GWSR Broadway Developments

The caravan park purchased the old goods yard many years ago (Before the GWSR was formed I believe - although someone might have more accurate information) but the old goods shed remained in GWSR ownership until relatively recently. I'm not sure what use it would be to the GWSR as its surrounded by a caravan park (a very pleasant one by the look of it). Anyway, it's well looked after.

 

I think it really worked out the best for everyone, the goods shed area was a huge space and on the wrong side of a bridge from the rest of the station, it would have been awkward to get to (for volunteers and punters alike, presumably it would have been an interpretation building or something if it was part of the rest of the station, being that maintenance workshops are elsewhere on the line and that won't be changing) the pointwork and signalling would be really complicated for it all, and probably beyond the manageability of a standard station group of volunteers, presumably for the same reasons is why they didn't put the signal box back in its place, wrong side of the bridge from the rest of the station, so 'cut off' in a manner of speaking. It would just be a load of space with no real use especially for a station that isn't the main 'hub' of the railway. Yes it would have been a nice thing to have for the sake of completeness and authenticity, but i personally don't think the station is any worse off without it, being that it's a fair bit away from the rest of the station I imagine it would be difficult to secure it from vandals and the like.
I will say a few final points:
-To me it still feels like part of the station, because you can see it from the platforms and it hasn't had housing built up around it, that's an important point to the feel of the station, it couldn't have been sold to better people, caravan club are pretty good with conservation and heritage things IMO
-It's well cared for and in very good condition, and I believe it has some railway memorabilia inside, so in a way, it's fulfilling a role that it probably would anyway, as an interpretation centre.
-Selling it saved the railway, things like land slips are not something that you'd think a volunteer run railway could come back from, and gwsr was lucky that the opportunity arose to sell the goods shed and get the land slips repaired, otherwise far more important things may have had to be sold. Saying that I imagine it was a very difficult decision for the board to make and a very difficult time for all.
-having a caravan site next to the railway is a big win, having holidaymakers next door who are looking for things to do and notice a steam loco going past their caravan is a big advertisement, I imagine it will become a very popular site in years to come for its uniqueness. There seems to have been a lot of interest from 'over the fence' any time a works train has gone past, and there were crowds of people watching from the site on opening weekend.
-You never know what the future holds, the goods shed has been repaired and given a use, the area surrounding it has minimal development, just tarmaccing and ancillary buildings/services for caravan pitches, it's not in the realm of impossibility that the station could one day get it back, and it wouldn't be too hard to clear away the changes that's have been made, far easier than if it was a housing estate, then it would truly be lost forever.

 

What does the caravan park actually use the shed for? And do we rely on their goodwill to keep it intact and in use or does it enjoy any sort of listing or preservation order? (No axe to grind: just asking.)

 

N N Creswells Service R4 does run between the station and the village centre (albeit not too frequently) - and Concessionary Passes are accepted.

 

I think it's the sites reception or site admin/office building, I think that retainment of it was a condition of the sale, its clearly a focal point of the site and it may even have been an attraction to caravan club to purchase the site, not sure if it's listed but there's probably some sort of preservation order on it.

 

It has toilets, a small office in the former goods office and an open area for events. It also houses 'The Wanderer', what is thought to be the first privately constructed touring caravan, built in 1885 by Dr. William Gordon Staples. It is of all wood construction, and was pulled along by two horses. Google it for a picture.

I was told that while Dr. Staples slept inside on an epic journey from Twyford to Inverness, his coachman slept underneath. No doubt two firm thumps on the floor with the walking stick brought up breakfast in bed....

The site reception is adjacent to the road entrance. There are 115 stands but no refreshment facilities on site, so we are hopeful of a willing customer base for the Broadway station cafe.

 

or the petrol station next door, from where they may be enticed up the station drive to see what lies within, all sounds like good opportunities for business.

 

I would of course expect that someone has gone in there to the camp site with handfuls of timetables and places to visit along the line leaflets, to entice the holiday trade to take a walk down station drive and hopefully into the ticket office then takes a journey down the line its a pity you don't have a direct bus link at Racecourse into Cheltenham town centre and station as that might attract custom also

 

A chap whom I work with occasionally is into all this caravanning scene.
He tells me he's off up to Broadway this week specifically for the extension.
Thats synergy at work.

 

Campsite website mentions the railway reopening and several recent reviews also comment on the return of the steam trains - all very positive!

 

As a Caravan and Motorhome Club member Broadway is most certainly on my list of sites to visit! Burrs on the ELR is similarly adjacent to a heritage railway.

 

Can non members stay at that site? Could be a holiday in the future if so.

 

generally I think you have to be a member to even book up a slot at a camping club site best way is to look on line but I can remember being turned away from a CC Site in the lake district because it was members only and it still had some spare pitches.

 

I've a feeling it's members only.

Well, that's the weekend over, I can have a rest tomorrow... In C+W that is! A great weekend despite the weather, and the comical department seem happy with numbers. It can be deceptively quiet with passengers spread over 3 trains and 4 stations now.

 

I do not recall it being cold, Comrade. No elderly folk froze to death?

Robin Morova White

 

Yes I spotted you in your hat in a couple of photos, very fetching! Neat work on the clock by the way, by this afternoon it was even telling the right time.

 

Broadway? Wear the fox hat?

 

I gave it its pendulum back
With some good turns on the key and a little shove it was ticking away merrily. Now to see what happens after 24 hours.

(BTW if you were passing at 12 noon it was also telling the right time, twice a day )

 

I was waiting for someone to point that out! Sadly there were no 12 o'clock departures at Broadway, although there was at Toddington platform 2, who's clock also happens to be permanently stuck at 12! (Perhaps you could give it a look over for them Jo?)

 

Just looked up the C&M Handbook and Broadway is members only. Conversley Cheltenham Racecourse is open to non members but you may be affected by the racing