Join us for our next outdoor excursion!
Saturday 6th June 2026
'Exploring the Railways of Devon'
Join us next Saturday for a whistle-stop tour of the railway of Devon, including a visit to Okehampton and a fish and chip supper at Dawlish.
Timings for pick up and set-downs are available in the outdoor meetings program, and for any further information please tel. Roger Winnen on 01736 350048.
Timings for pick up and set-downs are available in the outdoor meetings program, and for any further information please tel. Roger Winnen on 01736 350048.
The Cotswold Festival of Steam
Ian Thomas
As always, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway held their annual Festival of Steam over the Spring Bank Holiday, and 2026 was no exception. In most other years, the weather has been typical of late May, with either a warm sunny spell or rain and showers. However, no one could have foreseen the heatwave that set in on Thursday, May 23rd, and, as I type, is slowly easing away as cooler Atlantic air arrives from the west.
It was a gala like no other I have experienced. As temperatures began to nudge 30°C by Saturday, it made all-round operations very uncomfortable indeed. There were health issues amongst the public and even footplate staff as the heat took its toll. The South West Ambulance Service was in evidence, and the timetable just fell apart. It did not help matters that two points failures happened early in the day on Saturday, but the GWRS staff did their level best to keep things going.
Sunday proved yet another trying day as the mercury pushed to around 32°C by early afternoon, although we were not there that day. The Caledonian tank suffered a mechanical fault, but this was put right by engineers from the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway travelling all that way to sort it out.
The GWRS staff worked overnight into Monday and issued a revised timetable for Monday on a simpler basis than the previous two days. The Monday timetable offered a service between Cheltenham and Toddington, and a shuttle service from there to Broadway and back with 15189, plus the goods trains.
All in all, our thanks went to the GWRS staff and the guys from Scotland for what they did, and a further vote of thanks to the footplate staff for operating in the highest recorded May temperatures on record. Absolutely brilliant.
So enjoy the pictures taken by myself and Rich Kelsey. In particular, the photo of him as a 13-year-old lad on the footplate of 45110 at the Severn Valley Railway in 1978, and the one taken 48 years later. Also included are pictures of the Caledonian tank in blue livery back in 2019 at Winchcombe, and a gem of a photo of the very same machine, numbered 55189, taken at Carstairs in 1961 by the late Gilroy Kerr, former Coaley Junction signalman from 1963–1968. ENJOY.
It was a gala like no other I have experienced. As temperatures began to nudge 30°C by Saturday, it made all-round operations very uncomfortable indeed. There were health issues amongst the public and even footplate staff as the heat took its toll. The South West Ambulance Service was in evidence, and the timetable just fell apart. It did not help matters that two points failures happened early in the day on Saturday, but the GWRS staff did their level best to keep things going.
Sunday proved yet another trying day as the mercury pushed to around 32°C by early afternoon, although we were not there that day. The Caledonian tank suffered a mechanical fault, but this was put right by engineers from the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway travelling all that way to sort it out.
The GWRS staff worked overnight into Monday and issued a revised timetable for Monday on a simpler basis than the previous two days. The Monday timetable offered a service between Cheltenham and Toddington, and a shuttle service from there to Broadway and back with 15189, plus the goods trains.
All in all, our thanks went to the GWRS staff and the guys from Scotland for what they did, and a further vote of thanks to the footplate staff for operating in the highest recorded May temperatures on record. Absolutely brilliant.
So enjoy the pictures taken by myself and Rich Kelsey. In particular, the photo of him as a 13-year-old lad on the footplate of 45110 at the Severn Valley Railway in 1978, and the one taken 48 years later. Also included are pictures of the Caledonian tank in blue livery back in 2019 at Winchcombe, and a gem of a photo of the very same machine, numbered 55189, taken at Carstairs in 1961 by the late Gilroy Kerr, former Coaley Junction signalman from 1963–1968. ENJOY.
Please click any image below for an enlargement and caption - images by Ian Thomas and Rich Kelsey.
The Caledonian 0-4-4T as 419 in 2019, click for enlargements.
And finally 55189 at Carstairs on 07.08.1961, copyright the late Gilroy Kerr.
Many thanks for the comprehensive report Ian - nice photos from you and Rich.
Caroline is coming!
Clive Smith
With the expected visit to Penzance this Monday and Tuesday of Loram's 37418 and inspection saloon Caroline, here are some pictures from the 7th September 2022 that have not been shown before on the website. Back then it was in its attractive BR large logo livery with Inverness Highland Rail embellishments.
37418 + inspection saloon 'Caroline' captured at Ivybridge with the 07.56 Exeter St Davids - Fowey. 07.09.2022, copyright Clive Smith.
37418 now pushing 'Caroline' past Dawlish with the 13.25 Kingswear - Exeter St Davids leg. 07.09.2022, copyright Clive Smith.
37418 now pushing 'Caroline' past Dawlish with the 13.25 Kingswear - Exeter St Davids leg. 07.09.2022, copyright Clive Smith.
Thanks for the reminder Clive.
37418 and Caroline should work the following next week:
Monday 1st June:
5Z31 0646 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Penzance
Tuesday 2nd June:
2Z32 0730 Penzance to Bournemouth
37418 and Caroline should work the following next week:
Monday 1st June:
5Z31 0646 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Penzance
Tuesday 2nd June:
2Z32 0730 Penzance to Bournemouth
Ex-works Hymek
Michael Adams
Michael Adams has sent over this picture of D7029 that he took at Swindon works on 17 January 1981, and does'nt it look great. The loco was withdrawn on 23 February 1975 and can now be seen on the Severn Valley Railway. Copyright Michael Adams.
Many thanks to Michael, and to Michael Forward for sending this one over.
Another sunny day in Cornwall
Mark Lynam, Jon Hird & Clive Smith
43062 + 43014 at Marazion working 1Q18 0543 Reading Triangle Sidings to Paignton via Penzance. 29.05.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
43014 leading the returning NMT through Marazion. 29.05.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
175007 heads west at Crugwallins with 2C18, an Exeter - Penzance service. The unit later failed between Camborne and Hayle, but was eventually able to self-recover and continue on its way. 29.05.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
43014 and 43062 head east at Crugwallins with the 4-weekly test train. 29.05.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
It's not difficult to guess the location of Clives photograph, showing a Newquay - Paddington IET heading east. 29.05.2026, copyright Clive Smith.
Many thanks Clive and Mark - the sun has been very much appreciated these last few days!
... and sunshine in Somerset!
Andrew Triggs
XC 220023 passing Creech St Michael at Dunnings Farm overbridge working 1V60 08.20 Aberdeen-Plymouth. 29.05.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
43062 (with 43013) working 1Q18 15.39 Paignton-Taunton NMT run, passing Creech St Michael. 29.05.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
GBRf 66748 'St Michael's Mount' leading the 'Britannic Explorer' 1V01 15.48 London Victoria-Bishops Lydeard GBRf approaching Longlands overbridge, WSR. 29.05.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
Many thanks Andrew - a lovely selection.