Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) - heritage line

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

Another update, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway hits extension target


The extension is expected to be completed by March next year

A heritage steam railway is set to become "one of the best in the country" after raising £1.25m to fund a track extension, its bosses claim.

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway launched a public appeal to complete its "last mile" a year ago.

It currently runs between Cheltenham and Laverton but has long planned to extend to Broadway in Worcestershire.

After an "overwhelming response" it will reach the Cotswolds village for the first time since 1960.

The project involves extending the volunteer-run line and building a new station at Broadway, similar to the original which was demolished soon after closure.

Chris Bristow, the line's finance director, said extending the track will enable the line to become one of the best in the country for steam services.

"It's hard to think of another heritage line that has the same kind of opportunities for future growth and development."


More than 100,000 passengers travelled on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, last year

But, he said, there is the "major hurdle" of a high, unstable embankment to be tackled before the line reaches Broadway.

He said an additional "£400,000-plus" was needed to correct "historic make-and-mend repairs" and stabilise the structure using modern techniques.

"It's rather more than we expected to have to spend, but the work must be done," he added.

[John R]

Indeed, great news, and I for one can't wait for the reopening. It's good to see that the hiccup a couple of years ago following the controversy about the canopy was smoothed over, and that the powers that be seemed to listen to the criticism and act accordingly.

[johnneyw]

Not to forget that while all this has been going on, Hayles Abbey Halt has been rebuilt and is due to open on the 5th June.

[johnneyw]

Broadway Station has an open evening tomorrow, 1830 to 20.30. Limited parking but vintage bus shuttle from Childswickham Road car park.

[Red Squirrel]

Broadway Station has an open evening tomorrow, 1830 to 20.30. Limited parking but vintage bus shuttle from Childswickham Road car park.

...and it looks like there's plenty to see - doesn't that canopy look lovely? Disappointed that I can't get up there:



Image courtesy of GWSR

[Electric train]

Broadway Station has an open evening tomorrow, 1830 to 20.30. Limited parking but vintage bus shuttle from Childswickham Road car park.

...and it looks like there's plenty to see - doesn't that canopy look lovely? Disappointed that I can't get up there:



Image courtesy of GWSR

I am going to the open evening Friday

[johnneyw]

Wish I was going too but will have to make do with reading their blog and of course, any posts about this from Electric train and any other visitors.

[Electric train]

Wish I was going too but will have to make do with reading their blog and of course, any posts about this from Electric train and any other visitors.

I attended the Broadway open evening on Friday a very well attended it was too.  This was the last time they will hold an open evening, they were always aimed at raising the profile in Broadway its self and some funds which in the early days of the build the team had very limited funds.  The plan is to open the line to Broadway Good Friday 2018.

The new station building will not be fully complete internally by the line opening and the engine run round will be initially by Ground Frames.

The Signal Box operating floor was open to visit, it is an excellent replica of a GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Signal Box, like wise the station building is going to look very authentic.  The pedantic could pick holes in things not being true to the 1904 era, however given the requirements of modern building regs etc the team at Broadway are doing an excellent job.  Indeed the whole railway are involved, C & W at Winchcombe refurbish heritage wooden items or make new items like the Block Shelf in the Box, the Loco Dept have fabricated and are installing the steel roof trusses on the station these have been made to the same design as Toddington, the S & T are busy fitting out the Box and wayside signal posts and the PW^▸ (Permanent Way - the railway track) and attacking the line form both the South and the North.

The passenger use of the line North from Toddington has been extended to the point where you can now see Broadway Goods Shed!  I took the 11:25 Auto Coach from Toddington north to the end of passenger use today, this was only the second steam hauled train to use new section of line (the first being the 10:55)

I will post some photos when I have sorted them out, difficult to see very much of the new station as it was fenced off due to being a construction site.  I will add the Broadway team do act very professionally in the way the conduct their site works which is a credit to them.

 

[Electric train]

Photos    I used a wide angle lens so some may look a little distorted also the light was a bit tough with the setting sun

IMG_6865 by Electric Train, on Flickr

IMG_6879 by Electric Train, on Flickr

IMG_6851 by Electric Train, on Flickr

IMG_6854 by Electric Train, on Flickr

IMG_6834-2 by Electric Train, on Flickr

IMG_6875 by Electric Train, on Flickr

IMG_6868 by Electric Train, on Flickr

IMG_6859 by Electric Train, on Flickr

IMG_6845-2 by Electric Train, on Flickr

IMG_6842-2 by Electric Train, on Flickr

IMG_6834-2 by Electric Train, on Flickr

IMG_6881 by Electric Train, on Flickr


IMG_6885 by Electric Train, on Flickr

[johnneyw]

All hail Hayles Abbey Halt! The halt was opened on Monday. Footage I saw looks like even the weather was relatively kind, all considering the national picture.

[Red Squirrel]

The scaffolding is down at Broadway Station, and after all that heartache two years ago just look at the amazing result:



Photo: Broadway Extension Blog

The track will be laid shortly - brand new bullhead rail, on brand new jarrah sleepers. Fantastic!

[grahame]

The scaffolding is down at Broadway Station ...

The track will be laid shortly - brand new bullhead rail, on brand new jarrah sleepers. Fantastic!

GRIP^▸ (Guide to Railway Investment Projects - Network Rail's process for project management of schemes through development and implementation) 6 then?

[Chris from Nailsea]

Never mind getting a GRIP^▸ (Guide to Railway Investment Projects - Network Rail's process for project management of schemes through development and implementation) - they JFDI^▸ ('just flipping do it' (polite version))! 

[CyclingSid]

and in case you didn't notice this item on one of their senior members:
https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/uk/steam-engine-driver-steps-footplate-65-years-railways/

[Red Squirrel]

The cafe, for which the station building was laid out with dining room and kitchen, has just been dropped from the plans in a surprise move. Instead, the space will become a souvenir shop, with a coffee machine.

[snip]

Concerns about staffing the intended cafe have led to this last minute change of plan, we were able to ascertain.

Source: GWSR Extension Blog

Any thoughts..?