Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway, The Honeybourne Line

10th September 2015

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway runs along a part of the former Great Western Railway's mainline from Birmingham to Cheltenham, via Stratford-upon-Avon.

The line was primarily built (1900-1906) to improve through services from Birmingham to Bristol and the West Country. It also carried fruit from the highly productive farming areas both in the Cotswolds and the Vale of Evesham . . .

Stanway viaduct

42xx class, 4270 crossing Stanway viaduct.

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway runs along a part of the former Great Western Railway's mainline from Birmingham to Cheltenham, via Stratford-upon-Avon.

The line was primarily built (1900-1906) to improve through services from Birmingham to Bristol and the West Country. It also carried fruit from the highly productive farming areas both in the Cotswolds and the Vale of Evesham . . .

Early work by a Society primarily aimed at trying to keep the line open, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) was formed in 1981 with the aim of one day restoring this line from Stratford Race Course to Cheltenham Racecourse back to its former glory.

Following purchase of the track bed from Broadway to Cheltenham Race Course, the GWSR established our operating base at Toddington and started re-construction.

By 1984 work had advanced sufficiently to allow the first public train to operate over a ¼ mile of track, and on Sunday 22nd April, Nicholas Ridley MP, the Secretary of State for Transport cut the ribbon to mark the Official opening.

Since then the GWSR have restored 10 miles of track from Toddington to Cheltenham Race Course as well as recreating Winchcombe. Their latest extension to Cheltenham Race Course station was opened by HRH The Princess Royal on 7 April 2003 . . .

All this work has been completed by volunteers, using revenue generated from our operations and shareholder capital. They are a professional operating railway staffed entirely by unpaid volunteers.

The railway is owned by its shareholders, many of whom are also members of its supporting body. [source: GWSR]

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Early work by a Society primarily aimed at trying to keep the line open, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) was formed in 1981 with the aim of one day restoring this line from Stratford Race Course to Cheltenham Racecourse back to its former glory.

Following purchase of the track bed from Broadway to Cheltenham Race Course, the GWSR established our operating base at Toddington and started re-construction.

By 1984 work had advanced sufficiently to allow the first public train to operate over a ¼ mile of track, and on Sunday 22nd April, Nicholas Ridley MP, the Secretary of State for Transport cut the ribbon to mark the Official opening.

Since then the GWSR have restored 10 miles of track from Toddington to Cheltenham Race Course as well as recreating Winchcombe. Their latest extension to Cheltenham Race Course station was opened by HRH The Princess Royal on 7 April 2003 . . .

Heading past Stanway farm

Heading past Stanway farm to the (current) end of the line at Laverton Halt.

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All this work has been completed by volunteers, using revenue generated from our operations and shareholder capital. They are a professional operating railway staffed entirely by unpaid volunteers.

The railway is owned by its shareholders, many of whom are also members of its supporting body. [source: GWSR]

4270 -

4270 - "42xx" class former Great Western Railway tank locomotive. This locomotive's restoration started at Toddington in mid-2003 before it moved elsewhere until it returned in 2013. With the restoration complete, 4270 made its debut at the 2014 Cotswold Festival of Steam and is now a regular performer on the GWSR. [source: GWSR]

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4270 heads back towards Cheltenham Racecourse

After running round its train at Laverton Halt 4270 heads back towards Cheltenham Racecourse.

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4270 heads west past Gretton

4270 heads west past Gretton after stopping at Toddington and Winchcombe stations.

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A varied collection of restored goods wagons and a travelling postal sorting office

A varied collection of restored goods wagons and a travelling postal sorting office on show at Winchcombe station.

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Restored milk churns on display at Winchcombe

Restored milk churns add to the historical display at Winchcombe.

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The Honeybourne Line is a single line operation with passing loops at each of its main stations

The Honeybourne Line is a single line operation with passing loops at each of its main stations. This operation requires that each train acquires a single-line token to authorise entry to the next section single track.

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The exchange of tokens

The exchange of tokens takes place whilst the train passes the signalman on the station platform.

The token for the line being vacated is passed from the fireman to the signalman and the token for the section to be entered is passed from the signalman to the fireman.

The large hoops attached to the tokens enable this task to be completed without needing the train to stop.

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The driver needs to stretch out to see, and respond to, the guard and platform staff signalling the 'off' for departure

The rake of seven coaches is so long that the engine stands beyond the platform end. In addition, due to the curvature of the platform, the driver needs to stretch out of the locomotive in order to see, and respond to, the guard and platform staff signalling the 'off' for departure.

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4270 leaves Winchcombe

4270 leaves Winchcombe, entering the single track section, and heads north west through Greet Tunnel to the next stop at Gotherington.

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Taking on water at Cheltenham Racecourse station

Taking on water at Cheltenham Racecourse station.

Weighing 82 tons, 4270 carries 1,800 gallons of water in its two side tanks and usually needs to fill up after each round trip of 25 miles.

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4270 'runs round' its carriage stock

Having taken on water 4270 prepares to 'run round' its carriage stock ready to head the train out on its return to Toddington.

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Great Western Railway 2-8-0T, 4270 was built at Swindon

A former Great Western Railway 2-8-0T, 4270 was built at Swindon and entered service in 1919; she was withdrawn in 1962.

165 of these locomotives, which were the only 2-8-0 tank engines to run in the UK, were built for heavy freight work, mainly in the South Wales coalfields. [source: GWSR]

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Re-coupling the engine to its train

Re-coupling the engine to its train requires the driver to connect the locomotive to the carriages and screw the coupling tight. The corrugated vacuum brake pipes are then connected ready for departure.

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4270 is a right-hand drive locomotive

4270 is a right-hand drive locomotive. The red 'lever' in the centre is the Regulator which regulates the steam applied to the locomotive's wheels to make traction.


         

The coloured lever to the right of the cab is the Reverser lever which controls the direction in which the locomotive moves, either forwards or backwards.

A chain is attached to the firebox door lever on the left. This lever is for opening and closing the doors which in this picture are currently open.

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4270 and its train wait for the guard's send off

With all preparations complete 4270 and its train wait for the guard's send off to Toddington at 15:40; the last steam train of the day.

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Lower quadrant signalling is used throughout the Honeybourne Line

Lower quadrant signalling, where the semaphore is dropped rather than lifted to show 'clear' passage, is used throughout the Honeybourne Line.

In this picture four examples can seen as 4270 heads away from Cheltenham Racecourse station and into the beautiful Cotswold hills.