My ride on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway was on Sunday 8th September 2019. The 14:05 from Cheltenham Race Course to Broadway. Along 14 miles of a line that used to link Stratford to Cheltenham. We had our own reserved carriage. A pleasant ride through the fields of the Cotswolds. 

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Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway from Cheltenham Race Course to Broadway


Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway from Cheltenham Race Course to Broadway


My ride on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway was on Sunday 8th September 2019. The 14:05 from Cheltenham Race Course to Broadway. Along 14 miles of a line that used to link Stratford to Cheltenham. We had our own reserved carriage. A pleasant ride through the fields of the Cotswolds. 


Cheltenham Race Course Station

Being filled with coal at the far end of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway was 35006 Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co at Cheltenham Racecourse Station. This steam locomotive would head up to the crossing point, then head down on the other line, before being attached to the carriages at the far end of the station. Built in 1941 and then given the Southern Railway number 21C6. Renumbered to 35006 in 1948 by British Railways after Nationalisation. Withdrawn in 1964, it was purchased for preservation in 1983. Restoration completed between 2015 and 2016.

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35006 was seen near the Evesham Road bridge near Cheltenham Race Course. We headed down the ramp and got onto our reserved carriage for the journey towards Broadway.

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Gotherington Station

Our train had to stop outside of Gotherington Station as the line from Cheltenham Race Course was a single track, and this was the only double track with a passing loop. Wasn't a steam locomotive coming, past but an old diesel train. BR Class 117 heading towards Cheltenham Race Course. Nos. W51360, W59510, W51363. 2C36 at the front.

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2L05 at the back but with the Broadway name plate at the front.

dndimg alt="GWSR Gotherington" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/GWSR outside Gotherington Station Class 117 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Winchcombe Station

After we had passed Winchcombe Station I saw several trains on the sidings such as these ones. Baguley-Drewry looks like a pick up truck with a trailer.

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17244 Wansea Docks. One of the old wagons on the sidings.

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Toddington Station

Heading into Toddington Station on the GWSR towards Broadway. On Sunday 8th September 2019 there was a Classic Vehicle Day in a nearby field to the station. But another steam train went past the one I was on. The steam locomotive at the front was 2807. Built in 1905, withdrawn in 1963, saved in 1981, and moved to Toddington Station, restored to steam in 2010.

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It was a bit too close as my train came to a stop. Saw the 2807 number plate and a bit of the inside of the cab where they shovel the coal into the engine.

dndimg alt="2807 at Toddington on the GWSR" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/2807 at Toddington Station on the GWSR (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Broadway Station

When we got to Broadway Station I only had time to get photos of the station buildings before heading to our coach. The station was rebuilt and reopened in 2018, 58 years after it was closed to passengers. I was hoping to head to the other end of the platform before 35006 moved down to the other end but had to stay with my group. Took these from the coach as 35006 decoupled at the far end, then headed down over the bridge. It then switched tracks again before reversing back.

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The driver slowly moved 35006 back until they reattached it to the carriages. We were off to Broadway for a few hours. Having earlier that day had a look around Regency Cheltenham.

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I will get all of my photos of that day up onto my Flickr in this album Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway. Adding to my existing ones from July 2019.

When I saw the 6023 King Edward II steam locomotive from the car in the summer, I didn't know back then that I would be going on the GWSR. But was good that I did, as I got a proper look around Cheltenham and Broadway! This visiting locomotive is no longer on the heritage railway.

dndimg alt="King Edward II" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Low Bridge GWSR Broadway (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.