WIAS - Warwickshire Industrial Archaeology Society

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway

'The Honeybourne Line'

Enjoy a slide show taken on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway preserved line at Toddington on a gloriously warm and sunny Wednesday afternoon in late October. Views up the new extension to Broadway, around Toddington station as 0-6-2T No. 5619 tank arrives with the service from Cheltenham Race Course and then runs round the train and takes on water. Views of the station with a nice crane and Yorkshire Engine Co. diesel shunter. 5619 departs on the 2.30pm service to Cheltenham Race Course and then returns and is seen on the coaling road in the early evening sunshine. Brush diesel comes onto the coaches to replace 5619 and to haul the last train of the day at 4.15pm down to Cheltenham again. The last pictures show 92203 'Black Prince' waiting to haul the Bonfire Night special to the fireworks display at Cheltenham Race Course a few days later. It's just over the border from Warwickshire but it's well worth a visit!

The railway is presently in desperate need of financial assistance, (£1,000,000), following a series of major incidents which have had a catastrophic effect on the permanent way. Visit the website to read the full extent of the problem.

Click here to visit the G W R web site

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway runs along a part of the former Great Western Railway mainline from Birmingham to Cheltenham, via Stratford-upon-Avon. The line commands wonderful views of the sleepy hamlets and villages, as the it runs though the beautiful Cotswold countryside.

The line was primarily built (1900-1906) to improve through services from Birmingham to Bristol and the West Country. It also carried fruit from the highly productive farming areas both in the Cotswolds and the Vale of Evesham.

"The Cornishman" express, complete with its chocolate and cream coaches, ran over this railway from 1952 until 1962 and formed the Wolverhampton to Penzance service via Birmingham, Stratford-upon-Avon, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Bristol, Taunton, Exeter and Plymouth.

The line closed to local passenger traffic on 5th March 1960, the last train being the (8731 Saturday Only) 10:25 pm Cheltenham St James to Broadway and 11:25 pm return. The line continued in use for goods services until an incident at Winchcombe on 25th August 1976 effectively closed the line. (GWR Society).