GWSR Cotswold Festival of Steam 'Cheltenham & Gloucester Steam Days' 12-14 May

It does get a run on the 7 coach maroon set at some point, although it spends most of its time on one of the shorter sets which is more appropriate for the length of trains they hauled to Cheltenham, and a couple of runs with the goods set too.

As you can infer, the timetable should be out very soon!

 

As my usual GWSR volunteer friend I attend with isn’t around for this gala, checked the footplate rides and as there were still some available on the Sunday treated myself. I had a quick look at social media, but am I right in thinking Dinmore Manor is facing Cheltenham? In terms of photography and the vagaries of British weather, wanted to avoid riding tender first so bought my ticket for Broadway - Cheltenham on that assumption.

The GWSR always put on a good event, very much looking forward to this and seeing the developments at Broadway!

 

Dinmore Manor on Thursday, by a yard lamp the canopy gang provided.
(So facing south)

 

Many thanks!

 

Good news about 31806 joining the lineup. I'm very familiar with it from its Mid Hants days and I've seen it in action at Swanage a few times too, but its always good to see a loco in a new location. Looking forward to this gala - may persuade my other half to come too. She always likes a go on the pump trolley at Gotherington!!

 

Will there be a dedicated bus link from Cheltenham main line station?

 

Definitely on the Friday. There were planned to be engineering works over the weekend which is annoying, but with Nuneham viaduct falling to bits there were whispers that might get postponed. We may have an alternative link for Saturday/Sunday, but it's still a bit up in the air at the moment. Sorry I can't be more precise right now, I'll update here the moment we know. But Friday is definite.

 

Full timetable with loco and set allocations now up: www.gwsr.com/galas/steam-gala

 

Thanks Pete, we like to provide as much info as we can as soon as we can where possible!

 

That castle hall combo will look tasty!

 

It is very possible I’m missing something whilst tired after a full day out on hol, so apologies if I need to put on a dunce hat, but the footplate tickets are advertising Sunday 14th, 7820 Dinmore Manor 1625 ex Broadway - but the timetable is showing 75014 on this? The other locos/times for the day all seem to line up.

 

Aslef announced a strike for 12th May which in turn will affect mine and no doubt other people's attendance to this gala. Is the U out on any other day outside of the gala?

 

If you can get to Evesham station on Saturday/Sunday, we are running a bus link from Evesham to Broadway and back again https://assets.website-files.com/61eaa3470cc7de3ef77364b3/644a4a51224d9822c514e184_Saturday & Sunday Bus Timetable .pdf

@gricerdon who was also asking about bus times earlier

 

GWSR do have a roster page...

https://www.gwsr.com/facilities/locomotive-roster

 

Quick change to the loco roster, 7903 is now running this Saturday (29th) instead of 75014. The standard now only has the 3 days of the gala, 12-14th May to go before she returns south.

 

RMT strike also on Sat 13th May. Certainly will affect some now.

 

Ben Jenden, you do know they said this the last time and they ended up cancelling it?
Possibly [more over, hopefully], it will come to nothing again.

 

The Evesham-Broadway bus link is a great idea! Under normal circumstance I'd definitely use it, far quicker and easier changing at Oxford than the misery of Birmingham New St.

Sadly, with the strikes and the fact that, even when not striking, our usually 1 train per hour to Oxford is now only 1 train every 2 hours (as CrossCountry have decided to halve the service due to the viaduct closure), I'm probably going to have to sit this one out unless the strikes get cancelled.

Hoping you're able to offer something similar for future events.

Only bit of feedback is that the connections on the return look a little on the tight side, with the bus arriving at xx30 and the trains to Oxford departing at xx33 or xx35, and requiring a walk up the station access road and crossing to the far platform.
Also the bus departures from Broadway at xx00 seem to just miss the train arrivals at 1605, 1705 and 1814.
Something to consider perhaps when you've got a bit more notice in future.