Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) - heritage line

[whole diary]

[anthony215]

Some very lucky people there.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the New Civil Engineer:

Final funding plea for heritage rail repair

Work to repair a collapsed embankment on the historic Gloucestershire Warwick Railway is about to get underway despite funding falling ^170,000 short of the full ^670,000 cost of the scheme.

The heritage rail operator is appealing for help with to meet the cost of remediating the embankment to the north of Winchcombe station in order to reconnect the rail line. The work involved reconstruction of the failed section and the use of soil nailing to stabilise other parts of the slope.

^Ground investigations showed that the embankment is built of a poor mixture of clay and other materials,^ said GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) chairman Malcolm Temple. ^Not only that, it was built over boggy and unstable land and, as a result, it has been giving problems since the 1920s. That was less than 20 years after it was first built by the Great Western Railway.

^In British Rail days, a freight train derailed here in 1976 because of movement in the embankment so the line was closed. It is a problem we have clearly inherited from previous owners.^

GWR took over the abandoned route in 1981 and has gradually been rebuilding the line since then.  It has so far rebuilt over 19km of the railway, between Cheltenham and Laverton.

^With the benefit of modern technology, we believe that the problems that have dogged the railway for almost a century can be overcome for good,^ said Temple. ^Once this embankment repair is finished, we can once again concentrate on extending the line northwards from Laverton to Broadway and, eventually, to Honeybourne.^

[TonyK]

Yeah, riding on a steam train.

[bobm]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page).

A heritage railway line badly damaged by two landslips has reached its ^1m emergency fundraising target.

Two major embankment collapses left the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway facing repair costs of more than ^670k and major disruptions to its service.

Music producer Pete Waterman, who is chairman of the heritage railway, launched the ^1m appeal two years ago.

It is hoped that trains will be running again between Toddington and Winchcombe within two months.

'Strength to strength'
 
An anonymous donation of ^7,000 completed the fund raising efforts to reach the ^1m target.

Malcolm Temple, the railway's chairman, said he had been "astounded" by the huge support received.

"Everyone can be immensely proud of the contribution they have made and I am honoured to be chairman of such an enterprising group that just won't take 'no' for an answer," he added.

"This spirit of enterprise can only ensure that this railway will go from strength to strength."

A new portion of track has now been laid at 'chicken curve' which will soon be connected and have its signalling re-installed.

About 70,000 passengers use the heritage line every year.

At the launch of the emergency appeal in September 2010, Mr Waterman said getting the railway's full length reinstated was vital for its workforce and for the local tourist economy.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From This is Gloucestershire:

Vintage trains back on track at Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway

Vintage trains are once again in full service on a historic rail line after volunteers raised ^1m to repair the route.

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway (GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)) has re-opened the full-length line from Cheltenham Racecourse to Laverton, which takes in Gotherington, Winchcombe and Toddington.


Railway enthusiasts gathered at Toddington station to celebrate the re-opening of the line

The collapse of two century-old embankments in Gotherington and near Winchcombe had caused three years of disruptions on the volunteer-run railway, which dates back to 1904.

From this weekend steam engines will operate between Cheltenham and Winchcombe, with diesel trains running between Winchcombe and Toddington.  This means there is a service from Cheltenham to Laverton for the first time since 1979.

Passengers can travel the full 12-mile route by changing trains at Winchcombe, and from next year there will be an intensive service running along the whole line.

GWR chairman Malcolm Temple said he was "overwhelmed by the generosity" of people who had made a donation to repair the line. He said: "That includes individuals who have put anything from a pound or so in a collection bucket to donating significant sums, including those who signed up as '300 Club' members by contributing ^1,000 or more."

Mr Temple added:  "Other railways have really rallied round to help and we'll never forget the very significant contribution that so many heritage railways have made. I'd especially like to acknowledge the contribution made by readers of Steam Railway magazine, who have put their hands in their pockets to the tune of ^70,000 to what is, after all, restoration of an earth embankment."

The embankment at Gotherington collapsed in March 2010, while the 'Chicken Curve' part of the line was damaged by a landslide in January 2011.

GWR took over the route in 1981, following the removal of the track and closure of the line by British Rail in 1976.

From 1984, GWR volunteers have steadily restored the line, building signal boxes, station houses and replacing lost signalling and other infrastructure.

For more information, go to www.gwsr.com

[TonyK]

All of which is fantastic news, and testimony to the place of heritage railways in the minds and hearts of British people.

[Electric train]

All of which is fantastic news, and testimony to the place of heritage railways in the minds and hearts of British people.

Agreed, also what is impressive is they have continued with the extension to Laverton, the station rebuild at Broadway and the commencement of the rebuild of platform 2 at Cheltenham Race Course and a whole lot of other projects as well no doubt

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway wins major award

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway (GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)) has received a major award for outstanding contribution to railway preservation.

GWR runs heritage train services between Cheltenham Racecourse and Winchcombe, Toddington and Laverton.

In January 2011 embankments at Gotherington and Winchcombe collapsed.

The Heritage Railway Association award citation recognises GWR's "grim determination in dealing with its double slip disaster".

During the ^1m restoration works along the 12 mile-long (19 km) stretch of line, GWR continued to run services and to progress its extension towards Honeybourne.

"This couldn't have been a better Christmas present for the railway after such a struggle to overcome the serious embankment collapse problems we have gone through," said Malcolm Temple, chairman of the GWR.

The railway reopened the newly rebuilt link over the most recent collapse at Winchcombe on 30 October 2012.

GWR has also been highly commended for its presentation of Winchcombe Station with the Modern Railways magazine's restoration award.

Mr Temple thanked the railway volunteers for their dedication during the GWR's lowest period of its 32-year history. "If it wasn't for their grim determination recognised in the award, not just in keeping the railway going but in single-mindedly concentrating on raising ^1 million needed, I'm pretty sure the railway wouldn't be here today," he said. "It has been achieved against all the odds and the award recognises that. I feel very proud right now, to be chairman of this wonderful volunteer-run organisation."

The railway offers a 24-mile round journey and carries about 70,000 passengers a year.

Congratulations to them! 

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Gloucestershire Echo:

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway makes its embankments rabbit-proof to stop landslips

Bunnies are being stopped in their tracks along Cheltenham's popular tourist railway line.

The creatures have been causing havoc along the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway by burrowing into the embankments. When heavy rains come, the warrens are filling with water and collapsing, causing minor landslips along the route.

Now bosses at Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway have vowed to put up netting to keep the rabbits away and so put an end to the constant problems. The netting will stop the animals from being able to dig in the ground along the track.

It follows the latest slip on the Cleeve Hill side of the high embankment, which carried the line away from Cheltenham Racecourse station.

Ian Crowder, public relations officer at GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway), said rabbits digging warrens were responsible for the damage. "Lines such as ours tend to attract a great amount of wildlife and rabbits in particular are prolific," he added. "There are thousands of them along the route. Some of these landslips are caused mainly by the exploits of the rabbits. We have made attempts in the past to manage the problem and we thought it would be prudent to try again."

Mr Crowder admitted there was a thin line to tread between encouraging wildlife and protecting the railway. "There is a very real concern that the damage can put the safety of passengers at risk," he said. "But the public do like to see the rabbits along the track so we don't want to get rid of them completely. It is about striking the right balance ^ we are aware of our responsibility to the wildlife along the route."

Railway bosses are also hoping to improve the drainage along the entire length of the railway.

GWR chairman Malcolm Temple said: "A lot of rain falls on the Cotswolds and our railway is in the way of its passage to the river system. Over time, building works, changes in agricultural practice and other factors, has altered the way that water moves over the land and the railway's original drainage has not kept up. It is our duty to ensure that those who manage the railway in years to come don't have to cope with the kind of embankment disasters that we have suffered in recent years."

[Red Squirrel]

Apologies if I've shoehorned this into the wrong place.

I can think of no activity or sphere of human endeavour more praiseworthy than the restoration, from bare earth, of an Edwardian country railway station, especially of the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).

So three cheers for this planning application: Construction of three Broadway railway station buildings to replace the original ones demolished by British Railways. I'm sure we all wish them the very best - they deserve it.

If you're interested in following the weekly minutiae of the blokes who are doing this,  follow this blog.

[Red Squirrel]

More on this planning application:

Will village get a station again?

THE project to rebuild and reopen Broadway railway station is steaming ahead after the parish council gave the next stage of development its seal of approval.

Members of the village^s planning committee voted in support of the plans to build a signal box, waiting room and main station building at the site.

The application will now be considered by Wychavon District Council, which will make the final decision.

Source: Cotswold Journal

[Red Squirrel]

Planning permission has been granted for the new station buildings at Broadway. See here for further information

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Restored steam train back in service for first time in 50 years


Engine 4270 was scrapped by British Railways in 1962

A restored steam engine, which originally pulled coal wagons in 1919, has moved under its own power for the first time in more than 50 years.

Engine 4270 was sold for scrap by British Railways in 1962 after more than 40 years of pulling coal trains in South Wales.

Volunteers and contractors at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway spent 11 years restoring it. It will now form part of the heritage railway's fleet of locomotives.

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway spokesman Ian Crowder said: "It was completely dismantled and rebuilt, and a lot of new parts had to be manufactured for it. It's as good as it was when it was turned out from Swindon Works in 1919, if not better."

The restoration of the 83-tonne engine has cost at least ^250,000, and there are only about six of the class of engine still in existence, Mr Crowder added.

It will pull its first paying passengers at the Cotswold Festival of Steam at the end of the month.

[bobm]

Interesting to see a GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) loco with no number of the smokebox door or buffer beam nor it appears any sign writing on the side of the tender.

I'm guessing it is not quite finished yet.

[Red Squirrel]

Well yes; the front of the firebox is looking a tad two-tone too...