Press release Thursday 11 May 2017
Tickets now on sale as iconic London depot opens its doors to the public in celebration of 111 years of engineering excellence
OOC111:
LEGENDS OF THE GREAT WESTERN
Tickets for the OOC111: Legends of the Great Western are now on sale, but you had better be quick, as they are expected to sell out quickly.
Buy your ticket.
The open day on Saturday 2 September will see a unique collection of trains and locomotives, both old and new, which make the Great Western ‘God’s Wonderful Railway’. The full line up will be announced soon.
It is 111 years since Old Oak Common opened on 17 March 1906, and the open day will celebrate its contribution to maintaining the Legends of the Great Western.
During it's 111-year history, the depot and its dedicated, highly skilled staff have maintained everything from the Kings and Castles of the steam era, to the diesel-powered Westerns and Warships.
In 1976 the depot was the maintenance hub in the Western region for the newly introduced High Speeds Trains, the iconic trains which changed the face of Intercity travel in the UK.
While the HST fleet still operates today it is soon to be replaced after over 40 years of service by the new Hitachi Intercity Express Train, which will provide another step change in passenger experience when they begin passenger services later this year.
All profits from the day will go to the depot’s chosen charity Place2Be, which provides mental health support for children in schools and whose patron is HRH The Duchess of Cambridge.
In May 2016 GWR’s St Philips Marsh depot raised over £20,000 for charity with a celebration of 40 years of the High Speed Train.
Tickets now on sale as iconic London depot opens its doors to the public in celebration of 111 years of engineering excellence
OOC111:
LEGENDS OF THE GREAT WESTERN
Tickets for the OOC111: Legends of the Great Western are now on sale, but you had better be quick, as they are expected to sell out quickly.
Buy your ticket.
The open day on Saturday 2 September will see a unique collection of trains and locomotives, both old and new, which make the Great Western ‘God’s Wonderful Railway’. The full line up will be announced soon.
It is 111 years since Old Oak Common opened on 17 March 1906, and the open day will celebrate its contribution to maintaining the Legends of the Great Western.
During it's 111-year history, the depot and its dedicated, highly skilled staff have maintained everything from the Kings and Castles of the steam era, to the diesel-powered Westerns and Warships.
In 1976 the depot was the maintenance hub in the Western region for the newly introduced High Speeds Trains, the iconic trains which changed the face of Intercity travel in the UK.
While the HST fleet still operates today it is soon to be replaced after over 40 years of service by the new Hitachi Intercity Express Train, which will provide another step change in passenger experience when they begin passenger services later this year.
All profits from the day will go to the depot’s chosen charity Place2Be, which provides mental health support for children in schools and whose patron is HRH The Duchess of Cambridge.
In May 2016 GWR’s St Philips Marsh depot raised over £20,000 for charity with a celebration of 40 years of the High Speed Train.
We are informed that the link 'Buy your ticket' above may not work - try this link instead https://billetto.co.uk/e/old-oak-common-111-tickets-186901/select
Penzance stock movement
Craig Munday
Craig Munday
Hi Keith. I hope you and your family are feeling a bit better. I spoke to Roger W who said you are poorly.
Here's a tonic for you! A delightful move each evening usually involves clearing the traffic from Long Rock prior to the sets arriving. The Pilot takes the barrier vehicle and cripples into Slopers, and is seen on a stunning 10th May 2017. High tide just passed and the sea a fabulous blue colour.
Cheers for now - the last of the sun for a few days it seems...
Craig Many thanks for the best wishes Craig. We have not been well and the website have been a bit poorly this last week. (Both at my end and with RW) Hopefully things are getting back to normal now. Best wishes to all.
Here's a tonic for you! A delightful move each evening usually involves clearing the traffic from Long Rock prior to the sets arriving. The Pilot takes the barrier vehicle and cripples into Slopers, and is seen on a stunning 10th May 2017. High tide just passed and the sea a fabulous blue colour.
Cheers for now - the last of the sun for a few days it seems...
Craig Many thanks for the best wishes Craig. We have not been well and the website have been a bit poorly this last week. (Both at my end and with RW) Hopefully things are getting back to normal now. Best wishes to all.
Here is the 'tonic' - it will do us all well I think. 08410 at Penzance on the 10th April 2017 Copyright Craig Munday
Visit to the Gartell Railway
Bank Holiday Monday
1st May 2017
By members of the CRS
Photographs Roger Salter
Andrew Triggs & Roger Winnen
Bank Holiday Monday
1st May 2017
By members of the CRS
Photographs Roger Salter
Andrew Triggs & Roger Winnen
This railway only operates about eight days during the year, however Bank Holiday Monday 1st May was a running day.
Leaving Cornwall the weather looked very grim indeed and worse was to come as we went into Devon, Exeter was more like winter. Leaving Exeter on the Southern Main Line to Templecombe it began to look more favourable and sunshine prevailed as we neared our destination and remained so for the rest of the day until our departure. It was found out later that Mount Batten, Plymouth had the most railfall in the country on Bank Holiday Monday. The Gartell Railway is well worth a visit, their next steaming day is Bank Holiday Monday 29th May, 2017.
Leaving Cornwall the weather looked very grim indeed and worse was to come as we went into Devon, Exeter was more like winter. Leaving Exeter on the Southern Main Line to Templecombe it began to look more favourable and sunshine prevailed as we neared our destination and remained so for the rest of the day until our departure. It was found out later that Mount Batten, Plymouth had the most railfall in the country on Bank Holiday Monday. The Gartell Railway is well worth a visit, their next steaming day is Bank Holiday Monday 29th May, 2017.
170501a The Gartell Railway Open Today. Copyright Roger Salter
170501d Mr G at the Common Lane terminus. Copyright Roger Salter - Copy
170501zd Amanda departing Common Lane under the signal gantry. Copyright Andrew Triggs
170501zd Amanda departing Common Lane under the signal gantry. Copyright Andrew Triggs
170501i Semaphore Signals on the Gartell Railway being a mixture of Southern and Great Western bring back memories. Copyright Roger Winnen
170501j Mr G an 0-4-2 tank was the lines first steam locomotive built in 1998 at the North Dorset Loco works at Motcombe near Shaftesbury. This engine was named after John Gartell's father - Copy Roger Winnen
More photographs to be found in the features Pages
The Yealmpton Path -
an Update by Andy Rigler
an Update by Andy Rigler
The Yealmpton branch is long gone, but take a look at a feature written by Andy Rigler on a recent externsion and planned extensions.
Treleigh
Sid Sponheimer
Sid Sponheimer
1031 Western Rifleman heads an up service at Treleigh 6th April 1973 Copyright Sid Spohneimer
Bristol Temple Meads
John Cornelius
John Cornelius
Copyright John Cornelius