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

But as ASLEF and the RMT have both had "improved" offers from the TOC/RDG/DfT (choose the one you thing is actually driving it) in the past couple of weeks most do not see any further progress anytime soon I am afraid.

 

A question about the timetable please. The 1B36 13.23 departure from Cheltenham Racecourse shows only departure times in bold from all the intermediate stations but no arrival times. Does this mean that this train stops and passengers can alight or are these just passing times and the train is in effect non-stop?

 

That's the non-stop express service, straight through from Cheltenham to Broadway, hopefully greens all the way!

 

Hospital doesn't want me just yet, so yippee - we are on our way. Tickets and hotel booked today, although our usual domicile in Tewkesbury is booked up, so it's Cheltenham this time. Brave move the timetable that early, perused it having just arrived back from a trip to Australia, some interesting combinations, especially the 4079+7903 duo. All the visitors interesting, but looking forward again to the 'serious' bit of kit that 35006 is. My wife's favorite - 7820 - neat compact, good looking and lives up to its name, plenty of noise - more din!

 

Guest Number 3 has turned up tonight! Thanks to the GCR and the LSLG. 78019 will be staying around for a while after the gala but do catch it alongside 75014 at the gala before 14 departs the week following the event.
In the meantime we have next Tuesday (9th) to look forward to, the 59th anniversary of the Zulu48 9th May 1964 run. 4079 should be in on Thursday and all the headboards have been sourced. The make over of 7903 into 6999 capel dewi hall is well under way and it may even run at the gala as 6999 (removing gwr cab sides and nameplates plus smokebox isn’t a quick job!).
4079 will be on train 2 on the maroon stock and after it’s last trip back from broadway at approx 15.50 the plan is to sit the loco in platform 2 at toddington for an hour or so for people to get up close and visit the footplate

 

Really was looking so forward to the event. As a result of the engineering works and the rail strikes (before anyone starts I do fully support the strikes anyway), means it is totally impossible for me to make a visit that gala weekend. I am REALLY hoping it is a massive success for all those involved.

 

Bed time reading prior to the event - the timetable of course!
Noticed on Sunday the first two northbound trains, 2B04 and 7G21 (78019 attach Todd) have no locomotives , guess they got lost in paste and patch?

Anyone know if the Curries at Gotherington are on as usual?

Similarly which car park is in use at Cheltenham, in front of the station building or down behind the signal box, nothing on website to suggest which one?

Thanks Harold.

 

One more question - do we know which way the locos are going to be facing?

 

Yes sorry, that was my fault! I spotted it on the printer's proof so printed timetables should have the locos on. In any case, they are the same as Friday.

Will get back to you on curry, I think so. Definitely food of some description.

Cheltenham car parking is on the station building/platform 1 side.

 

This is noted on the timetable at the bottom

 

I can't be doing with manors, personally.

 

LOL!!

 

Really?

 

TBF mate having shared a pint with you behind a Class 55 I’m well aware of your other interests

 

4079 has been coupled together today and is being readied service next Tuesday 9th May ! A quick try of the headboard kindly loaned from tyseley to see if the new smokebox door bracket was good to go. It then stars from next Friday along with the other 7 locomotives.

 

What are you still waiting for? Just the U boat?

 

Yes, everything else is now on site, castle and std 2 having warming fires for steam tests today. U boat should be eith us early next week

 

Is there anything on the website or available thats telling us what's going on / food available at each station?

 

It's all listed on the website here: https://www.gwsr.com/galas/steam-gala (scroll to the bottom of the page)