7820 Dinsmore Manor at Cheltenham Racecourse Station
The 5th ‘Wartime in the Cotswolds’ event on the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) was a roaring success with large crowds over the weekend, particularly Sunday.
The event had lots of re-enactors dressed up in period costumes with lots of soldiers, sailors, and airmen as well as ladies and gents in wartime garb. This included the singers/groups at Cheltenham Racecourse, Gotherington, and Winchcombe station platforms.
At Toddington station, they were stalls with lots of period costumes for sale and wartime vehicles, both military (2nd battalion Royal Warwick regiment) and civilian. Also, the miniature railway was running as well as a swing band.
All the stations were dressed for wartime with sandbags and military soldiers standing guard, as well as lots of people in wartime costumes, including paper boys.
On duty were three full eight carriage trains hauled by steam engines (2807 a 2-8-0 engine formally run on the Great Western Railway,
7820 Dinmore Manor a 4-6-0 engine also from Great Western Railway and 35006 'Peninsular & Oriental S.N. Co’ a Merchant Navy class locomotive that ran on the Southern region (and owned by The 35006 Locomotive Company Limited).
Also, for the shuttle service between the newly opened Broadway station and Toddington station a Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) class 117 (owned by Cotswold Diesel Railcar Ltd) was running for the spectacular ride over the Stanway Viaduct and onto Broadway.
At Winchcombe station you could view away from the steam trains (which passed each other on the platforms) the Army Field Hospital, RAF Operations Room, Talks and demonstrations in the Tim Mitchell building, the Discovery coach and model railway as well as Army units from Gloucester and Dorset regiments. You need also not miss a visit to the Top Hat Club with its local beers, as well as burgers and drinks, and snacks from the café.
1940s singer Betsy Harmony entertaining at Winchcombe Station
Entertainment was from 1940s singer Betsy Harmony and a Laurel and Hardy act.
Gotherington station (which is privately owned) had a Bomb Girl theme with two singers Etienne and Violette Szabo entertaining the passing trains when they stopped at the station. In the owner's garden a Pump trolley, children’s activities, and lots of railway memorabilia were on display as well as military tents and policemen, again thanks to the owner.
Broadway station had a marquee on the village green with a jazz band, as well as visits from “King George VI” and “Winston Churchill” as well as a best-dressed shop and vintage bus between the village and Broadway station.
The views from the steam trains during the journey between Toddington and Cheltenham Racecourse were spectacular including the journey through Greet Tunnel (693 yards long) and through Gotherington to the end of the line currently at Cheltenham Racecourse.
The event was a success again and let’s see if for 2019 if the steam trains can do the whole route between Broadway and Cheltenham Racecourse, once the finishing touches are completed at Broadway station, including the bridge and café.
During the rest of the year, there is the Spring Steam and real Ale weekend, Cotswold Festival of Steam Gala, Back to Broadway Heritage Diesel Gala, and Santa Christmas Specials.
The 2019 Wartime in the Cotswolds event is on April 27th and 28th 2019.
