GWSR Cotswold festival of steam 26-28 May 2018

If you follow the link it says there isn't room for the freight train. If you look in the comments section on that post you will see a comment from Ben, one of the gala organisers.

I don't see why the DMU and pannier would put you off, given the other option would be just to not have it. It's not like we can magic another set of coaches out of thin air, so it's that or nothing, and it means we finally get a pannier to visit the line again, which we wouldn't otherwise have got.

 

Perhaps they could take a lesson from the GCR.

 

The Gwsr in 2018 has seen an incredible start to the season, some of which has taken some departments by surprise. This has caused an increase in workload for many people. As we are entirely volunteer run, it was with this in mind that Worries were voiced about being too ambitious and could cause additional volunteer fatigue. Any event organiser will know that the couple of weeks after a large event can be very hard to staff. We have worked very hard over the last week to revise the timetable and we feel we’ve achieved a good compromise.

The greatest reason for deciding to keep the dmu was to have the most seats available to our passengers. It A real shame as the freight is a lovely thing to see out and about but can only carry a small number of passengers.

As it was, the dmu and freight were originally diagrammed two trips each. Even so, with the revised timetable, trains still start at 9am and run through till 6pm (we’ve also still kept the late train on Saturday, but this is now 18.30 dep for 20.25 return. The timetable will be made public later this week. (With loco allocations)

Do people think it’s still better to run the freight and not the dmu?

I should say that’s During any gaps between trains we intend to make the guests available for viewing and hopefully some shunting at winchcombe, whilst Driver for a tenner will happen at Cheltenham during the morning of each day (loco availability permitting).

 

With the large numbers of people expected to attend it is much better to run the DMU hauled by the pannier than the freight.
I`m sure the railway would only be too pleased if the photographers wanted to charter a freight train on another date.

 

There are times when you interpret negativity were it doesn't exist. As a member of the GWSR before a single length of track was laid and who first bought shares in 1981, in other years and in particular for the push to Broadway I have an overwhelming admiration for what has been achieved by a volunteer run railway. My comment was in effect to consider a GCR like 'Goods Galore event' subject to the constraints of available stock, of course at a future date.

 

I just have to ask, what is happening to 70013 after the gala? Is it returning straight to GCR, or is it down to run for more than the event? Also, I am aware that 6023 is running after the gala, but what is happening with 5197 and 6430, are either of them running after the event or are they leaving right after? I saw that 5197 is attending an event at the EOR on 8-10th June but I don't know about 6430. Does anyone know any answers to my questions, if anyone does, I would appreciate a response..

 

I do like that idea on the face of it, and conceivably with a bit of effort we could muster up 3 short-ish freight trains; a GWR liveried one, a BR liveried one and a P'way/departmental one, but I think you really do need double track for an event focusing on freight as otherwise you just won't be able to move passengers around.

I'd certainly like to see the freight stock used more and displayed better when it's not in use, but from a C+W point of view it was both a disappointment and a relief that the freight wouldn't be running, we like to see the freight go past just as much as anyone else, but with the FTR exams becoming more and more onerous it was going to be a real stretch to get the freight train fit anyway.

Hopefully we'll be better prepared next year, we're still getting used to our department being the new limiting factor! (just take a look at our blog for how snowed under we've been in the workshop, let alone the small maintenance gang with less time do do more work on more coaches). Signalling wise we should be able to have 2 trains at Broadway next year, and maybe an extra brake coach to possibly marshal 4 "normal" coaching sets, and we might be able to get back to a more conventional gala.

 

I will confirm that both 6430 and 5197 will not be operating after the gala. The king will be resident until after the 10th June. Regards 70013 It will be staying until after 3rd June. We are aware not everybody can get to the gala but we also obviously want to maximise income as events like this cost many many thousands to stage. All I’ll say is Ollie will be used on a number of extra days. At the moment 35006 is also slated to do a good stint of running (it’s running this week)

 

Is it certain that the King will be ready?

 

Timetable for the gala is available at https://www.gwsr.com/Timetable.html

Any idea on which direction the locos will be facing?

 

At the moment the plan is for 6023 to face broadway, the hall is to be turned to also face broadway, whilst 70013, 5197 and 6430 all expected to face Cheltenham. So that should be 4 wachcway. Apologise for the s160 and mn double header, but cutting the extra train made it somewhat more difficult to give the engines enough runs. We still might think about 5197 facing north Though, as at least coming back after that double header it would have equivalent load 12 chimney first.

Looking at the timetable you will obviously see that a train gad to go down early to Cheltenham. In the past this had always been open to passengers but due to the station staff workload (all volunteers and generally all retired folk) we’ve been asked to make it an ecs.

News expected on 6023 over the weekend. The Gws guys are working hard. Fingers crossed.

 

The S160 isnt shown on the timetable whereas 5197 and 6430 are despite the email above stating they would not be working. Is this the correct timetable?

 

Que? Sure you're not getting confused? 5197 is the S160 and all locos will be working over the gala, you may be getting confused with the earlier questions regarding running dates for guests outside of the gala.

 

Quite!

 

Timetable looks good, some nice double heading between the Hall, Manor and King over the 3 days. 1625 last train to Cheltenham from Toddington seems early to me. I believe trains used to leave at 1635 10 years ago.

If Loco C is 6023 everyday, and Loco E is 35006 everyday, why not just put their running numbers?!

 

If I've read the timetable correctly, my question is what are the King and the S160 doing between their respective Broadway arrivals at 11:26 & 12:16 and departures at 15:15 & 16:05.

Edit: Immediately after posting this I spotted that they are added to the rear of the 14:48 (King) and 15:40 (S160) Toddington to Broadway. Would I be right in assuming that they would be on the rear of the 11:35 & 12:25 Broadway to Toddington?

Edit 2: Also will the 15:15 & 16:05 from Broadway have the double header (B+H) and 35006 at the rear of the respective trains to Toddington, with loco B staying on the rear to Cheltenham?

 

So which way round are 2807 and 7820?

 

Both face broadway (north) 35006 faces south (Cheltenham)

 

In answer to your questions. With the layovers both 6023 and 5197 will be available for viewing by running them into the platform at toddington for people to get up close and visit the footplate.

Yes they will be on the rear of the 11.35 &12.25 from broadway.
b&h will stay on from broadway to toddington the same goes for 35006.
I’m still trying to find out what loco b does at toddington, wether it moves round to the front or stays on the rear.