Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway Your Day Out Rebuilt and run by qualified volunteers Broadway • Toddington • Winchcombe • Cheltenham Race Course • 2020 Introduction Welcome to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, which runs for over fourteen miles through the glorious Cotswold countryside. Ⅵ Today’s train times depend on the colour of the timetable being used. The colour coding for today is displayed prominently at each main station. The different coding for each day can be found on the calendar in the separate Ⅵ Greet Tunnel timetable leaflet. Train departure times are shown in this booklet. A Brief History of the Line Ⅵ Check this guide for information about the railway 1902-1906: The ‘Honeybourne Line’ over which our trains now run was and how to get the most constructed as part of the Great Western Railway’s through route from enjoyment out of your day central England to the South West to compete with the Midland with us. Railway’s route. Ⅵ A ride on a steam train is 1910: first through trains were introduced between Wolverhampton and the West what most people come for - Country. the smell, the sounds, and the rhythm of a bygone era. But depending on the day you 1912: Cheltenham Race Course station was opened. choose to travel with us, there may be other travel 1948: Great Western Railway was absorbed by British Railways on nationalisation. experiences available. For instance we have a 1952: The Wolverhampton-Penzance express was named ‘The Cornishman.’ large fleet of heritage diesel locomotives, all of which are 1960: local passenger services ended. over 50 years old. And there is also our diesel railcar where 1976: line officially closed following derailment of a Toton (Notts) to Severn Tunnel you can sit behind the driver Junction coal train at Winchcombe. and see what they do. Check the timetable to see what’s on 1979: track lifted and many buildings demolished. offer today. Ⅵ As part of your day with us, 1976-1984: local people and railway enthusiasts initially tried to save the line. how about purchasing a guide They then bought 15 miles of track bed and remaining associated buildings. book which tells you much They were granted a Light Rail Order permitting them to re-build the line between more about our history? Or Broadway and Cheltenham. Track-laying began and public services commenced one of our walking books , or initially over 700 yards of track. even a genuine I-Spy book for the whole family? 1984-2016: volunteers steadily restored the line, building stations, signal boxes, replacing lost signals and other infrastructure. Despite major landslips, the track Ⅵ Pick up a free children’s was gradually extended to 12 miles in length and comprised three main stations quiz at any of our booking and one halt. During this period work commenced on the major extension to offices and the Heritage Trail leaflet available at Toddington Broadway with the line extending to Laverton. Station. Since 2016, the railway has experienced tremendous growth which has enabled Ⅵ We are not just a railway our volunteers to rebuild Hayles Abbey Halt and Broadway station wherever but a living museum. Make possible in the style of the original stations. In 2018, the line was extended to sure you get off the train at Broadway, enabling passengers from the Cheltenham area to enjoy one of the our intermediate stations and treasures of the Cotswolds. just enjoy the experience Did you know...? Membership Ⅵ When working on the railway, each steam engine can cost as much as £1,000 and per day. Volunteering Ⅵ The railway necessarily uses coal, Becoming a member of the water and diesel fuel for its heritage GWR Trust is one of the locomotives, but the amounts used per easiest ways to support the passenger are small. The GWSR Railway and to stay up-to-date contributes significantly to the local economy with what's going on. and business, and the livelihoods of many people depend upon the part we play in attracting With low annual membership visitors to the Cotswolds. rates and an attractive package of benefits you Ⅵ Between the fences, our railway provides a safe green corridor for the can't go wrong. There are abundant wildlife. magazines and vouchers to be had, so don’t miss out. Ⅵ It takes at least six years to train a steam loco driver and four years to train a diesel driver. Ⅵ It takes up to four hours for the steam department to prepare a loco in the morning and one hour to “dispose” the loco at the end of the day. Work in the evening includes checking over the loco and cleaning out the ash, etc. Ⅵ We employ seven staff and have over 950 volunteers. Ⅵ We are overseen by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) which ensure the railway is run in a professional manner. Ⅵ It takes over 50 volunteers to run the railway on a three train day. For even greater involvement, Ⅵ Over 125 volunteers help each day with the Santa Specials. how about becoming a volunteer? It is a great Ⅵ We have a responsibility for 46 bridges, one viaduct, two tunnels and an opportunity to keep one of the aqueduct/footbridge all of which are over 115 years old. In 2018, we spent in foremost Cotswolds visitor excess of £150,000 on major repairs to just one bridge. attractions running – and it is fun too!’ Ⅵ All our bridges are inspected visually once a year and inspected by consultants every six years. We aim to have a detailed inspection of eight Uniquely for a Heritage bridges a year. Railway of this size, the GWSR relies almost exclusively on Ⅵ We are responsible for 30 miles of fencing and drainage channels. volunteers to keep it opera - tional. The professionalism Ⅵ Our volunteers include carpenters, bricklayers, plumbers, upholsterers, which our volunteers bring to electrical engineers, painters, mechanics, health and safety professionals, the role they are undertaking accountants etc. etc., as well as many with experience in IT, social media, for us is always appreciated administration, catering - and so it goes on! by our visitors. How each £1 of ticket income is allocated Please ask any of our volunteers Payroll for more details if Running Costs you wish to get Repairs to buildings and carriages involved. Civil Engineering and related infrastructure maintenance Available for investment in infrastructure display car park just across the road and just beyond the railway bridge. Broadway was a major coaching stop in the 1600s on the road from Worcester to London and had over thirty public houses. With the arrival of the railway at nearby Evesham in 1852, travel by stagecoach stopped almost immediately and the village became a backwater. Victorian artists were drawn to the area because of its tranquillity. Ⅵ Broadway Station = This, however, was all to change again with the arrival of the railway to the village itself in August Broadway 1904. Nowadays Broadway is a centre for arts and Broadway station is being rebuilt by volunteers. antiques as well as, of course, tourism. Local It was closed by British Railways in March 1960 and attractions include two museums - the Gordon demolished soon after. The station reopened to trains Russell Museum celebrating the work of the 20th using Platform 1 in 2018 and work is continuing on century furniture maker, and the Broadway reconstructing Platform 2, and a footbridge. Museum and Art Gallery which displays works dating back to the 17th century. Have a look around Platform 1 and see the detailed work undertaken by volunteers, The Refreshment Room offers a warm welcome. Enjoy delicious cakes and tempting tea cakes with a variety of teas and coffees. Snacks and cold drinks are also available. The Refreshment Room is open to both passengers and non-passengers. Relax while you sit and watch the trains arrive and depart, or simply take in the atmosphere of a busy village station from days gone by. The Refreshment Room is open on normal train timetable running days throughout the season from 10am to 4pm (subject to volunteer availability). Ⅵ Broadway Station Refreshment Room The village centre is about half a mile away and can be reached by a fifteen minute walk along a level To ł footway next to the B4632 Station Road. Evesham Broadway Alternatively a privately operated shuttle service can & bypass Station be pre-booked to meet the trains at the station: call Entrance in advance on 07895 028448. Please note we Car cannot accept any liability for this service. Park P S TA T Once there, you will find plenty of shops and IO Exit N R museums, coffee bars and hotels to make your short O A C D visit an enjoyable one and maybe give you an oppor - H I (B LD 4 tunity to plan a longer visit next time. S 6 W 3 R IC Car 2 O K ) A H D A Park P Broadway is situated on the Cotswold Way and is M an ideal choice for a stop if you want to explore this ) part of the Cotswolds. Just a mile outside the village 32 46 (B for instance is the famous Broadway Tower - the D R brainchild of Capability Brown and built in 1798. AM NH Broadway TE EL Village Centre There is a council-owned and operated pay and CH Page will give you up to date information. This narrow gauge railway is run by the North Gloucestershire Railway Company Ltd and is a completely separate company from our railway. Ⅵ Visit the Mini Signal Box by the side of the car park and try your hand at being a signalman.