GWSR Cotswold festival of steam 26-28 May 2018

The S160s did actually work on what is the Glouc Warwicks line during WW2. I have a book about the line and there is a picture of one on it at the Stratford end.

My father remembers lines of them parked at Hellifield when they had just arrived and were being stored there. He said as young lads they would climb up in the cabs and there was a tin in each one with tools and detonators and the young lads would steal the detonators and then make them go bang chunking rocks onto them. No internet or youtube then !

 

Which book are you referring to please?

 

As a youngster, with the North Warwickshire line at the bottom of my garden, I was always curious about the non GWR locos that I saw hauling freight. There were those with USA on the tenders and the grim looking, compared to sleek GWR profiled, Austerity 2-8-0's 90XXX class. There were also one or two other foreigners such as the Swindon built LMS items.
I suspect that during WW2 many busy lines found locomotives, from other companies, hauling ambulance trains, coal trains and all manner of essential military supplies. Sadly my notes, taken at the time, were 'lost' during my move to a new home in the South West in 1954.

 

Coach Trip to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Steam Gala

On Saturday 26th May the Altrincham Electric Railway Preservation Society (AERPS) is running a coach trip from Stockport to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway’s Steam Gala ‘Return to Broadway’. As you may have read, eight locos should be in steam and operating on the line that day including King class 6023 King Edward II, the first time that a King class has operated on the line in preservation. Each passenger will receive a day rover ticket giving unlimited travel on the railway including the new extension to Broadway, opened on 30th March. The line is now 14 miles long. The Selwyns coach will start from Stockport (on the road called Shaw Heath on the Edgeley side of the station) at 07.40 and pick up at Sale (outside Marks and Spencers) at 07.55, Altrincham (the lay-by opposite Rackhams) at 08.05 and Knutsford (on Northwich Road opposite the former Conservative Club) at 08.20. The coach will drop passengers at Cheltenham Racecourse station and then pick-up from there at 18.00. The all-inclusive fare is £45 (£43 for AERPS members). The booking form can be found here: http://altrinchamelectric.org.uk/excursions/index.html. Readers of National Preservation are welcome.

 

Just a heads up from today, Bank Holiday Saturday: 6023 was failed at Bridgnorth with leaking tubes, after its first northbound run today.

46118

 

Uh oh, leaky tubes doesn't sound too good...

 

Better to get a leak now, than on the 25th !

 

No it doesn't does it. I hope they can repair it before the gala, the King and Broadway are my main reasons for coming to the gala.
(I'll come anyway, the previous two galas I've been to were excellent.)

 

Ah yes, the S160. Nice that they've not got the same one that the WSR had for their gala.

 

The S160 going to the GWSR Cotswold festival of steam gala is 5197 which is currently at the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway and 6046 is the one currently at the West Somerset Railway which both 5197 and 6046 are owned by Greg Wilson.

 

It's apparently a difficult tube to plug/replace due to location. Wonder if the owners/hirers will decide that all the tubes need to be replaced before it goes to Paignton for the summer.

 

Depends how long Paignton can wait. The king is planned to be running more than just the gala ...

 

Excuse me for asking, but are any others running for more than just the gala? If so, which ones are likely. Also, any news on what is happening with 70013 after the event?

 

At 8 1/2 years since being fitted the jury must be out on that one........

 

GWSR have posted on Facebook that there will be no goods train this year.

 

Indeed.

 

Can't understand that one at all. Trains can pass at Cheltenham, Gotherington, Winchcombe and Toddington. If they can't run it all day, maybe just have one run near the start/end of the day. Seems silly to just abandon it altogether.

 

Have they given a reason?

What with the pannier hauling a DMU around, its all looking less and less attractive.