Apologies again for the lack of regular updates but, again, work interrupts my ability to attend Toddington on a basis that I would like. Hopefully the events of this week will see that change....I'm certainly keeping everything crossed!
So, GWSR Diesel Gala 2024 is only a couple of weeks away. Tickets and information can be found at https://www.gwsr.com/galas/diesel-gala. The timetables will be live for download in the next couple of days, once final details are agreed.
We have a guest loco in the shape of Class 26/BRCW Type 2, 5310 which is visiting from the Llangollen Railway and courtesy of the Llangollen Diesel Group. This is a case of second time lucky as those of you with long memories will remember that 5310 was with us for a while in 2019. Initially it was hoped that it would be our 2nd guest, along with 50035 'Ark Royal', for that year however it required some work to be done that was not capable of being done at Llongollen. This ended up being a bigger job than anyone imagined and, even with the ongoing support of our own CMDG (owners of fellow '26' D5343), the July deadline for it to be ready was a little too ambitious.
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| 5310 in a very wet Toddington Yard during the Gala in 2019. Sadly, it wasn't able to run but ended being a very popular static exhibit. |
Hopefully 2024 will see it able to stretch its legs throughout the weekend. With our own '26' out of action, it is likely that 5310 will find itself working with Class 24, 5081, to bring back memories of the Scottish Highlands in the 1960/70s.
Speaking of 5081, the 'Rat' made its 2024 bow in May but the end of the Gala will see it drop off the active roster so that a number of engine issues can be rectified....so if you need your Class 24 fix, grab a ticket!!
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| 5081 having a scrub in the sunshine, ready for service, at Toddington back in May 2024. |
One constant is the question - 'Are you having more than one guest loco?' and the resulting negativity when it is confirmed that we are. It would appear that expectation amongst some in the enthusiast fraternity is that to be a success (or interesting) you need to have multiple guest locomotives. Well, there are several reasons for this.
One, is the lack of a main line connection. This is something where the reasons for not having it are well documented, so I won't go into them but it does mean that it is a challenge to get locomotives into the GWSR and most TOC/FOCs are not generally happy to send locomotives by road for the sake of a weekend!!
Secondly, is the cost of moving a loco by road. We have a finite budget from the GWSR to run the Gala - not all the money goes on hire fees for a loco. It costs around £10-15k for a loco up to around 100 tonnes in weight, depending on distance. For a loco in excess of 100 tonnes you are looking at 2/2.5 times the cost of a smaller loco. We have had preliminary discussions around how this could be changed, such as looking at getting shunters in for a Gala (as was done in the late 20th Century) but we will see what the future holds.
Thirdly, if we have too many guests in, our fantastic home fleet will not get a look in. Places like Swanage and the WSR only have small fleets of diesels so need a bit more variety to make people want to go. We don't necessarily have the same requirements as our fleet are often heralded as one of the best fleets in preservation and are all very well looked after.
Finally, and this is BIGGY!!! Subject to the usual caveats and availability, following a successful day of testing on Monday 24th June, something blue will be making its debut!
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| Nope! No clues there!! |
That's right!! Class 20, 20228 will be making its long awaited bow at the Gala working in multiple with sister 20137. The owner, Steve Madge, and a small band of volunteers have worked miracles to get this loco to a point where it is ready to work in a pair. With it cleared for operation, it will once again bring a sight that was synonymous with the line in its later years when Class 20s where regular sights working coal trains from the East Midlands through to Severn Tunnel Junction.
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| On a misty 17/10/70 Class 20s, or EE Type 1s, 8006 & D8145 wait at the bracket signal on The Honeybourne line at Cheltenham for a path to Gloucester via Lansdown Junction with a southbound goods. Original photo by the late Bill Potter and shared courtesy of Tom Cullimore. |
This will be the first time that 20228 will have worked wearing BR Blue and in its pre-France body condition since conversion for its sojourn as one of the 'CFR Quartet'.
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So, there you go. Rant over! But, if you feel that strongly about it and you want to help us to get more locos in then we are always open to large, financial donations or offers of support! 😉
This leads me neatly onto more news from the wider GWSR. Due to numbers of volunteers dropping, and the average age of our volunteer workforce going up, the railway has seen fit to resurrect our Youth Group in the hope that we can engage with the next generation of volunteers for the railway. This isn't diesel specific, but there will be opportunities to get to know how the whole railway works and to have involvement in all departments. Activities are tentatively pencilled in to start later in year but the railway are opening invitations from current GWSR volunteers (to start with; general applications will follow in due course) who have children between the ages of 14 and 17 who want to get involved. Keep an eye on the website and the GWSR socials to see when general applications will be open for new, young volunteers. I can say that my ex-partner's son thoroughly enjoyed being involved with the old Youth Group, maybe you know of someone who will too...especially as railways are in vogue thanks to certain social media stars!
Lastly, don't forget that we have a number of specific running days coming up to celebrate landmarks amongst our fleet.
Friday 2nd August, will see the Brush Type 4 Fund celebrating 30 Years of 47105 being based at the GWSR with a running day featuring both 47105 and 47376 'Freighliner 1995'. Full details are on the BT4F Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/354353731285376. Tickets for members can be purchased via the group, but non-members are also able to attend with tickets for the day priced at £25 each (cash only on the day).
This will be followed a couple of weeks later on Friday 16th August when the Growler Group will be celebrating 60 Years of both 37215 and D6948 with a running day. Tickets are available exclusively from https://thegrowlergroup.square.site/shop/friday-16th-august-2024-60th-running-day-tickets/7 with discount for Growler Group members. There will also be tickets available on the day at Toddington before the first departure at 1000.
On the same day, the Cotswold Mainline Diesel Group will also be running a special train utilising 'peak' 45149. For ticket information please visit http://www.cmdg.online/latest-news.html. As with the other events, tickets are only available via the group, although tickets will be available on the day (cash only).
PLEASE NOTE:
** For these events GWSR passes or tickets will NOT be accepted. Only tickets for the specific day.
** Tickets for the Growler Group and CMDG events on the 16th August ARE NOT TRANSFERABLE between the charters. If you wish to travel on both charters you will need to buy a ticket for BOTH trains.
** Where there are discounts for membership holders of the respective groups, proof will need to be provided at purchase. No proof, no discount!
We hope to see you at one, if not multiple events. Do remember that normal running days continue and the loco roster for July is below....
|
Date |
TT |
Rostered Loco(s) |
|
Tues 2 July |
|
37215 |
|
Weds 3 July |
|
37215 |
|
Thurs 4 July |
|
L425 |
|
Sat 6 July |
|
47105 |
|
Sun 7 July |
|
47105 |
|
Tues 9 July |
|
D6948 |
|
Weds 10 July |
|
D6948 |
|
Fri 12 July |
GALA |
20137, 20228, 5081, 5310, 37215, D6948, 45149, 47105, 47376, L425 |
|
Sat 13 July |
GALA |
20137, 20228, 5081, 5310, 37215, D6948, 45149, 47105, 47376, L425 |
|
Sun 14 July |
GALA |
20137, 20228, 5081, 5310, 37215, D6948, 45149, 47105, 47376, L425 |
|
Tues 16 July |
|
47376 |
|
Weds 17 July |
|
47376 |
|
Thurs 18 July |
|
L425 |
|
Sat 20 July |
|
45149 |
|
Sun 21 July |
|
5081, 5310 |
|
Tues 23 July |
|
37215 |
|
Weds 24 July |
|
37215 |
|
Thurs 25 July |
|
L425 |
|
Sat 27 July |
|
45149 |
|
Sun 28 July |
|
45149 |
|
Tues 30 July |
|
20137 |
|
Weds 31 July |
|
20137 |
