Steam and sweat
posted 29th February

Enjoy a day out in the Cotswolds with a short steam train ride and an energetic walk, organised by the Cotswold Wardens in association with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

On four occasions this year, you are invited to join the Cotswold Wardens at Toddington Station just 5 miles from Broadway, 3 miles from Winchcombe and 10 miles east of the M5 junction 9.

Thursday April 3rd – steam train at 10:30 to Winchcombe then a 7 mile hill walk past Sudeley Castle and Hailes Abbey. Pub lunch in Winchcombe.

Saturday April 26th – steam train at 10:30 to Winchcombe then an exploration of the town and a 6 mile hilly walk. Pub lunch in Winchcombe.

Thursday June 26th – steam train at 10:30 to Winchcombe then a 5 mile easy walk including Hailes Abbey. Snack lunch at Hayles fruit farm.

Saturday July 19th – 7 miles of walking via the top of the scarp at Beckbury camp before catching the 15:27 train back from Winchcombe. Snack lunch at Hayles fruit farm.

The train ride costs £3 per person. Please arrive no later than 10:15. Just turn up on the day!

Trains start running on GWR this Saturday!
posted 26th February

Saturday 1st March will see locomotive no. 7903 Foremarke Hall gently easing out of Toddington Station on the first of hundreds of journeys over the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway’s 10-mile line to Cheltenham Race Course during 2008.

Foremarke Hall will be in charge of the first GWR train of the 2008 season

 This is the first day of the railway’s latest season, following a two-month break for maintenance to track, locomotives and rolling stock.  The first departure is at 10.30, to the green timetable – an alternate steam and diesel service.  This timetable operates over every weekend of March, except for the Easter holiday weekend which is the all-steam red timetable.  On Sunday 2nd March there will be two steam locomotives operating – the National Railway Museum’s centenarian no. 3440 City of Truro will be in charge of the first Elegant Excursions dining train, especially for Mothering Sunday.  For full details you can visit our locomotive roster here.

And throughout March – including Easter – kids go free!  Youngsters aged 5 to 15 can save their pocket money provided each one takes with them a fare-paying adult or senior citizen.  For more details click here where you can find out about all of the special events happening on the GWR this year.

Diesels by rail and road!  Bus rally at GWR during summer diesel gala
posted 24th February

Plans are well under way for the GWR’s first bus rally for some years. It takes place on 6th July at Toddington, the last day of the summer diesel gala.  As part of the event, it is expected that there will be classic bus links between Cheltenham Spa railway station and the GWR’s Cheltenham Race Course station, as well as between Evesham station and the GWR’s Toddington station.  There will be plenty of opportunity to enjoy a bus ride between Toddington and Broadway, too, affording opportunities to see progress on the railway’s push northwards towards Broadway.

Do you own a bus?  Would you like bring it along and enjoy a day with the GWR and other bus owners?  Then complete our application form by clicking here , print it off and return it to our organiser, Jim Clarke.

New season for GWR – and kids can travel free!
posted 17th February

1st March sees the first trains of the 2008 season on the GWR. And throughout March – including Easter, which is at its earliest this year – any child aged 5 to 15 can travel free, provided they are accompanied by a fare-paying adult or senior citizen!  The railway has issued a press release which you can read by clicking here and the offer – along with lots of other information about the GWR – will be aired on BBC Radio Gloucestershire’s Richard Atkins show on Sunday morning, 17th February.

During March, the green timetable operates over first, second, third and fifth weekends, offering a choice of steam or diesel-hauled trains. The all-steam red timetable operates over the four days of the Easter holiday (21st to 24th March) while the blue timetable (steam on all trains except the last return service of the day from Toddington, which is diesel) will be valid on Wednesday and Thursday, 26th and 27th.