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

Is there any update on 419 please - what are the intentions for its use on Sunday or Monday?

 

Excellent first day, good to see the Caley tank shuffling a few wagons around Winchcombe. A few photos from a pretty sunny warm day:

 

It managed half a round trip before the big end started running hot again, so on light freight shunting duties at Winchombe only for the remainder of the weekend unfortunately. Good opportunity for photos, I ended up taking quite a few today!

 

What was the parking like at Toddington usually you can park in the field but the website mentioned limited parking

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Limited in the sense that normally we have 2 fields, this year just the first one closest to P2, so it's forseable that it could fend up being full. It was filling up quite quickly this morning but I was gone by 8:30 so didn't see how full it got. Didn't hear any complaints from passengers though.

 

Many thanks

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Many thanks - pretty disappointing for all involved, but that's preservation!

 

Indeed, especially as everyone had worked so hard to resolve the problem yesterday. At least it'll still be in steam and chuffing up and down for folk to enjoy for the rest of the weekend, even if not pulling passengers.

 

And I was fortunate enough to be on that train.

 

Good to see so many people travelling yesterday. Let's hope that the gala is a financial success and we can do it all over again.

One of the highlights of the gala for me was the King and Hall combo. Another was the B1. Don't you just love that wonderful whistle?

A very enjoyable gala throughout. Well done to all involved. <BJ>

 

Quite a few people were denied access at Toddington as they arrived before 8.30 and especially as I arrived at 7.30 with a prepaid ticket. Why? What harm does it do letting people in to view the locos in the shed yard and coming off the shed?

Most went behind the signal box and those without a ticket said they would just stay there and not bother buying a ticket. Possibly needs a rethink on opening times.

 

My review of the gala. The loco selection is brilliant, but since the first time I been to film on the railway near to the lineside I am very disappointed on the locations spots and also which way the locos are facing.

 

Well whichever way they face 50% of the time they'll all be running backwards!

 

Oh cripes flying scotsman123! I'm in your first shot and it is not flattering!

I just want to echo what others have said. A wonderful day out yesterday and I would like to thank and congratulate everyone involved!

 

With the first train of the day departing at 09:10 I wouldn't have thought it unreasonable for people to arrive at 08:00. If the ticket office doesn't open until 08:30 that only leaves 40 minutes to sell tickets and issue wrist bands for a train-load of people, which to my mind is cutting things a bit tight. And people do like to have a look round before getting on the train.

(I wasn't one of those denied access, I didn't arrive until 09:30 thanks to my sat-nav sending me on a far too "creative" and roundabout route, once I realised what it's game was I stopped in a side road and persuaded it to give me a more sensible direct route.)

 

I've only seen myself in someone else's photo, and that was a back view at London Victoria.
I'd agree that Saturday was a great day, and would like to echo the thanks to all those who worked so hard to organise the gala. I'll be back on Monday.

 

419 hasn't been the most reliable of machines everywhere its been it seems?

 

Yes I guess it would be fair to say its trip south of the border has not gone as well as may have been expected.

 

It has done very well to complete its grand tour of England. Its first port of call was the CVR on 23rd February where it got detached and left behind near Ipstones due to warm main bearings. But each time it has had problems it has been able reappear the following day.