GWSR Cotswold Festival of Steam | 24th-26th of May 2025

34092 'City of Wells' from ELR confirmed as first visitor.

 

34092 making a return visit, I believe last time was in 2015 before 35006 was operational.

So far the lineup:

Visiting:

SECR O1 No. 65 - From the Bluebell Railway
Light Pacific No. 34072 '257 Squadron' - From the Swanage Railway
BR Class 4MT No. 75069 - From the SVR

Resident (yet to be confirmed but no doubt the majority or all of the following):

Merchant Navy No. 35006 'Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company'
GWR Grange No. 6880 'Betton Grange'
BR (WR) Modified Hall No. 7903 'Foremarke Hall'
GWR 2800 No. 2807
GWR 2884 No. 3850

Gala page:

https://www.gwsr.com/events/cotswold-festival-of-steam-2025

 

One would assume Betton Grange will be running?

 

Yes, 6880 is in the lineup, the visits to the Llangollen and others this year have been worked around the Gwsr events.

 

75069 from SVR announced as guest two

 

Good news from gala team. <BJ>

Steam Gala Announcement:

''We are delighted to announce our second guest locomotive for the Cotswold Festival of Steam gala.

With thanks to the Severn Valley Railway, BR Standard 4 No. 75069 will make its first trip to the Cotswolds and joins the lineup alongside West Country Class No. 34092 City of Wells, and our home fleet of locomotives.

Further announcements to come!''

 

Twitch, twitch - feel an S&D theme coming on !

 

Stockton & Darlington? That’s very appropriate fir Rail 200.

 

Don't think any of the event and line loco's were seen that far north regularly, whatever you want.

 

Throw a couple of hydraulics in and you've got Exeter 1963, if that's what you want !

 

Is this an official theme? If so, I can't see it on the GWSR website. I'd suggest that "Salisbury comes to the Cotswolds" would also fit quite nicely. 35006 and 34092 were shedded there and 75069, which was shedded at Nine Elms, Bournemouth and Eastleigh during its working life, would almost certainly have paid a visit. Granges and Halls would often take over the through Portsmouth-Britsol-Cardiff trains from SR motive power at Salisbury and 28xxs would have worked through from Westbury and beyond with goods trains.

 

Indeed 35006 wasn't quite ready when Wells visited last..
Bulleid Beauties by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

 

Looking forward to coming across from Kent just for 35006, 34092 and 75069.

My first run behind 75069 was only a few years ago on the 12.55 Brighton-Victoria, from Oxted to East Croydon. 20 August 1961, then in 1964 and again in August 2022 at the Spa Valley Railway. Have to fit in a another run during the festival.

Bryan

 

The official theme (funnily enough) is "Rail 200."
Then again, a joint Southern/Western feel isn't a bad idea, give 35006 a few more double headers.

You sir... are one lucky man!
I wanted to see 75069 at Spa Valley.
I've only ever rode behind it at Severn Valley and Great Central, I was so close on West Somerset.

 

Very excited to say SECR O1 No. 65 is our third guest, courtesy of Bluebell Railway!



Should be another cracking event, hope to see you there, and if you are coming, please do buy your ticket now if you can, it really helps. www.gwsr.com/galas/steam-gala

 

That's a big surprise - certainly something different. I have seen and travelled behind this loco many times but never away from the Bluebell. Altogether it is a superb line-up this year!

 

I saw this engine in 2000. It was in steam, but I didn't see it moving.

 

Hotel and tickets booked. looking forward to the event as usual, 31065 looks interesting, would be great with a coat of black paint (LOL) !!