Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Volunteers who have kept railway’s revival on track for 40 years honoured
The extraordinary efforts of those who helped create today’s much-loved Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway were at the heart of celebrations as the heritage attraction marked its 40th anniversary, writes Robin Jenkins
VOLUNTEERS running the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, considered to be one of the best heritage railways in the country, have been celebrating its 40th anniversary.
A special ceremony in Winchcombe last week marked the 40th anniversary of the creation of the GWSR.
It recognised the extraordinary effort of thousands of volunteers who have created the railway that operates between Cheltenham Racecourse and Broadway and is very popular with families.
Some of the original volunteers, whose vision and determination 40 years ago laid the foundations of the present-day railway, received special awards presented by Colonel Mike Bennett, a non-executive director of GWSR plc.
He also formally opened an exhibition in the Tim Mitchell Building at its Winchcombe station.
The display was put together by volunteers from each of the railway’s many departments to mark the progress made over the past four decades and it will remain open on every operating day until September 5.
In his comments, Colonel Bennett hailed the vital contribution volunteers from all walks of life make to society.
He said: “We owe so much to you and your colleagues for your vision and determination to create the railway we enjoy today.
“Indeed, without voluntary effort of this kind, we would not have a railway. Today, there are over 950 volunteers who continue to develop it, operate it and do everything necessary to ensure the success of the business. It makes a vital contribution to the local economy as well as offering a meaningful and worthwhile occupation for hundreds of people and enjoyment for thousands of visitors.
“I feel very proud to count myself as a volunteer and to recognise the effort put in by you and those who have followed since those pioneering days.”
After the presentation, the dozen who attended posed in front of the
Marchants double-decker bus which has recently been “wrapped” with huge images of the railway’s locomotives and trains. They then boarded a steam train for lunch on a round trip to Broadway, on the first post-Covid service day for the GWSR.
The 40th celebrations marked the anniversary of the effective rebirth of the railway, although rail services didn’t resume immediately.
1981 was a momentous year when the first steps were taken in rebuilding as much as possible of the former Great Western Railway line between Stratford-upon-Avon and Chelten
ham. Often referred to as the Honeybourne Line, the formative Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway plc was established.
It was successor to the Gloucestershire
Warwickshire Railway Society, which had early that year taken occupation of a bleak and derelict Toddington station yard.
The volunteer-run organisation then faced the enormous task of reinstating a railway line that had been dismantled by British Railways only months before.
The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Society was formed in August 1976, to persuade BR that there were very good reasons to reopen the line. The movement quickly gathered both local and national as well as enthusiast support.
Despite this, BR nevertheless started dismantling the track and remaining infrastructure from 1979. Then in August 1980, it decided to release the land, which allowed the negotiations to purchase the route to progress.
On July 28, 1981, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway Plc was formed to purchase, rebuild and operate the railway.
Its first share issue was launched on August 20 that year, raising more than £73,000 within the statutory 40 days, which enabled a large quantity of track and other materials to be bought.
The first chairman of the company was Tim Bazeley, who is still a volunteer on the railway.
He said: “Raising so much money
in such a short time was an astonishing success.
“Then the really hard negotiating work began!
“We applied to the Government for a Light Railway Order to authorise us to operate trains over the 25-mile route between Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon while we pressed ahead with purchase negotiations.
“The British Railways Property Board quoted a price of just £30,000 – however, the GWSR’s parliamentary agents advised us to concentrate initially on buying half of that.
“Cheltenham Borough Council wanted the stretch of trackbed within their boundary (most of which is today a cycle way and footpath) and in February 1984 we were successful in completing purchase of the nearly 15 miles of derelict line from their boundary, north of the Prince of Wales Stadium, to a point just north of Broadway station. The cost was £15,000!”
Since then, volunteers have steadily rebuilt the railway, reinstating stations, repairing the infrastructure and bridges, as well as operating the expanding line and bringing pleasure to countless thousands of visitors.
Several subsequent share issues have financed the extensions and development, while the charitable Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Trust was formed to support specific railway projects.
Tim added: “Our first train ran from Toddington station over about a quarter of a mile towards Winchcombe – a tiny tank locomotive called ‘Cadbury No. 1’, and one coach. It was flagged off by the then Secretary of State for Transport, Nicholas Ridley MP, on April 22, 1984.
“Now we are operating over the full length of the route we purchased in those early days. I feel incredible pride that all of this has been achieved by volunteers – not just the rebuilding of the line but the restoration of locomotives and rolling stock. It’s an astonishing success story and today we have nearly 1,000 active volunteers and only a small full-time staff.”
The GWSR is among the UK’s leading heritage railways, operating through some stunning countryside along the edge of the Cotswold escarpment.
Richard Johnson, the current volunteer chairman of GWSR plc, said: “I feel very humbled by the amazing support that has enabled this railway to develop and grow to become one of the top tourist attractions in the Cotswolds.”
I feel incredible pride that all of this has been achieved by volunteers – not just the rebuilding of the line but the restoration of locomotives and rolling stock. It’s an astonishing success story FIRST GWSR CHAIRMAN TIM BAZELEY