GWSR Cotswold Festival of Steam - 25 - 27 May 2019.

Shame, that was the only time I could have enjoyed the weekend without feeling guilty about revision!

 

Looks like were both in the same position

 

Great news about the traction engines as well. This event really is a festival.

 

Booking for the gala Footplate rides now up on
https://www.gwsr.com/enthusiasts/major_events/Footplate_Rides.html
For the first time the trip will be the full run from broadway to Cheltenham (or vice versus) a trip of 14.5 miles. cost £110 which includes the entry fee to the event.

 

Booing for the gala? Seems a bit unfair. Sounds like a good deal to me

 

Sorted!!

 

Our 3 day rover tickets have just landed on the front door mat, look forward to the efforts of the back room boys working on the timetable for the event.

 

Many thanks for your support! As you say, behind the scenes much work is continuing, loco roster and crew rosters being finalised (11 sets of crew each day) and also signaler and operations notes being drawn up. We always publish our timetable in advance which includes the loco allocations- all of course which we hope will stay correct!
6023 arrives next week although there is no intention to use her before the gala, it arriving early to help didcot with logistics of engines coming and going.

 

Royalty touchdown
6023 arrived yesterday afternoon and was safely unloaded at toddington. It’s not intended to use the loco until the Gala. Both 1264 and 419 are not due to arrive until at least Tuesday 21st, meaning a busy few days for the dept prior to the event. The list of attending traction engines is being finalised but it’s going to be the best show yet from that front. The public timetable (including loco allocations) should be available on line sometime over the weekend whilst finally, there are just a handful of footplate rides left for sale. £110 (includes entrance ticket) for the full 15 miles one way.
See gwsr.com for more details

 

Timetable and loco allocations now up at https://www.gwsr.com/Timetable.html

Still not sure which way 419 and 1264 will face. 6023 faces north as last year.
I await the questions !!

 

Can we have the connecting bus times please?

 

I’ve asked the bus company again for the times. I’ll keep chasing.
FYI, anybody thinking of buying advance tickets and going to park at broadway, I quietly suggest you buy your tickets on the day as The railway are only able to do the broadway car park refunds on tickets bought On the day. ... otherwise you’ll pay full price parking.
There is of course free parking at both toddington and Cheltenham race course.

 

Which way round are the other locos? Thanks

 

35006, 2807 and 7820 face Cheltenham,
4270, 6023 and 7903 face broadway.
The remaining two engines (419 and 1264 will each face a different direction so it’ll even out.
Also, I’ve heard back from the bus company and we have the timetable. Unfortunately our website man is in London until tomorrow and so he’s promised to upload it tomorrow afternoon.

 

Many thanks. We will visit on 25th and travel to the Gala by train for the first time assuming bus connections ok. 0640 off Salisbury

 

Saturday, 25th May would be a good day to visit.

As an added bonus to the gala Clun Castle passes through Cheltenham station at 10:38 en route to Chepstow and the Welsh Marches. <BJ>

 

Stagecoach D & E services

https://bustimes.org/services/d-hatherley-up-hatherley-lansdown-cheltenham-bisho?date=2019-05-25
https://bustimes.org/services/e-hatherley-up-hatherley-lansdown-cheltenham-bisho?date=2019-05-25

Basically every 20 minutes (if on time).

 

Between the 2 services (which do the same route) in effect it's every 10 minutes while both are running, but both are separate from the special bus service run for the gala.

 

Hmmm - would be difficult to tear myself away from the (very) interesting activity on the G&WR for the quick burst of Clun Castle! Would be a lot better if the G&WR ran into the main Cheltenham station (dream on, one day?).