We first visited this railway in 2005 whilst dismantling 31123 and we were asked if one of our locos could visit the line at some point. Indeed in the summer of 2007 we had a request for a loco to attend their July 2008 Diesel Gala and as 31108 had ‘done the rounds’ and 31271 had plenty of work at NVR , we offered them 31162 from the North Norfolk Railway.
We informed the shed staff at Weybourne who arranged for 31162 to be moved down to Sheringham ready for collection by road and on Weds 25th June , 31162 moved to Toddington with arrival there in the early evening.
The Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway runs for 10 miles between Toddington and Cheltenham Racecourse although the line is currently being extended a few more miles to Broadway. The loco depot and main hub is at Toddington whilst the carriage depot is based at Winchcombe about 2 miles away. It is a very atmospheric railway and once past Greet Tunnel , the scenery is outstanding.
The Diesel Gala took place over the weekend of Sat 5th / Sun 6th July and on Fri 4th July we gave 31162 an A exam after which she was used to work a freight train to Cheltenham ready for the next days event. Thankfully all went well with this and at the Gala with no problems reported.
Originally the plan was only to visit for the July event , however we were asked if we’d like to stay a little longer which we were very happy with ! Unfortunately much of the work for diesels locos had ceased at the NNR so we were very pleased to oblige. The GWSR is a very pro-diesel railway and we have been made very welcome.
For more information about the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway , please visit www.gwsr.com/
31162 receives an A exam at Toddington shed ..04/07/08
A few hours later and 31162 emerges from Greet Tunnel with a freight for Cheltenham..04/07/08
Under some serious black clouds, the same train is viewed further down the line..04/07/08
Now during the Gala , 31162 arrives at Cheltenham Racecourse with a service from Toddington..06/07/08
Having a break inbetween trains , 31162 is stabled in the headshunt at Toddington with 47105 on shed..06/07/08
Once again resting , this time at Winchcombe waiting to relieve an incoming train from Toddington..06/07/08
All photos courtesy of Mr R Drewitt
During some maintenance, 31162 stands in the car park at Toddington prior to the following days’s Diesel Gala. 47105 and 24081 look on in the platform..24/10/08 photo D Firth
With all the work completed, 31162 is now ready for action ! ..24/10/08 photo D Firth
Our final day of operating with 31162 at GWSR. The ‘roadshow’ gathers at Gotherington during the ‘Farewell’ charter on the 1215 Toddington to Cheltenham service during its booked stop. 27/07/09
GWSR OPERATING DATES FOR 5580 / 31162
- Freight train to Cheltenham & return – 04/07/08.
- Diesel Gala – 05/07/08 – 06/07/08.
- Running Day – 27/08/08….3 trips.
- Driver Experience Day – 03/10/08….3 trips.
- Driver Experience Day – 10/10/08….3 trips.
- Running Day – 19/10/08….3 trips.
- Diesel Gala – 25/10/08 – 26/10/08.
- Diesel Gala – 27/12/08.
- Diesel Gala – 04/04/09 – 05/04/09.
- Diesel Gala – 11/07/09 – 12/07/09.
- ‘Farewell’ Running Day – 27/07/09….4 trips.