Toddington GW 175 Gala

How long have you got 3803 for?

Lewis

 

Anybody now which loco is deputising for the 2807 diagram today (Thursday 3rd)?

 

Its great to see this event getting really positive support on here - its been a fantastic week so far, and has been brilliant fun! I can strongly reccomend it to anyone who's still 'on the fence' about going this weekend.

I echo what Matt78 has said, about all at the GWSR (without exception) making us feel welcome throughout the week. In particular, Bryan and Savita up at Gotherington have been very welcoming to us from the Gwili - the cake and tea are free-flowing, and nothing is ever too much trouble for them. My personal favourite memory of the week so far is actually 'pre-event', when repainting Olwen at the top end of Gotherington Siding - shuttling full tins of paint from the PW Hut (at the opposite end of the site) to the loco. In an instant, Bryan had the pump trolley unlocked and ready for use - to ferry the tins (and us!) up the siding to the loco, in a marvellous bit of effort saving. Great fun!

Thanks are also due to the GWSR Loco Dept, who've been very welcoming to the visiting Gwili crews. One of our well known drivers was last seen on Monday afternoon, looking very happy on the footplate of a pannier. Wonder if he managed to fit it in his boot, to bring back to Bronwydd...?

Either way - its been a stunning event so far. I've been quite lucky so far, and haven't been on a day that it's wet (hope I'm not tempting fate for the weekend, by saying that!) - the atmosphere on site is incredible. As one other poster has said, its a combination of 'depot open day' and 'gala' - plenty to look at, plenty to try your hand at, plenty to buy....and an intensive timetable alongside as well! Going around the site on Monday afternoon with an icecream (recommended!), it struck me that everyone (volunteers and public) were all smiling - isn't this what preservation is about?

If you're on the fence for this weekend - DO IT. You certainly won't regret it!

Cheers,

Phil.

PS Andy B...where can I put myself down for that charter...?

 

We had a great day on wednesday lineside.Very hot but most enjoyable.Star turn had to be 5322.Well done to evertybody involved.
My photos are at http://www.steamgalore.co.uk/

 

I've uploaded a couple of my shots from today with the rest been available on the 'Part 3: Summer Steam 2010' DVD.

Clips available here

 

RASDV was first with the news!!
Here it is then! What was the very first photos, video and comment on the GWSR's 2010 Cotswold Festival of Steam from Saturday 29th May. Rained on and off for quite a lot of the day. Never mind! Great show put on by all locos and crews. Super stuff.
Video
Photos:
Comment
The video includes all locomotives in operation today including lineside footage!!
Please do rate and comment: you're feedback is welcomed.
Enjoy!
Anyone who didn't go. Watch and see what you missed out on!

 

Paid a visit on Saturday the 5th. Very hot and humid! To see my efforts go to....

http://rickeborallphotography.fotopic.net/

All the best....RICK

 

Just thought I'd say well done and thanks to all at the GWSR for putting on such a good show. The Cotswold Festival of Steam has now become firmly established as one of the major events of the year and this year they had really put in a huge effort for GW175. I could only make it for one day but it was well worth the trip - plenty of locos, plenty of intensive action and lots of other activities to keep one amused (the beer from Goffs brewery was good).

It's been great watching this railway grow in leaps and bounds over the years especially when you realise that they had so little infrastructure in place to start with. We look forward to the Broadway extension and of course the re-opening at the Cheltenham end.

 

I've put a video of 5542 working the auto over Stanway viaduct on the GWSR on youtube. If you have 5 minutes to spare the URL is...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1qvQsRqepk

Thanks must go to all involved at the railway, you put on a very good show.

 

Very impressive gala, marred for me by one incident, something I would pass on to people, if you are say in a tent at say Winchcombe, representing your railway proudly wearing your offical name tags and the name of the railway your manning the stand for. and you want an teenage snigger and make some childish comments about the fat girl on the other platform, don't do so when her husband is standing next to you.

Oddly the wife doesn't understand why I'm not keen on going to the Swindon & Cricklade's gala next weekend, I can only say if thats what they're like to people when there out and about drumming up support, god knowns how they treat you once you get to ther place.

 

Thanks to all the people who attended this event, we are still trying to come down from cloud 9! we have had some nice comments too - thankyou. Well, where do I start! 3803 is due to stay with us until late August setting up the chance of 28xx and 38xx in service together (the 38 is diagrammed to run this coming weekend with the 9f). On saturday 8476 (8274) was repaired after the injector problems and took out the 15.55 departure (we had to get it put out over the tannoy as so many people were asking if it would be repaired in time - i know because i was the fireman! Thanks to all the visiting loco crews - it made for a good time later in the pub over a meal.The GWSR website will be updated soon, but just to say ticket sales were in excess of 11,000 over the 9 days. Time to relax now . . . um what shall we do next year?

 

I had a fantastic day out last Tuesday despite the weather. Well done to all involved in organising a great event.

My efforts can be see here;
http://www.youtube.com/gwrgreen2#p/a/u/0/CNFN-pys4J0

http://www.flickr.com/photos/green_steam/sets/72157624232062630/

 

I believe 3803 is on the GWR till August it says somewhere here www.sdronline.org.uk

This is the reason why we need to hire in a Dukedog and a Mogul for our Gala in july what with the 13 being away as well

 

Has the G&WR got a secret turntable?
I'm told 3803 is facing south, I swear it was facing North at the gala!

 

It definitely was facing North at the Gala...

Lewis

 

Now facing south after a "little" trip around the car park on a trailer last Thursday..........

 

This is NOT the reason the SDR are hiring in either of those locomotives. 3803 as stated on sdronline.org.uk will be back by September. Locomotives are being hired in for the same reason that any other Heritage Railway would hire in for a gala!

Blondiecat

 

Yes but to run a decent event we need a fleet of at least 4 Steam locos which we got away with not having on our 50s/60s weekend as they put the diesels into the roster as well, this however wouldnt look very good for a 1940s weekend would it

It may not be the reason entirely and yes i'm sure they were probably arranged to come before 3803 left but it does however mean we can spare her otherwise she would have been required, pity though as she always looked quite good with a slightly dirty edge to her

 

http://5944.fotopic.net/c1862437.html

A few photos from 2nd June, mainly from Gotherington.

 

What is the scrap loco in this picture? http://5944.fotopic.net/p65448178.html