Swindon and Cricklade GWR 175 12th - 19th June

Looking forward to our visit to the S & C in June. Nice to see one of the smaller railways putting on a GWR 175 event. see http://www.swindon-cricklade-railway.org/gwr175.php#top for more details and an extension to the line also expected.

Good luck

John

 

I must admit this wasnt on my list of planned activities this year but the autocoach and prairie together with the photoshoots has changed all that.
I know its a little way off yet but does anyone from the railway know if the photoshoots will be bookable in advance (or need to be). I see you can by tickets in advance per the website link but this doesnt currently include the photoshoots.

Thanks
Ben

 

Hi,

yes you can book in advance for the photo shoots on shed on the 11th and the 18th. tickets are £15 a head and include a ride along the line. Places are limited so please book in advance to avoid disappointment. You can book through our website www.swindon-cricklade-railway.org

We have now added 4612 to our line up on both weekends, and we will now have four Great western Locomotives in steam on the 12th / 13th and two industrial locomotives making a total of six. we will be coupling them all up together on the 12th in the evening and running them up our embankment at the edge of the car park at Blunsdon to end the first day.

this is the biggest event we have ever out together and so you support is most appricated. The event is also a greaat time to see the railway for the first time and to see what we can offer.

And finally we we will be openning a new section of tract towards swindon for the gala.

I loom forward to seeing you all at the event.

If i can help further them please ask.

Paul

Co-event organiser
Swindon & Cricklade Railway GWR 175

 

Many thanks for the information, Paul - it looks like a fantastic event, on a big scale. Really looking forward to it!

Will the loco roster be available online, in advance of the Gala at all?

Looking forward to supporting you there.

Cheers,

Phil.

 

there will not be a loco roster as such. this is because that all available Locomotive will be in steam on each of the four days. there will hopefuly be the time table online soon. we have update the web site so it now states what each locomotive will be doing on each day.

Paul

 

I am in the final stages of planning a photo charter on a day between the two gala weekends. It is hoped to use 4612 on a short rake of GWR wagons, with a Toad brakevan. If you would like more details, please PM me your e-mail address and I'll add you to the mailing list. The official invitation with all details and joining instructions should be released by the end of this week.

 

Hi, tickets for our night shoot for the 11th June on shed with all six engines raising steam are still available through our website and we still have tickets left for the night shoot on the 18th will all locos minus 3717 City of Truro. the passanger timetable will be online in the next week give or take a few days. on the 11th your ticket will also include a trip along the line from Blunsdon to Hayes Knoll on Auto coach 178 hauled by 5542.

 

On the 18th and 19th we will be running a demonstration freight with most of the Locos hauling it over the weekend. but all locos will be running with the freight up out 1 in 150 embankment along the car park at Blunsdon on the 19th. This will be a great eveing we are all looking forward to it.

We have also recived notification that we have a slim chance of a red arrows flypast on the 19th or 20th. more info to follow nearer the time.

Hope to see you all there.

 

I understand all main visiting locos are now 'on site' so things are looking good for the coming weekends. Even the good weather looks to be back by Saturday!

John

 

Thanks John,

Am looking forward to this weekend.
Any news on a timetable?

Ben

 

Ben,
I think its 'trains run every 30 mins' or so from 10am, but see http://www.swindon-cricklade-railway.org/gwr175.php#top for more details. We're not organising, just providing a loco!
Hope you enjoy.

John

 

Thanks John,

Sorry for incorrectly directing my question to you. I am looking forward to a run behind 5542 and the autocoach

 

the time table will be on the web site today hopefully.

Yes the final loco has arrived. 4612 is being unloaded as i write this. 5542 will be running with auto coach 178 tomorrow night for the murder mystery and for the evening/ night shoot with all six locos.

Then it all kicks off on saturday morning. first train 10am.

First passanger train hauled by 5542 using 178 will be 11:10 from River Ray halt.

I hope you all enjoy the gala.

 

All locos facing south. Looking set to be a great event - full credit to the railway for having the courage to hold such a big event. Just hope the weather and the visitor numbers do it justice.

 

There is a strong chance on a double headed run with 3717 and 5322 on the demo freight over our 1 in 139 bank at Blunsdon on saturday night.

the only loco to face north will be Salmon.

 

Photos of 5322 after arrival yesterday prior to movement down the line to Hayes Knoll:

 

Excellent today! I managed to pop in haviing been at a meeting in Cardiff. Everything very well organised, lots to see and do and some delightful people really proud of their excellent line. I took the chance to drive Slough Estates for a fiver, top blokes on the footplate as well. All in all excellent and certainbly the most engines per mile of any gala I have been to!

 

Mike,

I am really pleased that you enjoyed our gala so much. We have another weekend to go yet (19th and 20th) this time featuring freight running will all available locos.

We will also be operating demonstration freight runs up Blunsdon back alongside our car park from 5pm on the 19th will all five locos.
We will be running the same intense time table, with 5542 and 178 running on our new section of tract towards Swindon. I must personally say this new section of track is the best section we now have. I am looking forward to my next turn to run on this section.
We will also be having a Red arrows fly past and a fly past by a Dacota on the 19th.

 

Will all locos be working passenger trains as well?

 

Yes, 5542 will be running with 178 from River ray Halt to the southern limit of the line.

5322, 4612 and 0-6-0ST 'Salmon' will be operating the passanger service and frieght service on rotation during the day. all locos will be out on the line at any one point.