Category Archives: GWR

Christmas mixed traction gala success

Posted on by Peter_S

Excellent weather albeit being very cold on the 29th and 30th December marked the GWR’s Christmas Cracker mixed traction gala at which 37215 played a starring role on the 29th. 215 double-headed the 1310 Toddington-Cheltenham Racecourse with GWR 28xx class 2-8-0 no.2807 providing heat and returned solo on the 1400 Cheltenham Racecourse-Laverton (with 2807 on the rear of the train), which provided a much heavier load than normal (equivalent to 10 coaches) and hence much noise! 215 put in its usual excellent performance with many happy class 37 followers on board enjoying the ‘thrash’ and the steam heat. click to continue reading

GWR to re-open on 30th October 2012 – 37215 to participate in re-opening specials

Posted on by Peter_S

After just short of 2 years, the GWR finally becomes a ‘joined up’ railway again on the 30th October, when a series of special trains will work over the full length of the line from Laverton to Cheltenham Racecourse to celebrate the re-opening of the line and to thank the thousands of people who have helped to raise the £1m to rebuild both the Gotherington and Chicken Curve embankment collapses. This will also be the first time that the railway will operate over its full 11.75 miles, as the northwards extension to Laverton was opened after the Winchcombe embankment collapse. click to continue reading