Hi all. Today saw me and Jenny paying our first ever visit to the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Steam Railway....A line I've been wanting to visit for the last few years but never got round to doing so. Today saw us with our typical early start of 6am, driving from home to Burton Railway Station for around 7am and catching the train to Birmingham New Street.
On arrival at Birmingham New Street, we changed trains for a train bound for Cheltenham Spa Station in the form of a Cross Country 220/221 Voyager. After a fairly lengthy train journey to Cheltenham Spa Station, we arrived and changed for a shuttle bus that operated between Cheltenham Mainline Station and Cheltenham Race Course.
On arrival at Cheltenham Race Course, we proceeded to walk up the hill to Cheltenham Race Course Station - Operated by the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR).
On our arrival at Toddington we found Ex GWR King Class 6000 4-6-0 No.6023 "King Edward II" simmering in the yard in preparation for what we discovered later would be a double headed journey to Broadway and back. After disembarking at Toddington and taking several photos of 6023 in the yard, it was time for lunch.After lunch, we found that 6023 has moved to take water in the platform and decided to take several more photos of the engine. Before long 7820 "Dinmore Manor" arrived with her train ready to go to Broadway with the final steam hauled service to Cheltenham.
Not wanting to miss our train back to Cheltenham and a opportunity to ride on the newly opened extension into Broadway, we boarded the train (now double headed between Toddington-Broadway) in both directions for Cheltenham....Needless to say its amazing just how much noise a Manor and a King can make when double heading together...
Back at Toddington it was time to say fairwell to 6023 as 7820 prepared to take the rest of the journey to Cheltenham. The return to Cheltenham was fairly smooth apart from a brief stop on the way just south of Gotherington due to a lineside fire.. which was soon dealt with by the crew on 7820. Soon we were on our way once again arriving at Cheltenham were 7820 would run round her train ready to take the train back to Toddington.
With that it was time to return to the Bust Stop to catch the bus back to Cheltenham Spa Station ready for the journey home. Once again another fantastic day out. With thanks to Jenny for her company as always. Cheers all, Jake...
