derelict Toddington station site and a 15 mile stretch of vacant trackbed, starting the long task of restoring the railway that we love and enjoy today.”
She continued: “The event also provided a much-needed shot in the financial arm following a very difficult couple of years. Coupled with the fastselling Santa Specials, the gala will help us through the winter before we resume services in March.”
Overall, the railway says it has bounced back well from Covid-19 restrictions and lockdowns.
For the period August 1 to November 7, the railway carried just over 18,000 ticketholders compared with 16,200 over the same period in 2019, the last time the railway operated over those months (when two days of the half-term included November 1 and 2.
By early November, many Santa trains had sold out, so the railway is hopeful of ending its year on a high note. Mince pie specials are due to run from December 27-January 3.