GWSR | Cotswold Festival of Steam Gala | 23-25 May 2026

I had a very enjoyable day today, despite the heat and timetable delays. Managed to arrive slightly earlier than planned due to snappy connection at New Street. Shuttle bus worked well when I used it, though the 1620 from Cheltenham was a bit cosy with the smaller bus. Hopefully later ones weren't too bad.
The place was busy, but I still managed to get a seat on all the trains. Queues in the cafes/buffets weren't as bad as I've seen in previous years as well, good when I needed copious amounts of tea to keep hydrated!

Finally got a ride behind the Caley tank after many years of trying, every time I've been at an event where it was advertised, it's been broken in one way or another (hopefully I didn't jinx it for later in the day).
Was certainly an ambitious timetable with lots going on, and it's understandable that it was very difficult to recover from delays once they'd started.
All the volunteers seemed to be working hard to try and keep the job going.

I do second some of the comments upthread about lack of information. Although stations had a PA system, it only seemed to be used when a train was actually approaching, rather than keeping passengers updated about timetable changes and late running. A 'It's not event left the previous station yet, you've got loads of time to go to the loo/buffet' would be helpful, or even just a 'I have no idea what's going on, I'll let you know when I do'.

A lot of people also got caught out on the Toddington-Winchcombe run with 229, when it didn't arrive in the expected platform and led to a bit of a stampede over the bridge.

Bit gutted I didn't get a chance to ride or even photograph the railcar. Timings just didn't work out in the end.

I did enjoy the separate 'Steam at Stanway' event, it gave the traction engines a bit more room to stretch their legs than in Toddington car park, and allowed a wider range of exhibits. Having said that, there didn't appear to great signage for it for passengers arriving by train. I asked one of the volunteers manning the car park what the best way to reach it was, and he thought it was a good way up the road and I might have to drive, rather than it being literally across the road from the station!

All in all, a great event and a credit to the team. I hope the rest of the weekend goes a bit more smoothly and they can relax and enjoy themselves!

 

I attended yesterday and as always, thoroughly enjoyed the busy timetable despite timings goings astray. I tend to apply a mindset that a challenging timetable is always likely to meet with a few hiccups and to not get overly stressed and vocally 'moany' (as some on board my train were). The locomotives looked very well turned out as always, including Manston in 'authentic' weathered look.
My only advice to any railway is to always consider communications a high priority, especially so when things go wrong which they so often will and at all the wrong time! Well done G&WSR once again!

 

Thank you for your understanding

 

9:45 delayed at Cheltenham due to a signalling problem at Gotherington. Seems to be a recurring issue every time I visit a gala here...

 

Token issue according to a member of staff when I arrived at Cheltenham Racecourse.

I got the first bus up from Cheltenham Spa this morning, but was surprised to be the only one on it.

Edit 10:05: A guard has just come through the train to say the 9:45 will be delayed by another half hour.

 

Caley tank was out of action after its pairing with 78022 yesterday unfortunately.

 

Possibly some of the feedback here and probably elsewhere from yesterday about lack of information, has been noted, staff are keeping people informed at Cheltenham Racecourse, as I mentioned in my last post, a guard informed us of further delay and that was followed by a station announcement about trains being on the move and waiting a pilotman at Gotherington.

Edit 10:18: 2807 has just arrived at CRC from Gotherington.

 

Thanks for the updates @Dan Hill. Betton Grange left winchcombe around 15 minutes ago for Broadway, running ahead of Manston

 

No problem. I'm on 45110 and we're leaving CRC now 40 mins late.

 

I really do feel for the team there this weekend. What a rotten bit of luck. I really do hope that passengers have a bit of understanding....
Knowing some members of the Gala Team at the GWSR, they put so much effort into the event and really don't deserve these issues.
It is a really fantastic line up and they must have blown the rest of the budget on the weather!! I am really looking forward to my visit tomorrow.

 

Thanks Seb, you know the pain it creates only too well! Every possible issue and then some was thrown at us yesterday including one that you just couldn't imagine. Police holding and boarding trains looking for an elderly gentleman with dementia who had gone missing, thankfully my understanding is that he was found and ok.

All off to a good start this morning initially after a lot of graft from people within the steam department to ensure that engines left the yard on time. Gutting to see things slip again later on, there is slack in the timetable later in the day to cope with any cumulative issues in the morning, but only up to a point!

Thanks for all the positive comments and glad most enjoyed their day, can only apologise for the disappointment caused with various operational issues.

 

Despite all the issues, it's still been a fantastic event regardless and hopefully luck comes in tomorrow and things go more smoothly for all involved, as you say they don't deserve the bad luck.

 

Four of them, for a confused elderly gentleman...

 

Looks like 3850 is covering for the Caley Tank on the delayed 10:25 Toddington to CRC service. It was due to be attached to 45110 at Toddington on my service.

 

Second one was full, i was on it

 

3850 on the 1025 Toddington to Cheltenham replacing 15189

Sent from my SM-A166B using Tapatalk

 

I spent a very long day traveling down and back to the Cotswold Festival of Steam on Saturday 23rd May 2026, and with limited time there I had planned all my day out, until I got there at about 10 am and found the timetable all gone west by the first train!!
So instead of being able to travel to Broadway and Winchcombe i had to make due with a short stay at Toddington, with the trains running so late i had to get back to Cheltenham Spa for a certain time and didn't want to miss the bus shuttle (mini bus instead of usual double decker) which enabled me to see the Black 5/Grange double header



Back to 10am and 34070 Manston was still at Cheltenham RC station with the 09:45 service to Broadway



I decided to wait for 45110 to put in its first revenue service since 2008 when it was withdrawn on the SVR, bought from them 3 years ago by WCRC, this being its debut running


Now approaching 45 minutes late we waited outside Gotherington station for 78022 to depart



Finally at Toddington nearly an hour late 45110 was taken off its train due to 'sticking brakes'

Just in time for the Spitfire flypast


and to see this little gem
229 ex GER & LNER Y5 Class (visiting from the Flour Mill workshops) arrives at Toddington with a 3 coach shuttle service


Then back to Cheltenham on the 13:04 service which eventually left at 14:00 arriving at Cheltenham RC at about 15:05
to see W22 GWR Railcar


which left me plenty of time to see the run rounds and forming up to double head back to Toddington of 45110 & 6880 Betton Grange




Neil
https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Days-out/2026/May-2026/Cotswold-Festival-of-Steam

 

Latest update 11:55. <BJ>

''Due to a mechanical issue, currently being worked on, locomotive 15189 is temporarily unavailable.
3850 will now work 15189's diagram, and 45110 will now work 3850's diagram for the remainder of Sunday 24th May.
However, there may well be a surprise appearance appearance of 15189 later this afternoon!''

 

On the Narrow Gauge and the Caley Tank looks to have been fixed, not long gone off shed at Toddington, although so too has 2807.

Edit 15:03. 6880 has failed with a hot axle box and replaced by the Caley Tank.

 

Currently nothing moving at Winchcombe, and zero information. The railway doesn't seem to have learnt from yesterday.