What the heck did I write last time???

It's been that long since the last blog that I really couldn't remember what I had written! So, after a quick scan through, we have this one. Some of it I may have gone through last time, but probably needed another mention because it is important....like the Gala. Photos are a little light as I haven't been able to get around to taking as many in recent visits, but where I can I have included some. I know how we all like photos of the locos!

So, what has been going on since the last blog? Well, considering that was posted at the beginning of March there is nearly two months to cram in...and quite a bit has happened! 

Our normal running season started at the beginning of March with our BLUE, off-peak timetable. Fingers were well and truly crossed that our Class 122 'bubble car', W55003 would be ready to take its bow for 2026. With the question marks regarding ownership and maintenance all sorted out it was just a case of whether the final examinations, tests and repairs could be completed in time and...they were! W55003 successfully completed it's test runs and was wheeled out on March 7th for it's first revenue-earning trips since 2012.

Class 122 'bubble-car', W55003 sits at a gloomy Broadway during March 2026. This is the first year that the 'bubble car' has visited Broadway. (Courtesy of Jack Boskett)

The return of the 'bubble-car' has not gone unnoticed as it has proved very popular with the early season visitors. It has performed well although, of course, there are some little teething issues to sort out - some of the Drivers have requested a bit of tweeking to the power train as it seems rather sluggish! Drivers, eh?!

Hopefully, the Class 122 will continue to perform well as the new ownership group work towards reinstating Class 117 DMBS, W51360, which is being overhauled with a view to eventually work with the Class 122 on days when more seats are needed. It is good to hear the rasp of a first-generation DMU on the line again.

Having W55003 back in traffic has also been a fitting tribute to one of our longest serving department and Railway volunteers; John Lees. John sadly passed away on the 25 March. John was one of the 'originals', working on the resurrection of the railway pretty much from Day 1, and would continue volunteering until Covid took hold and his health started to falter. A regular with the P'way team, although he would work across most departments during his 40+ years on the GWsR, John was also one of the regular DMU Drivers - a role where most volunteers would probably know him from - and almost single-handedly operated the DMU during the landslip at Chicken Curve which split the line in two, for which he was presented with an OO Gauge model of the 'bubble-car' in gratitude.

John receives his model of W55003 for his services to DMU Driving at the GWsR. (Courtesy of Chris Morgan)

 John was a man of incredible knowledge, he could speak several languages - even if only enough to greet foreign visitors in their own tongue - and never seemed to let the world get him down. I first got to know John via my Secondman Training when I started with my DMU turns. John greeted my with a very firm handshake and a clear 'Bore da, Gareth. Sut dych chi?' It transpired that John was fairly fluent in Welsh, despite not being Welsh himself. John was one of those rare people that it would be difficult to find a bad word said about and his passing has reverberated across the whole GWsR. As a tribute, his beloved 'bubble car' ran for a week with a wreath secured to the lamp brackets. 

The legend. Rest easy John. (Courtesy of Richard Drewitt)

However, unexpectedly, the Class 122 has not been the only single vehicle railcar on the line during the start to the season. It was announced during March that we would have an early season visitor through to the end of May - GWR Motor Railcar W22 courtesy of the Great Western Society at Didcot. 

Another fantastic photo from our very own Jack Boskett sees GWR Railcar, W22, at Gotherington during a photo charter after its arrival. 

Although not regular visitors over the Honeybourne Line, these elegant railcars would traverse the route on occasion and were certainly not unusual, so to see one back on the GWsR is a nice experience. Built in 1940 and first based at Newport Ebbw Junction, W22 would eventually find its way to Worcester shed where it would, on occasion, have ventured over our patch. The railcar will have a few more running days before it leaves us at the end of May. Running dates are listed at the bottom of this blog or on our website (www.gwsr.com) and social pages. 

Having had at least one railcar in operation on the GWsR has come at a very timely moment as the railway suffered landslip on the embankment section between Gotherington and Bishops Cleeve. Although it has not hindered the running line it had started to creep across the formation of the old 'Up' line and, to plan ahead and get it stabilised, the section from Gotherington to Cheltenham Race Course has been under a weekday possession so that works can be completed to stabilise the bank and repair the slip. This has meant services only running between Broadway and Winchcombe during the week.   

From this photo from the GWSR Facebook page, you can clearly see the slip and how close it is to the running lines - if we were double track, the Up line would have disappeared down the bank!

In relation to the slip and the rectification work, we had another unexpected arrival in the shape of Class 03, D2069. The Class 03 had rocked up with no-one in the Diesel Department having any knowledge of its arrival. It transpires that this was the doings of C&W who had become frustrated with the serviceability of their current Class 03, D2182. By all accounts it was becoming increasingly difficult to conduct vacuum pressure tests on the rolling stock utilising D2182 and so they had requested a replacement....hence the arrival of D2069.

Our second, new diesel arrival being utilised on the P'way train at the landslip repair site. (Courtesy of Simon Pedley) 

Or was that the reason? It was known that the railway was after a shunter that had good vacuum brakes for use on the ballast train. Although both D2182 and Class 04, 11230 have working vacuum brakes, there have been concerns over D2182 and the vacuum brakes on 11230 have not been used for a considerable time. D2069 has been put straight to use on our ballast trains working between Cheltenham and Gotherington rather than using one of the mainline diesel fleet. How long the Class 03 is due to stay with us is not known but it is likely to be based at Winchcombe once free of ballast duties. 

We also have a third arrival, although this is known about, due to arrive at Toddington as I type this. We had been offered use of a Class 08 for our Gala, although this was in some doubt, however things have moved along to the point that its arrival has been agreed, although the number is not known. This will be the first Class 08 to be at the railway for over 15 years and, it is hoped, will play some part in the Gala at the end of July.  

On the subject of the Gala, the last blog revealed the booked locos to attend. This year will see the largest number of visitors as we welcome 'Hymek' D7018 from our friends at the DPEG and West Somerset Railway, 25262 courtesy of South Devon Diesel Traction Ltd.,  and 27056 courtesy of the Northampton Type 2 Group and the Great Central Railway. Like last year, the Gala will feature shunter rides within Toddington Yard, behind the scenes look at our locomotive facilities and an intensive timetable. Further details and link for tickets can be found here - https://gwsr.com/whats-on/cotswold-diesel-gala-2026/ 

 

Sunday 26th July will see a homage to our Gloucestershire neighbour, the legendary Pathfinder Tours who recently bowed out on retirement of founder Peter Watts. Each train will be adorned with a historic Pathfinder Tours headboard to commemorate the company and the many tours it organised - some of which were hauled by locos in our fleet! This will be the final time that the Pathfinder Team will attend an event and it is quite an honour that their final one will be with us. 

On to the locos and April saw the mainline diesels take their bow on the seasons' services. 37215 kicked things off on 31st March, although several of the locos had entered services a lot sooner; being used on coaching stock moves, shunts and ballast trains. 

37215 basks in unseasonable February weather during a stock move between Winchcombe and Toddington. (Courtesy of Andrew Stratford)

The  CMDG's Class 26, 26043, was incredibly busy during the early part of the year with a few stock runs and p'way trains hauled - giving the loco more 'running in' after it's return to traffic last year but, also getting it ready to head away on it's travels! 

One of 26043's early runs was to take this new arrival, a former Inspection Saloon, to Winchcombe for restoration at C&W. If the saloon had been in BR Blue/Grey you could have been mistaken for thinking this scene was in the wilds of Scotland! (Courtesy of Dave Stanton)

 

As one of the lighter locomotives on the railway, the Class 26 is always in demand as a guest at other railways. It's spectacular restoration has heightened the demand and, by the time you read this it will have already appeared at the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway Diesel Gala and the recent Great Central Railway Spring Diesel Gala - where a little glimpse into our Gala could be had when it was paired with Class 27, 27056! It returns to the GWsR in time for its rostered turns at the end of May. 

Our other Type 2 Sulzer, 24081 was also pressed into ballast use during April where it was used to undertake ballast drops at several points along the line - yes, our P'way Team have been incredibly busy over the winter! 

24081 exits Greet Tunnel with the ballast train on 13 April 2026. (Courtesy of Mark Elvey)

 

Both Class 47s, 47105 and 47376 'Freightliner 1995' have made their 2026 bows with 47376 being used during our recent Bricks event and 47105 operating an unscheduled PINK timetable day on Sat 18 April after the failure of one of the allocated steam locos. During the Winter both locos had some minor attention with the cabs being given a new coat of paint in places to give them a refresh. 

 

Some of the bits being repainted from 47376 air out in the shed after the application of undercoat. 

20137 has also made it's bow for 2026 having operated during our Vintage weekend in mid-April. The loco was de-winterised in March with the re-fitting of its AVR and some testing to make sure everything worked as it should. The owners' main focus has been on the refitting of 20228's exhauster, with the work reaching a conclusion. This should, hopefully, see 20228 put through its paces on test before being allowed to work service trains on its own. 

20137 sits in the yard at Toddington prior to being de-winterised ready for the new season. 

During the upcoming Gala, the Class 20s will be paired up and will be working in multiple, as they have done so far. 

Our Class 45, 45149 has been out of traffic for some time with electrical issues however, with the Class 26 now fully operational, the CMDG have been able to spend time on the 'Peak' and have resolved the issues to a point that the loco has been declared fit for traffic and will make it's bow during this weekend's (2nd and 3rd May) 'Cab A Loco' event where, if you are 18+, 

you can get your hands on the controls and take charge of a 2500hp, 139 tonne diesel loco as we resurrect our 'Driver for a Tenner' at Cheltenham Race Course. 

Work goes on to get 'Peak' 45149 fit for the 2026 season. 

 

The heavy work can be found with Class 37 D6948. At the end of last year an oil sample test flagged up that the oil in the loco was becoming contaminated and the hunt was on to find where this was happening. It was pinpointed to be in B1 cylinder (No. 1 end, Drivers Side of the engine) where we identified that coolant was leaking into the liner and through to the sump. The engine was pressure tested to identify any further leaks but non were found. This meant removal of B1 piston and liner for inspection. 

Inside the block and you can clearly see the coolant ingress on the far side. 

 

The rocker head was removed and the liner and piston pulled our for inspection, replacement of parts and general cleaning. Whilst this was being done a number of smaller faults were identified to also rectify. This has included removing the oil feed pipe for the heat exchanger so that an oil leak could be investigated and parts of the exhaust system removed and checked because of the same reason. The heat exchanger pipe was identified as having failed gaskets and so these will be removed and new ones fitted from stock. The exhaust bellows removed appear to have failed in some way and so this will be replaced from spares. We can then investigate where the oil is coming from that is getting into the exhaust. We also need to change a leaking fuel filter. 

Under threatening skies, Andy T oversees the lifting of the B1 piston from D6948. Thankfully we only had to take out the one!!

Once repairs have been made to the piston and liner, and the head cleaned, these can be refitted and tested for leaks. We can then, hopefully, test the loco under power and, when all other work is completed, we can see her re-enter service - especially as we have had to look at rescheduling the Class 37 Double Up Sunday and there is the upcoming Gala. 

She also needs to be fighting fit for Friday 21 Aug where the Growler group will be hosting a running day to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the creation of the Growler Group in 1986. Details can be found on our website - https://thegrowlergroup.org.uk/  or on our socials. As it is not a GWsR event, no GWsR travel vouchers will be valid and only tickets purchased for the event will be accepted. 

 

Although a Growler Group appearance, we will be representing the whole Diesel Department and railway in general, the Group will have a stand at the forthcoming North West Rail and Transport Collectors Fair at Crewe Alexandra FC on Saturday 13 June 2026. 

As mentioned above, this weekend (2/3 May) sees another event rolled out with our 'Cab A Loco' event. This is a new one for 2026 and follows hot on the heals of our Vintage, Railwayana and Bricks events. Our Marketing Team have really ramped up the events on offer across the railway this year with many of our weekends now having an event theme attached.

The 'Cab a Loco' weekend is exactly as its says - you will get the opportunity to cab both steam and diesel locomotives across all our main station sites (except Broadway) where we will have some on static display or, as mentioned above, you can have the chance to get to grips with our 139 tonne, 2500 hp leviathan....45149! At Toddington, we will have a few of our locos available to 'cab' inside the engine shed and in the car park. Meanwhile, down in Winchcombe, 'bubble-car' W55003 and one of the Class 03s will be available to cab.  

Loco Roster - May 2026

Date	TT	Rostered Loco(s)
Sat 2 May		20137, 45149, W22
Sun 3 May		20137, 45149
Mon 4 May		20137, W22
Wed 6 May		W55003
Thur 7 May		W55003
Sat 9 May		24081
Sun 10 May		24081
Tue 12 May		W55003
Wed 13 May		W55003
Thur 14 May		W55003
Sat 16 May		47105, W22
Sun 17 May		47105, 47376
Tue 19 May		47376
Wed 20 May		47376
Wed 27 May		45149
Thur 28 May		26043
Sat 30 May		45149
Sun 31 May		45149

 

 

 
 

 

  

How can it be March already??

It seems only last week was the New Year and we still had a long winter ahead before the start of the running season. However, I must've blinked and missed it all because we are already knocking on the door of the new season!! How?! 

Firstly, lets start BIG!! If you keep up with some of our other media channels then you may have already seen that our visitors for the 2026 Diesel Gala (24-26 July 2026) have all been announced! This is new for us as we are generally left waiting until after the Steam Department have had their Gala, however we are stealing the march on them this time!   

In my last blog I touched on the fact that we had had a regime change within the GWSR PLC (the bit that owns and operates the railway) and that changes were afoot on the timetable front and on how our Gala is organised. Well, this has been a huge change for us as for this year we have been given the budget to go all out and go a bit mad!! This year we will see three......YES, 3......guest locos for the first time ever! We will also have a bit of a theme running which will be 'Small Sulzers' or 'Rats' as we will be joined by:

 Class 25, 25262 courtesy of South Devon Diesel Traction Ltd   

Of the thirteen original 'Eastfield' allocated Class 25s, three survived to the very end of the fleet's active life, March 1987. 25262 (seen above & later to become 25901) was one of those fortunate machines. It is seen here on October 11th 1981 undergoing repair/servicing at Springs Branch depot. (Tony Sayer)

 

Class 27, 27056 courtesy of Northampton Type 2 Group  

Newly refurbished Class 27, 27056 will make its first ever (and first Class visit) to the GWSR for the 2026 Diesel Gala. (Neal Whitehead)

 

For our Hydraulic fans, we will be having Class 35, Hymek. D7018 courtesy of the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group.

D7018 makes a first visit to the GWSR from our friends at the WSR and DEPG. (Peter Smith)

As you can imagine this is pretty ambitious for us but will offer you, the punter, with the only opportunity in the UK to have each Class of small Sulzer, all in BR Blue livery, all in one place! 

And, we haven't stopped there! On the Sunday of the Gala we will be honouring our Gloucestershire neighbours; the one and only Pathfinder Tours, who ceased trading at the end of 2025. Not only does Pathfinder Tours hold many happy memories for many of our volunteers (as I am sure it does for many reading this) but many of our locos worked Pathfinder Tours over the years, including 20137, 37215, 45149, 47105 and visitor 25262! So, on Sunday, not only will Peter Watts and some of the team be in attendance but all locos will wear headboards from many of the tours run by Pathfinder over the last half a century! 

For full, up to the minute information, tickets and timetables (when completed), go to the new GWSR website at  https://gwsr.com/whats-on/cotswold-diesel-gala-2026/
 

As with the last couple of years we will also be offering the pre-Gala Night Photoshoot. If you are interested in attending this go here - https://gwsr.com/whats-on/toddington-diesel-night-shoot/ 

It doesn't end there, either! Apparently there is more to be announced in due course. Safe to say, this years' Gala is going to be HUGE!! 

 

For the first time in a long while we operated over the February half term period. Although this didn't offer any diesel running it was a good opportunity to get some early running in and bring some pre-season money in. However, the later start for the diesels doesn't mean that we are resting on our laurels in the department. Far from it! 

With the season proper starts on Saturday 7th March with our 'BLUE' timetable there was a real urgency to try and get our Class 122, W55003, fit for traffic for the first time in nearly 15 years! As previously mentioned in blogs, the owning group that looked after all of our DMU vehicles had disbanded and uncertainty hung over the future of our 'bubble-car' and Class 117 DMBS, W51360. However, this seems to have all been resolved and an agreement reached between new owners and the Diesel Department to assist in the maintenance of the DMU fleet. From a budget perspective the DMUs do come under the Department responsibility, so it makes sense - even more so when we have bus engine expertise within the Department. 

So, with the new agreement in place, a small group splintered away from those working on the mainline fleet to assist with some of the heavier tasks on the 'bubble-car'. This included fitting of a new fuel tank and, on the 28th Jan the Class 122 was parked over a pit in readiness for the tank to be test fitted. 

 

Class 122, W55003 sits over the pit on Road 8 in readiness for the fitting of its new fuel tank. 

The previous tank had been removed as it had extensive rust and was not really fir for purpose so a new one had been ordered by the new owners. This was winched into the pit where Duncan, Andy D and Keith were waiting fit it. 

Duncan leads the conversation on how can we do this. The new tank is on a pump trolley waiting to go under the unit. 

The test fit was successful; it was a perfect fit and a week later was all fitted and plumbed in ready for use. This coincided with some electrical work in the cabs that had been outstanding for a while. 

The trolley takes the strain as the tank is fitted in place.

 

All this work culminated in a long awaited test run for W55003 which took place on 8th Feb. The test run would see the 'bubble-car' reach Broadway for the first time ever in preservation - it would have worked through Broadway when used on the services from Stratford upon Avon to Cheltenham St James. In face, W55003 was the last unit used on these services but, when the 'bubble-car' last ran on the GWSR in 2012 Broadway was still a pipe dream!

W55003 heads back to Toddington MPD after making several trips up to Broadway and back on it's first test run. (Dave Stanton)

Despite a few minor issues the test runs were deemed successful enough to set up a Driver Training Day on the 21st Feb in between services on the half-term week. With a handful of Drivers successfully re-certified the 'bubble-car' is scheduled to make it's long awaited return to traffic on the 7th March. This will mean that Hayles Abbey Halt will make a welcome return to the timetable after several years without any stopping services and, on busier days, we can look at DMU shuttle returning alongside the main services for the first time in a long, long while.

However, W55003 hasn't been the only member of the Diesel fleet to be out and about during the winter. Class 26, 26043 has been particularly active with a number of test runs undertaken after some minor fettling works. 

On the 18 Feb, the 'McRat' was used to trip a new arrival to Winchcombe for assessment and eventual repair. 

Class 26, 26043 passes Class 04, D2280 with the Inspection Saloon at the start of the trip to Winchcombe. 

 

The railway took delivery of a former BR Inspection Saloon which has been purchased privately by a member of the GWSR. The saloon arrived from Llangollen and will eventually be used for private hire parties. 

The crew of 26043 take the well-used Hayles Abbey Halt opportunity for a photostop during the trip working of the new Inspection Saloon to Winchcombe on the 18/02/26. If only the Saloon was in BR Blue and Grey.....! (Dave Stanton)

 

The 'McRat' has also been used assisting our P'way team with moving materials to worksites along the line at the end of February.

26043 was utilised on a rail drop for the P'way Team on 27/02 at Dixton and Defford. (CMDG FB Page)

 

Inbetween it's excursions, the Class 26 has been having a number of minor jobs completed to make it ready for it's first vacation in over 4 years. The 'McRat' will be heading to the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway for their Diesel Gala over the 20 - 22 March. The loco will also be undertaking a Driver Experience Day at the CPRR on 1st April. See their website for full details - https://www.chinnorrailway.co.uk/

A fluid top up for 26043. 

 Another loco to be utilised on stock moves was Class 37. 37215 which was used to move Rake 1 from Winchcombe to Toddington ready for the February Half-Term services. 

Under unseasonably blue skies, 37215 runs around Rake 1 at Winchcombe before taking the set to Toddington on 14/02/26. (Andrew Stratford)

 

Unusually, both 26043 and 37215 have been the only mainline locos that have spent the winter in operational condition with the rest of the fleet out of traffic for maintenance requirements or having been winterised. 

Both Class 47s have been out of traffic to allow for a number of jobs to be completed that have been outstanding for a while. The opportunity has also been taken to give the cabs a bit of a touch up and spring clean. 

The cab seats in 47376 have been dismantled for a clean and repaint. 

47376 has had its cab seats dismantled and the stands removed for cleaning and a repaint. Over the years they can become pretty grotty and the mechanisms can fail meaning the seats will not adjust. 

Undercoat applied to the first set of seat stands. 

Our BR Blue Class 20, 20228 has had its exhauster fitted and tested in situ. It is hoped that it will now, at some point in 2026, be in a position to run independently on timetabled services  - although it will still run together with sister 20137 in multiple. '137' is in the process of being 'de-winterised' with its AVR being refitted as temperatures now start to rise. 

20137 rests in the yard at Toddington on 11/02 as it works up to serviceable condition ready for 2026s timetable.

 

Work is also continuing on the electrical issues that have kept 'Peak' 45149 out of traffic for most of 2025. This work has had to go on around the continued fettling of fellow CMDG loco, 26043, but it certainly hasn't been forgotten and it is hoped the loco will be fit for traffic soon. One big job undertaken was the refitting of one of the five underframe air tanks that had been sent away for a repair. 

Class 45, 45149 sits over one of the pits awaiting the re-fitting of one of its underframe air tanks. 

 

This was certainly not an easy task as the suspension brackets are in quite awkward places and need a certain amount of flexibility to reach the bolt holes....let alone fit and secure them! And, that is before the pipes are re-attached. Andy D drew the short straw with myself and Tony R bearing the weight and alignment.

The newly overhauled tank awaits lifting into position.

 

However, the big job amongst our locos emerged on Class 37, D6948. At the end of the running year the oil in our locos is tested to identify any issues that may be emerging (such as the presence of any metal sherds or water contamination) or indicating potential issues with engine parts. We already knew of a few small jobs that needed doing with D6948 but its oil sample returned a red flag that had the potential to be pretty major. The sample from D6948 showed that water and coolant had managed to get into the engine oil. This is indicative of a failure in the cylinders and so investigations started quickly to identify any tell-tale evidence of this. 

 

The evidence - B1 cylinder showing clear evidence of water ingress. (Kev Jarvis)

After removing all the engine covers it quickly became apparent that the water was ingressing via B1 cylinder. No other cylinders were showing signs of water ingress but a pressure test was conducted to make 100% sure. This identified that it was only B1 showing any sign of failure and so it was decided by the owners to remove B1 piston and liner to look for damage or signs of failure. 

D6948 is drained of its coolant and water ready for the removal of B1 piston and liner. 

With the loco drained of coolant and water, it was time to prep the loco for the removal of the leaky cylinder set. This required the removal of the rocker head and cover. 

The rocker head is removed to allow access to the piston and liner. The head is in very good condition and should only need a bit of a clean up. 

 

With the head removed it was now a case of waiting for a dry day to get D6948 under the gantry in the yard so that the piston and liner could be lifted out. This takes the use of some specialist equipment that needed to be dug out from wherever it had been stowed away the last time we finished using it!

Dave H tries to remember how it goes together!

 

Luckily the weather has changed a bit over the last month and so it enabled Wednesday 11 Feb to be earmarked for the removal. D6948 was shunted out of the shed and under the A-Frame. Paul G, Keith and Andy T had made a start to enable D6948 to be outside for the least possible time - just in case it did rain! Although it was cold the rain held off!

Andy T oversees the lifting of the piston. Paul G and Keith were in the engine room whilst myself and Hugh were in charge of the shunting!

The end of the day saw both the piston and liner out of the loco and hanging up in the shed. Initial assessments seem to indicate that the piston rings have failed in some way, although it wasn't necessarily evident on the first, quick look. However, it does mean that the loco will be out of traffic until at least the middle of April. Hopefully, it will be back in time for the first 'Double Up Sunday' on the 26th April where it is due to run with sister, 37215. 

Rosters

Services start on Saturday 7 March with Class 122, W55003 making a long-awaited return to traffic after a protracted overhaul. Services will also operate every weekend through March with the 'bubble-car' operating. Tuesday 31 March sees 37215 operate the first mainline diesel turn on the PURPLE timetable.   

Date	TT	Rostered Loco
07 March		W55003
08 March		W55003
14 March		W55003
15 March		W55003
21 March		W55003
22 March		W55003
28 March		W55003
29 March		W55003
31 March		37215