GWSR Cotswold Festival of Steam 25th-27th May 2024

That's a good line up. <BJ>

 

Thanks ta, I'll try and get a straight answer out of him by then!

 

Never been that keen on this loco to be honest as I'm a bit of a purist, but I have to admit that it's a good workhorse and has put in some great work on the WSR over the years, including coming to the aid of 35005 which had come to a grinding halt on Washford Bank.

 

Finally! A simple 7 engine gala with 3 coach sets and 1 goods train!
How long I've been waiting for this!

 

4 coach sets and 1 goods train. I hope that doesn't ruin it for you...

 

NAH! An extra coach set doesn't bother me at all.

TBH, you'll never ever top 2023's with all the different locos, carriage sets, goods sets and combinations, but it did get a bit too crazy.
Constant delays, services terminating here, there and everywhere, what a fiddle-fuddle!

This one, a simple thing of all passenger sets running to Broadway, change engines at Toddington and freight to Toddington only.

 

Timetables are now up on the website, as usual complete with loco allocations, directions, stock. Plenty of action, double headers, goods trains, non stop expresses and Saturday evening running!

www.gwsr.com/galas/steam-gala

No excuse now not to book your ticket, it really does help with the pre-gala nerves if we know we've already got some cash in the bank

 

Hopefully not required but is V2 or 23 ready in the wings for when 6880 isn’t run in /doesn’t arrive in time ?

 

Just want to ask for clarification, when it notes a loco as a "Pilot" loco, is this in the traditional GWR sense of pilot loco on the inside, or leading? If it's leading it makes reading the loco order slightly confusing!

 

As most engines are in BR livery we're following Western region practise rather than GWR, pilot locos on the front. When you're using the same row for engines at the rear or piloting, there's always going to be compromises. We try our best to make it readable but there comes a point where it looks complicated because it is, but we want to put on a good show!

 

Will 6880 run round the train to pilot 7903 on the 1328 Broadway on Monday 27th?

Thanks

Don

 

Yes.

 

Will the shuttle bus timetable be published ? If we go it will be by train to Cheltenham Spa

 

Yes, it will be running all 3 days, timetable should be published soon.

 

Great thanks

 

Excellent. My day will be planned round catching this

 

Footplate rides and brake van rides are now available to pre-book on the website gwsr.vticket.co.uk/section.php/173/1/
Footplate rides are £130 and includes a day ticket. Brake van rides are £10 and don't include an entry ticket (you need one of those as well to travel on the brake vans). Brake van rides will also be available to buy on the day cash only, we've not put all spaces on the website. Just to help those who like to plan their days where catching a particular goods train service is a crucial part!

 

Out of interest is there a reason you can no longer do the footplate rides to/from Broadway?

 

Just to keep things simple, because not all trains continue on to Broadway we'd either have to have two different prices or some people would get more mileage for their money. If it's a section folk are particularly interested in being on the footplate for we might be able to come to some arrangement.

 

Thanks for the reply, makes perfect sense.