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Society Annual Outing:  Sunday July 13th 2008, to the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway
plus Stratford-on –Avon, and a trip on the Shakespeare Express from Stratford to Birmingham Snow Hill.

Forty-nine members and friends joined us on our Bakers coach, in glorious sunny weather so uncharacteristic of this summer for our annual coach outing on 13th July. In fact, may be this was our summer in 2008, as it remained sunny and warm all day!
After our last pick-up in Clevedon, we headed north on the M5 to Cheltenham Racecourse station. We had plenty of time to look around, and some were tempted to take a look at the nearby Car-boot sale, before our train arrive with ex GWR steam loco 7903 Foremarke Hall at the helm.

7903 Foremarke Hall at Cheltenham Race Course
Tracking down our reserved coach, and after some photos prior to departure, we had a run along the full length of the line to Toddington, noting along the way the station house at Gotherington with its own railway in the garden, including a Wickham personnel carrier!  Along the way we passed GWR 5619 at Winchcombe as the other engine in steam.
On arrival at Toddington we saw the extent to which the G&WR welcomes diesel traction, with representatives of class 08, 24, 31, 37 (x2) 47 (x3) and 73 – most in rail blue- outside the recent large engine shed- more diesels than at many a diesel stabling point in the 1970’s! A welcome sight was 9F 92203 Black Prince in a siding by the station. We had half an hour to look around- watch the Hall shunting, visit the Gift shop etc, before we rejoined our coach for the onward trip to Stratford.
The initial part of the journey took us alongside the extension planned by the G&WR towards Broadway, with much track already in place (although not necessarily ballasted) and we caught glimpses of Stanway viaduct, an impressive feature which G&WR works trains have already crossed.
Members disembarked at Stratford where every summer Sunday is busy. Flood recovery/ landscaping work meant that much of the riverside lawns and gardens were fenced off, but we had a couple of hours free here to do as we pleased- maybe get a spot of lunch, take in some of the Shakespeare-related highlights or to stroll down to the station to see the Shakespeare Express arrive at three-O’clock, an hour before departure time.
Image - reserved for us
The motive power on our train was another GWR Hall class loco- this time 4936 Kinlet Hall. Again we had a reserved coach. The journey from Stratford to Snow Hill, allowing for two stops (Tyseley and Birmingham Moor Street) , took an hour, and featured “a rare curve” for track gricers and a brief view of Tyseley steam and diesel sheds- although again many diesels were to be seen in the far distance at the former, along with a Jubilee under restoration. Arrival into the “modern” Snow Hill at 1715 left us with time to see the Hall run round, and the arrival and departure of Sprinters and much more modern trains in the shape of the Midland Metro trams on nearby tracks.

Kinlet Hall at Birmingham Snow Hill

We rejoined our coach at Snow Hill for a return journey down the M5- thankfully without any delays, with comfort stops at services en route. Arrival back in Weston was on time- just after half-past eight- in fact allowing those continuing to the final set-down point in the Coach park to see more main line steam- this time Bulleid Pacific 34067 Tangmere on the returning “Torbay Express”.
All in all a very successful day- perfect weather, and perfect planning by Peter Carr, to who we are indebted for the arrangements and bookings. Thanks to all who attended- in fact our best attended trip in the thirty-year history of the Society.

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