GWSR Autumn Showcase Gala 25/26 October 2025

Details on website including timetables with loco allocations. Mix steam and diesel event, last outing for 35006 before they pull it apart.
https://www.gwsr.com/events/autumn-showcase-2025
Anyone help for which way the kettles are facing thanks?

 

Timetable says that, or is there some doubt?

 

Didn't look far enough down the timetable, found it thank you. Beginning to wonder if there was a turntable suddenly appeared !

 

Anyone know if there will be a Cheltenham Spa to GWSR Cheltenham Racecourse shuttle bus again?

 

Can't answer your question, but be aware there is horse racing on Friday and Saturday so may mean getting to Cheltenham a little trickier than usual.

 

Just planning our weekend, looking forward to this one. One quick question regarding the Sunday top and tailed 12.05 off Cheltenham, which then forms the 1.40 non stop off Broadway. Timetable has pilot/trailing - will it be 7903 leading to Broadway tender first and then 6880 leads to Cheltenham tender first, or will the chimney first loco be on the front. Thanks in advance

 

I stand to be corrected, but having just looked at the timetable, it looks as if both workings will be double headed with 6880 & 7903 coupled tender-to-tender - the allocated 'pilot' loco therefore should be on the front i.e. 6880 leading the 12:05 from Cheltenham, then 7903 leading the 1:40 non-stop from Broadway. I hope this helps.

 

The loco direction info on the timetable indicates 6880 is to face north, with everything else facing south.

 

Hopefully that’s the case - many thanks!

 

Just a heads up, for various operational reasons all of which are far too mundane to go into there have been some slight changes to the loco diagrams on the timetables. Train times have not changed. New timetables below, apologies for the slightly short notice, the usual case of volunteers also having full time jobs!

 

Working in the Pway yard yesterday, but did get this gala snapshot in.

The driver of the freight train is calling the signalman to be let out first.

The class 20s had to wait...

 

Quite right, freight takes priority!

Well we're all done now, a very enjoyable event with an interesting and complicated timetable that actually held to time more or less! Seems a healthy profit too with numbers up on last year, so we can do it all again next year.

 

We had a superb weekend, many thanks to all involved! We spent Saturday watching and Sunday travelling, started Saturday with lunch at Broadway before lineside around Hayles Abbey, Winchcombe and later on Gotherington. Sunday parked at Toddington and took an early morning trip to Gotherington and back before a narrow guage ride, then headed to Winchcombe for a couple of hours over lunchtime before a trip back to Toddington via Broadway, hanging around a while as darkness fell. Some impressive performances over the weekend, 'P&O' through Hayles Abbey on Saturday and the Hall & Grange non-stop double header through Winchcombe on the Sunday in particular. My video, edited in time of day from across the weekend, photos to follow.

 

My video coverage of the GWSR's Autumn Showcase, filmed across both days. A very enjoyable event with lots of variety on show - the personal highlight was the double-headed run with 7903 & 35006 in the fading light yesterday evening, audio not quite up to the mark (I was having to use my backup camera, apologies) but I hope you are able to enjoy the visual aspect nevertheless!

 

An excellent gala. I went on Saturday and only suffered one downpour of rain. Lots of sunshine and plenty of action.
Here’s a link to my photos - https://evergreen.zenfolio.com/p446420794#h4548b2e7

 

My photos from a brilliant weekend... https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/albums/72177720326483477/

 

Another excellent event, rover for two days grabbing photo's at each end and stations in-between whilst my wife ensconced herself in the first class coach 'Mary' being fed bacon muffins, toasted teacakes and volumes of tea! Thanks to all for the organisation.
Selection from Saturday:

 

Selection from Sunday: