After a much-missed absence of several years, 2013 sees the return of the GWR’s popular heritage diesel weekend gala event running between Friday 26th of July and Sunday 28th July, and 37215 will be working trains over the full length of the line on all 3 days. As well as the intensive timetable of trains, the new diesel shed will be opening its doors to visitors at Toddington, with the opportunity to see the restoration work on D6948 ‘up close’.
This year, the event has a special significance, celebrating the railway’s overcoming of two major embankment collapse disasters, the cost of repairing which were funded by an astonishingly successful £1 million appeal. It is also the first major heritage diesel event that the railway has been able to use the Laverton extension from Toddington northwards towards Broadway, offering a full 24-mile round trip, together the opening of a new passing loop at Gotherington which allows a higher frequency of service along the line with many more trips and ‘moves’ available. We also welcome into service for the first time at the GWR two locomotives that have been under long term restoration, class 45 no.45149 and class 26 no.26043. More information (including timetables, loco diagrams and a plan of the site) can be found here at http://www.gwsr.com/planning-your-visit/2013-events-calendar/heritage-diesel-weekend.aspx
