Well......what can I say! We are two weeks on from what was our best Gala ever and the euphoric feeling of delivering such a fantastic event is only now starting to subside. We all knew that having three guest locos was going to be a bit of leap of faith but we all had a feeling that the big draw would be the opportunity to see Classes 24, 25, 26 and 27 - all in BR Blue - being represented. Safe to say that we didn't realise HOW big a draw they would be!
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| All lined up prior to our Pre-Gala Evening Photoshoot on 23rd July 2026. Left to right - 27056, 26043, 25262 and 24081. |
To have all four of the 'Baby Sulzer' classes, and all in BR Blue, was a huge coup for the railway especially as we later learned that our Gala would be the only time this would happen...at least for the foreseeable future!
Throw into the mix a diesel-hydraulic in the shape of 'Hymek' D7018 and the remainder of our home fleet and it would prove to be a special brew.
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An example of the ever popular Hydraulic classes is always a winner for a Gala! D7018 rests at Toddington after its FTR exam on 23/07/26. |
With D6948 and 45149 both being declared fit for traffic in the lead up to the Gala, the whole of the home fleet was available to take part and that meant, along with our Class 122 DMU and the three visitors, we would have a record 13 locos/DMUs for the paying public to enjoy.
The week in the lead up to the Gala was pretty frenetic with last minute changes to the rosters and timetables as well as shoring up the finer details ready for the Friday. However, the frenzied activity was added to when, due to the unprecedented weather conditions, steam power was withdrawn due to the increasing fire risk. This meant that the department would have to provide two locos and additional crew each day in the run up to the Gala. This was a little bitter sweet as it would enable D6948 to get some post-repair mileage but would also mean that manpower availability for Gala preparations would be dented slightly.
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| The railway has really backed this years' Gala which allowed us to increase the marketing we do. HoD Dave S and Gala Committee Member, Mark E, show off one of our new banners. |
However, the resilience of the department shone through and this meant that everything was covered and the Gala prep was completed in time for the Evening Photoshoot on the Thursday.
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| The first visitor to arrive was the Hymek, however Class 25, 25262 was second in on the Tuesday morning after a delayed journey from the South Devon Railway. |
The Pre-Gala Evening photo shoot that we have delivered over the last few years on the evening before the Gala has gone from strength to strength and this year saw an almost sell out group of people descend on Toddington MPD to get their shots of the loco lineup. We are blessed that we have a facility at Toddington that allows both sides of the motive power department to line up a large number of locos during the respective Galas. You'd be hard pushed to think of anywhere in preservation that has a 7-road shed, along with substantial yard space on any other railway.
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Where else in preservation could you get a shot like this? We certainly are spoilt to have the facilities we have. Just a shame we couldn't move the Steam Department's racking and the floodlight post! can't have it all, I guess! |
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| It was worth postponing it! What a shot and great for publicity! |
Friday, Day 1 of the Gala, was soon on us and crews, sales stand guests and some very intrepid punters started to drift in to Toddington from the ungodly hours of the morning. Frenzied activity soon covered all parts of Toddington as locos were prepared, sales stands erected and cars arrived carrying expectant punters. The first services left on time and with a large number of visitors claiming their spaces on the cushions.
Simon P had been busy printing and organising some heritage-type window stickers to put on windows of the four rakes of stock, and the 'bubble car' to invoke reminders of cross country Intercity services during the 1980s and 1990s. A small gang of volunteers got busy fitting all these on the required sets of stock throughout each day. A nice little touch and one that visitors enjoyed....most ended up being taken as souvenirs!
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| One of the myriad of window stickers from the Gala. (Photo courtesy of @phillbirdradio on 'X') |
By mid-morning, the overflow field was open at Toddington and was already half full. Talk was already circulating that this was the best Day 1 we had ever had for a Diesel Gala and the queue for tickets at both Cheltenham and Toddington seemed to playfully indicate that we could be on to a record.
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| I didn't get much time to relax on Day 1 or Day 2 as I was rostered on Train 4 which was active for a total of 10 hours each day. Day 1 saw me rostered on the Class 20s. Here is 20137 and 20228 at Gotherington during a signal stop. The headboard says 'Skegless Pair'. A nod to when both locos were utilised on Summer Saturday trips to Skegness in the 1980s and 1990s. |
By midday rumours were already circulating that Toddington Day 1 ticket income had already exceeded previous years and that pre-sales had already allowed us to break even. If this was true then we were really on to something special.
Day 1 flew by. No failures, everything ran to time and the feedback from all parties was incredibly encouraging. Mark E, one of our long-standing volunteers and Gala Committee members, organised an end of day BBQ - harking back to days when a post-Gala BBQ was routine. With all the locos back on shed and surrounded by nature and the sound of popping Spirax valves, we all sat down for meat, a couple of beers and a chance to decompress the day. Talk quickly revolved around how great a day it was, the number of people attending and, of course, money. The initial scores on the doors were a lot better than we had anticipated and that we were well on course to eclipse our previous record Gala, as long as things continued into Day 2 and 3.
Day2 - Saturday - dawned bright again but the temperature had kicked up another couple of degrees. However, this did not put off any of the visitors as, again, by mid-morning, the overflow car field was open and half full! The queues for tickets were also on a par, if not larger, than Day 1.
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| Class 27, 27056 rests on Toddington TMD after a hard day on Day 1. Originally numbered D5401 and then 27112 under TOPS, the loco was one of the class used on Scottish Push-Pull services. Renumbered to 27056 in 1982. |
Sadly, luck was to drop a little during the afternoon when Class 25, 25262 decided to do a 'Deltic' impression when its turbo expired, coating the surrounding areas in oil. The loco did limp on to finish its timetabled duties around mid-afternoon however it would draw a question mark over day 3 and the final 4-way - it had been scheduled for all 4 'Baby Sulzers' to work the last service back from Broadway. However, there was still time for the chaps from the South Devon Diesel group, along with our own Tim L and Steve M, to try and find a fix.
By lunch time, the scores on the doors was that we had already surpassed ticket sales and revenue that we had achieved in 2025 and were well on the way to beating our record back from 2019 when we had Class 50, 50035 'Ark Royal' visit from the Severn Valley.
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| Our previous record year was 2019 when this monster visited from just up the road at the SVR. It just eclipsed 2018 when Broadway reopened. |
Again, the feedback from Day 2 was incredible and numbers cemented that this was going to be a record Gala. Not even the issues with 25262 were to dampen the spirits as we headed for the 'BEEREX'. This year, D7018 was used to haul it and GG Sales Officer, Andy Laws, jumped in at the last minute to manage the bar - RCS were unable to crew it due to lack of available volunteers. As with last year, the 'BEEREX' was very well patronised and seats were at a premium. As the round trip ended and the remainder of us headed to The Pheasant for a curry, news filtered through that 25262 was going to be available for the Sunday but would need to limit the time under load. Easily done as it was scheduled to work in pair all day. Cue collective sigh of relief!
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| Day 3 and the headboards were being fitted ready for Pathfinder Sunday. The original railtour was operated on 24/08/1984 and was hauled by 25201 and 25037. |
Day 3 dawned a lot cooler than previous days as the Cotswolds area had had some much needed rain over night, but by about 8am the temperature had risen and it was wall to wall sun again. Day 3 was specially designated to celebrate Pathfinder Tours which was being wound down with the retirement of founder, Peter Watts, and current Chief Executive, Barry Cordell. All trains would run with Pathfinder headboards from previous tours and staff from Pathfinders were given free travel to enjoy the day. A last 'railtour' was also organised - The Broadway Greeter which departed Broadway with BR Class 45 No. 45149 at the helm at 14:15 to Cheltenham Racecourse and returned at 15:40. There was one final dedicated headboard which was raffled off on the train.
D6948 arrives at Toddington wearing the headboard from the 'Spinning Spectre' railtour. This railtour ran on 19/06/99 starting at Bristol Temple Meads behind 37516 and 37679. The destination was Goole and would also see Classes 47, 56, 58, 60 and the new 66.
There were some awesome headboards on display including the 'Snowdonian II' headboard which was a lot more substantial than I certainly imagined! Only the Class 25 had brackets in the right place for it to fit - no surprise considering a pair of Class 25s worked the train.
I was rostered on the visiting Class 27 which, because of the positioning of the lamp brackets, meant that it was difficult to fit any of the headboards to the front. We even had Jack Boskett try to attach his very valuable Royal headboard, but it would have been way out of gauge. However, we were running inside of 26043 for most of the day which bailed us out with its' 'CMDG McRat on Tour' headboard - a headboard that could be applicable to both locos.
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| 26043 and 27056 conjure up the 1980s Scottish flavour on Day 3. I was rostered on the '27' for the day. |
Day 3 is usually the quieter of the three days and, this didn't break the mould. However, as with the previous 2 days, the overflow field was opened again before mid-morning. I have never seen that on a Sunday!
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Later, 27056 was paired with 24081 in readiness for the 'final fling' |
For the last round trip, 27056 was paired up with 24081 in readiness for the 'final fling' trip where all four of the 'Baby Sulzers' would be heading the last run from Broadway to Toddington. 25262 had been nursed through the day and would take full part in the last trip.
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| All lashed up!! 24081 leads 27056, 26043 and the ailing 25262. 4000hp of Sulzer madness! |
By the end of Day 3, despite obvious exhaustion amongst crews and organisers, the feeling of putting together the best Gala yet gave everyone a good shot to deal with the aches. Feedback throughout had been excellent from all parties and, initial numbers indicated that well in excess of 2000 tickets had been purchased. This would mean that 2026 was a complete record breaker however, later numbers would put attendance at just shy of 2500!!
Huge congratulations should go to our hard working Gala Committee who put everything together and to our Roster Clerks who managed to cobble together the timetable, loco allocations and make sure that all locos were crewed.
Massive thanks go to the visiting loco owners for allowing their locos to visit - South Devon Diesels Ltd, Northampton Type 2 Group and the Diesel Electric Preservation Group; all the crews and GWSR volunteers who worked over the weekend, vendors and stall holders, and to the railway Management for backing the Gala.
Problem is how do we go better next year?? 😬 Ah, that's a question for later!
Right now, its back to the business end of normal services and, as was mentioned earlier, due to the unprecedented sun/heat, the railway has stood the steam engines down due to the fire risks. As we are based predominantly in farmland and around the Cotswold way, any fire could cause a huge amount of damage to property and the railways' reputation. With that in mind, it has fallen to the Diesel fleet to keep services rolling.
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| D6948 and D7018 bring a touch of 1960s South Wales to Toddington on 22/07/26. D6948 had been pressed into service with the ongoing steam ban. Both locomotives were allocated to Cardiff Canton (86A) in the mid to late 1960s. |
The GWSR Board are assessing the fire risk constantly and so news of locomotives rostered can be changed at late notice, however the current ban runs until Thursday 13 August and the current roster is listed at the bottom.
On the loco side, all of our home fleet are fit for traffic and available. Some are carrying little niggles but nothing that would stop operation. 45149 is still running with no lights but the fix, and installation of new wiring, is close to being completed. D6948 has returned successfully from having B1 cylinder removed and new rings added. Initial operation had shown that the repairs have worked however a new oil sample will be taken for analysis now that the Gala is over. There are still a few little things to revisit and rectify but nothing that is a show stopper.
One big plus is that 20228 worked the whole of the Gala providing vacuum whilst working in multiple with sister, 20137. This test has shown that the exhauster and new pipework fitted to the loco has worked and been utilised in anger on several occasions without issue. With this in mind, 20228 has been rostered for its first solo run on a service train at the end of August.
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| Having worked in multiple with its sister 20137 and having this test run with 26043, 20228 will be making its solo debut on 27/08/26. |
The Class 122 'bubble car' W55003 is also seeing a lot more action than it would normally get at this time of year. Having been used on shuttles during the Gala, it has also been in use on shuttles whilst steam continues to sit on the sidelines. Since returning at the beginning of the year it has proved to be very reliable and it is proving popular with visitors. It is even still wearing the 'Bubble Shuttle' destination door stickers created during the Gala!
Elsewhere on the horizon, the Growler Group will be celebrating their 40th Anniversary with a running day utilising both 37215 and D6948 on Friday, 21 August.
Tickets are only available from the Growler Group shop here - https://growlergroupshop.square.site/s/shop with a small number available on the day at Toddington. As it is not a GWSR event, GWSR tickets, work permits and passes are not accepted.
Tickets are priced at £30 for adults (non - GG Members), £25 for Adults (GG Members - membership number will need to be provided), £20 for children (5 - 15 years of age). Under 5's go for free.
We also have a Double Up Sunday on 16th August with our resident 'Baby Sulzers', 24081 and 26043 being paired up for three round trips on the PINK timetable.
Rosters
With the ongoing high fire risk caused by the ongoing heat and lack of rainfall, our steam engines are tucked up in the shed so the diesels are keeping things going. As mentioned above, the rosters can change at a moments notice so keep your eyes on the GWSR website or on Social Media platforms for the latest roster news. As it stands, this is the current roster for the remainder of August. The timetables are listed as LIME GREEN however timings will still be as per the original timetables on the GWSR website/leaflets. This is given in bold over the TT colour. A '+' denotes the timetable has Toddington - Winchcombe shuttles operating.
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Date |
TT |
Loco(s) |
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Tues 11 Aug |
PINK |
26043 (T1), 24081 (T2) |
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Weds 12 Aug |
GREEN |
45149 (T1), 47376 (T2) |
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Thurs 13 Aug |
GREEN+ |
45149 (T1), 47376 (T2), W55003 (Shuttles) |
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Sat 15 Aug |
+ |
24081, W55003 |
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Sun 16 Aug |
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24081, 26043 (Paired) |
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Tues 18 Aug |
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47xxx |
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Weds 19 Aug |
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D6948 |
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Thurs 20 Aug |
+ |
D6948, W55003 |
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Fri 21 Aug |
GG |
37215, D6948 (Paired) |
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Sat 22 Aug |
+ |
45149, 20137 (Shuttles) |
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Sun 23 Aug |
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47105, 47376 (Brake Van) |
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Tues 25 Aug |
|
37xxx |
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Weds 26 Aug |
|
37xxx |
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Thurs 27 Aug |
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20228 |
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Sat 29 Aug |
+ |
26043, 20xxx (Shuttles) |
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Sun 30 Aug |
|
37xxx |
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Mon 31 Aug |
|
45149 |
