Weekly Meeting - Alan Beilby (The Toddington to Broadway Railway)

Wed, Aug 22nd 2018 at 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm

Friend: John Bowman
VOT: David Bruce


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Alan Beilby - The Toddington to Broadway Railway

Alan Beilby gave us a fascinating presentation on the Gloucestershire-Warwickshire Railway (GWSR) covering the history of the line, its closure and its subsequent re-opening as a volunteer-run heritage railway.  The line was originally part of Great Western Railway Cheltenham - Stratford-upon-Avon - Birmingham line which saved passengers having to travel via Paddington.  The line was primarily for freight and was closed down in 1976 after a coal train derailment; the track was lifted in 1979.   

The preservation group was set up in 1981 and the first commercial operation was in 1984 between Toddington and the site of the demolished Hayles Abbey Halt stations. The GWSR is a statutory body and has to comply with the same regulations and safety measures as main line operators.  Volunteers laid track, and refurbished or rebuilt stations and infrastructure using salvaged material from other railways; the aim was to return the line to its historic appearance.  

The decision to aim south was driven by the proximity of Winchcombe, which was reached in 1987, and expected disruption to the north of Toddington.  Twenty years later, it was decided to extend the line north but landslips in 2008 delayed work and required imaginative thinking and significant extra fundraising (£500,000).  The volunteers had to deal with 50 years of neglect on the original railway line and engage with neighbours, other statutory bodies and county councils.  Further difficulties were encountered when one of the embankments on the route north started to move and this resulted in a cost of £1.75 million for the last 2 miles of track and infrastructure in preparation for the opening of Broadway station.  It was a close run thing: in October 2017 there was a roof on the rebuilt and remodelled Broadway station but no tracks.  The first train ran in December 2017 and the line opened to the public in March 2018 although there is still work to do in addition to ongoing maintenance.

Alan gave us an excellent insight into the complexity of the problems encountered in setting up the heritage railway and the imaginative ways in which they had been addressed.  The line is a great testament to the enthusiasm, labour and commitment of the 900+ volunteers and it is predicted to attract 140,000 visitors from worldwide in 2018 with consequent benefits to the local economy.  It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening.  

David Bruce

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