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

37215 to work to Cheltenham on 14th October

Posted on by Peter_S

Following the reconnection of the southern and northern sections of the GWR, 37215 is to work two return diesel driver experience empty stock trains between Winchcombe and Cheltenham Racecourse on Sunday 14th October. Although the route over the rebuilt Chicken Curve is not yet open between Toddington and Winchcombe, the locomotive will make a light engine move over the newly connected track under an engineering possession a few days before. click to continue reading

37215 gets some tlc

Posted on by Peter_S

Regular volunteer and vice Chairman of the Group, Mark Stanley, has been giving 37215 some tlc this weekend. 4 years have passed since its repaint, and the ravages of the Toddington weather have started to take their toll, so as a pre-emptive strike Mark has been busy filling and painting the tops of the nose ends and various other areas of bodywork that have started to show signs of deterioration. Continue reading →

First buffer beam ‘skirts’ fitted

Posted on by Peter_S

On Sunday 19th August, the first sections of the new buffer beam ‘skirts’ were welded into place on the no.1 end of D6948 by Mark Stanley and Phil Seymour. This is a difficult and precision task involving the fitting of three sections at each end of the loco. This followed the essential movement of a number of buffer beam pipe fittings (see previous post) which were necessary to fit the skirts, and the installation of the new steam heat pipe connections (click on the title for more pictures).
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