Above, beyond and Lemon Meringue.

We don't normally run services on a Friday as it is one of the opportunities (along with a Monday) for the 'Friends of.....' station teams to have the railway to themselves to tend the gardens and do some small maintenance tasks (and a damn fine job they all do, too!) as well as the C & W teams to do running repairs to the two main coach rakes at Toddington without being interrupted. However, Friday 6th August was one of those days where that wasn't going to be the case. There are occasional dates in the year where a Monday or a Friday can be used for extra-curricular activities. These might be a special day for one of the owning groups, particularly if a loco has returned to traffic after overhaul or for a Shareholders Special. On this day, though, it was for something we don't normally do often....a birthday special. And, a surprise t'boot!

Some time ago, The Growler Group and the GWSR were approached with a request to assist in arranging and facilitating a surprise birthday party for a well known member of The Growler Group, Steven Worthington, to include the hiring and operation of a loco and rake of stock. This required the rostering of a crew (myself, Neil C and Andy D) with the day running, loosely, to the timetable we use for the Diesel Days. 

Steven's partner had organised his friends, liaised closely with Kevin J (as Growler Group Treasurer and GWSR rep) and organised the catering with our RTC colleagues so that the day would be the most memorable it could be. This included getting a mock nameplate made, to be unveiled on the loco, as well as a headboard and the opportunity to take control of Class 37, 37215. And, all without Steven finding out! No easy feat with so many people involved. 

37215 couples up to the stock for the day. The early arrivals take the opportunity to get some quick pictures.

With the loco attached to the stock and the invited guests slowly turning up, time was taken to prepare everything for arrival at Cheltenham Race Course. This was where the festivities would begin with the arrival of the unsuspecting Steven, an unveiling of the loco nameplate and photo opportunities aplenty. Despite being barely 10am beer had already started to flow - the organisation had included the instilling of three barrels of beer on the train!

The 'nameplate' is attached ready for the unveiling.

The headboard is also fitted as Kev relaxes on a bench awaiting the arrival of the guest of honour. 

On arrival, Steven was originally under the impression that it was just a day out behind 37215, the invited guests were all ensconced within the coaching stock and we stayed in the cab so as not to give up the surprise. However, all was revealed when everyone jumped from the train to get the festivities started. The look of shock on Steven's face demonstrated that his partner had played a blinder and that he had no idea!

The grand unveiling.

Total disbelief and photos!

For the day, 37215 received its new name. It never carried a name in BR service. 

After a brief speech for the assembled throng, the new nameplate was unveiled. The loco would wear this all day (as long as the magnets held...which they did! Despite a couple of scares!) before the plate and the headboard was to be given to the guest of honour as mementos of the day. 

As part of the ongoing surprise, and before he was able to tuck into the beer, Steven was led to the cab where he was ushered into the Driver's seat and, under instruction from yours truly and Andy D, he was given the opportunity to drive 'his' loco to Broadway, with his partner joining us in the cab to take pictures and video. 

In the 'fun zone'! One incredibly pleased, if slightly overwhelmed, chap!

Having had experience of driving 37s in his day job at Wigan Springs Branch, although this was some time ago, Steven took to it pretty quickly and only needed the odd bit of advice from his 'instructors'. It was also the first time he had been to Broadway, so the red pen was out for that bit of line!

After running round at Broadway, Steven joined his mates in the train and the day continued with the consumption of the birthday food and the beer. As crew, all we managed to get was a piece of Lemon Meringue pie each....not that I was complaining, it was lovely!! Although we were able to take some of the remaining beer home at the end of the day. There had to be some perks of the job!

At the end of the day it was great to see a very happy, if slightly inebriated, bunch of party goers heading to their various taxis after one final seminar photo in front of the loco. The weather also played ball, unlike the previous Friday for our Summer Diesel Day. We also received a number of other enquiries off the back of this with people sounding out about having their own birthdays, or those of their significant others, on the railway. Usually, it is our incredibly popular Driver Experience events that are used as birthday gifts, but, if you have a larger budget, then why not look at hiring your own train! You can contact the railway direct or, if you are a member of one of the owning groups, then have a word with one of the group reps who can then liaise with the railway on your behalf. 

Many thanks to Steven for giving permission for me to use this in the blog. 

In other news, the dates for our second, special event, have been advertised. We will be putting on an Autumn Diesel Weekend on the 25th and 26th September and will be utilising our serviceable home fleet which will included the Gala, post-overhaul, debut of 47105. We will also have our unserviceable locos on static display, as we did with the Summer Gala day, but we hope to be making use of the Diesel Shed for undercover displays. 

Both of our Class 20s will, hopefully, be on static display in September. Here, D8137, sits in the sun-drenched yard at Toddington during April 2021.

Final details are still being constructed but you can keep up to date with information on our social media platforms as well as on the GWSR website.