GWSR Cotswold festival of steam 26-28 May 2018

It will be my first time visiting the Railway. Does anyone have any tips and hints for things to see, and places to go, for both pictures along the line as well as in and around the Railway?

 

Some of the following depend on if you have a car or not,

Arriving at Toddington from the Broadway direction near the roadbridge:



From the roadbridge at Toddington:



Just outside of Toddington there is a field with a footpath through it which is often good for departures for Cheltenham, it can be walked from either Toddington or the new Hayes Abbey halt, if driving it is just off the B4632:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/search/toddington/@51.9783402,-1.9306092,339m/data=!3m1!1e3?dcr=0



At the Halt itself looking towards Toddington:



This next shot taken on the road bridge at Winchcombe (Toddington facing engines):



This next shot is taken the other side of Greet tunnel (Toddington facing engines), definitely a driving location, see map:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/search/toddington/@51.9724863,-1.9769317,288m/data=!3m1!1e3?dcr=0



Just outside of Gotherington is a bridge shot off Gretton Road, seems a short walk from Gotherington:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/search/toddington/@51.9690113,-2.0282603,238m/data=!3m1!1e3?dcr=0

46521 heading away from Gotherington:



7903 nearing Gotherington for Cheltenham:



Gotherington allows some shots of arrivals and departures, 46521 with a goods in 2016 departing for Toddington:



And an arrival from Toddington with 7812:



The below shot is ONLY possible if Gotherington is open to the public on the main station building side, otherwise this is private land, 4270 departing for Cheltenham:



The final road bridge outside of Cheltenham Race Course allows arrivals and departures:





And a final shot of a Cheltenham departure:



I haven't explored the other side of Toddington but there is the viaduct shot and no doubt many new locations on the new stretch to Broadway. There are also of course the usual departure shots from Toddington, the sheds and Winchcombe arrivals.

Hope this is of use to you and anyone else wanting to film or snap.

Cheers,

 

Yea this is great, I'm more of a snapper really, and I'm planning on doing the riding on the Saturday, and then driving / walking on the Sunday to get best of both worlds!

 

Confirmed by railway magazine that the next 2 visiting locomotives will be crewe built steam locomotives

 

Great pictures. Thanks so much.

 

Probably only one built at Crewe now.. hopefully will release news in the next week

 

S160 announced as 2nd guest, second time lucky hopefully! See http://gwsrsteamloco.blogspot.co.uk/2018/04/the-second-gala-visitor.html

 

You beat me too it!! Number three hopefully announced next week and... possibly a cheeky 4th

 

Ooh, fourth!? Exciting!

 

Oh dear - I was afraid of that!

Sorry, not a fan - compared to the works of Churchward, Collett, Bulleid etc... it's not easy on the eye!

Oh well there will be enough other locos to keep me happy so not complaining.

 

I do know what you mean, but as you say, there should be something for everyone this year, looking forward to the king on that last run on Saturday!

 

Fantastic and helpful post. Thxs for posting

 

A King and a S160, two very good visitors for me.

I wish I could get the BH Monday off work.

 

Regardless on our personal opinions of a King in Blue or an S160 (for the record I am big fans of both), at least we can all rely on the fact that one thing this year's CFoS won't be is quiet! Bring on the noise!

 

It’s been a long time in the waiting, but I’m really happy to announce that (subject to contract) the third guest joining 6023 king Edward 2 and s160 5197 is .. Britannia 70013 Oliver Cromwell, courtesy of the national railway museum and the 5305 Locomotive association. Were only 6 weeks away and it’s one not too miss!

 

I called it

Now what about that fourth visitor haha

 

Winchcombe is quite nice and there is Sudeley Castle there, but the station itself is in the village of Greet and quite far to walk. At Gotherington there isn't much near the station appart from a garden centre. There is a pub and Garden centre near to Toddington station. Broadway is nicest and you can walk from the station into the village centre which is full of tourist shops. The is a viaduct just north of Toddington so that might be good for some pictures. Also the road bridge at Winchcombe has quite a nice view of the station for photos or towards the tunnel on the other side of the bridge.