Toddington update - Chcken Curve slip

All great news! I have to say that the GWSR is one of my, if not the most, favourite heritage railway. I first visited during the time when it had suffered the Gotherington embankment collaspe. Now I was aware of the GWSR but didn't know all that much about it, so uptil that point I had little interest, that is until I visited...

Wow... What a line... The station I waited for the train at (Winchcombe) was imaculate, few stations have impressed me so much with their condition and appearance. Though I was initially disapointed at first not being able to see the whole line, I still had a great time, I even got to ride behind a mighty 9F! I was very impressed by the clear views, not like the NYMR where for the most of the trip you only see trees, and the overall condition of railway as a whole impressed me, as did the friendly staff. So after that trip, the GWSR went right up the list railways to keep an eye on.

I was deeply saddened then, when it came to hearing about all the following events that transpired, terrible! But not for one second was I concerned that they wouldn't pull through, I mean these are the same people who built an entirely new station at Winchcombe for crying out loud, not to mention practically everything else... It's no wonder when I visited then, that I thought that the railway as whole looked so new, because for the most part, it is...!

I watch the railway's return to being reunited with great interest, and wish all the best. Good to hear that their planning a return for both the diesel and steam galas, I'm sure they want to make it as big as possible, to show that their firmly back in action, and are bigger and better then ever.

 

Further update at 2nd May on the GWSR website, showing considerable progress, with the main material moving mercifully done before the rains came.

Now we need to hear the "bad news", ie how much more money they need to raise to pay the bills.

 

Good news.

The intriguing bit,

What happened to the 'old track' - that which was removed? Or is it now to be 'double tracked'?:noidea:

I'd doubt it. There is quite a bit of 'old' stuff stored up the northern end towards Broadway.:wink:

 

The old was life expired so the oppertunity has been taken to relay with 'new' track.

Stephen

 

With a poor weather forecast over the bank holiday weekend, many will be relived to hear that the GWSR has extended its children go free offer to cover the upcoming bank holiday weekend, providing a solution for families stumped for things to do. Further details of the offer can be obtained from: GWR - Gloucestershire's mainline heritage railway - May bank holiday bonanza as kids go free
For those interested, No:8274 will be running over the weekend, with No:2807 also running on Saturday, hauling train for those who support the loco. In other news

the railway is within £90,000 now of reaching its emergency appeal target to pay for the work on the Chicken Curve embankment. So donations - of any size- are still very welcome, either through the Steam Railway Magazine appeal or directly through the railway website. ​

 

Nearly there now! See link below to GWSR main news site.

GWR - Gloucestershire's mainline heritage railway - Chicken Curve Update 17th May 2012

 

Does anyone have an update on the appeal? The pressure gauge on the website hasn't moved in a couple of months, whilst RASDV's post two up says that the appeal has £90,000 to go.

 

no update on the money, but there is an update on the repair work just been uploaded to the GWSR Website
GWR - Gloucestershire's mainline heritage railway - Chicken Curve Update 17th May 2012

 

Excellent news about the progress on the Chicken Curve landslip - looks to be nearly there.
However, I noted in Neil Carr's comment at the bottom of the page he said:

There is still the embankment failure south of Gotherington to be looked at. This failed after the 2007 floods (along with Cheltenham)and has been monitored ever since. It is now showing signs of movement again so will need to be dealt with so please keep the money flowing in. This slip is however quite small by comaprison and may be able to be dealt with by piling the bank between the track and the slip. It is also the last known area of active slip on the running line so hopefully things will be quiet for a while once that is fixed.​

 

One last push?
For those interested; the appeal now stands at a fantastic

£940,000. An additional £60,000 is still needed to meet the initial £1m target.
Evidently donations are still welcome:​

GWR - Gloucestershire's mainline heritage railway - Make a donation

 

Good that the target has almost been reached. I believe Steam Railway is due out later this week, which will no doubt contain a further mention of the appeal.​

 

The latest update on the Chicken Curve Landslip repairs is on the GWSR website via this link.
GWR - Gloucestershire's mainline heritage railway - Chicken Curve Update 7th June 2012
The GWSR Permanent Way gang has already started to relay the track using newer material but more remains to be delivered and several other jobs need to be done before the line is reconnected. However, we are getting there!

 

Excellent news! It is good to see the fantastic progress that has been made. I was slightly surprised that no mention was made in the report as to what funds might still be needed to enable the work to be completed. Does anyone now if the target has been reached or if not how much is still needed?

 

The return of full-line services in the Autumn will be most welcome. I wonder if the steam service will run North of Toddington to Laverton, or whether that will still be for special events only? Maybe stopping to run-round where there is no platform as such is an obstacle. (Passengers try to get out...!)

Incidentally, good to see on someone's blog that considerable progress is being made at Broadway, with two platform faces well on the way

Here's the link: http://broadwaygwsr.blogspot.co.uk

A considerable volunteer acheivement.

 

I believe that the main reason a runround has been installed at Lavington is so that the steam service can operate that far - it means you can operate with one train, full mileage too.

Other railways, such as the NVR and CVR until recently ran to run round loops without platforms, seemingly without problems.

 

With the gradual push south the line had run round loops at Gretton meadow, Far Stanley then Gotherington, as far as I know no fare paying passenger wanted to alight at these points!

Regarding the loop at Laverton, all track is down and the loop is connected. It awaits ballast, tamping and alignment also finishing of ground frame at southern turnout and point lever on northern turnout. There is the possibility it will be used at the end of August.

 

Comment added to the most recent article:

 

It's been a month since the last news update. Has there been any progress at the GWSR?

 

Yes.

One third of the track now down, panels now welded up to 120' sections as of yesterday 16:00. Contractor access road signs etc removed this week. More rail awaited. No updates on GWSR re anything at all for nearly 3 weeks, presume webmaster on holiday......?

 

You presume incorrectly. No updates have been passed onto me, as soon as anything is I will post it.

Steve