Full Steam Ahead On The GWSR To Broadway

There is something quite romantic and quintessentially British about a steam train, chugging its way through the verdant countryside, puffing out its trail of white smoke and sounding its whistle to herald its arrival at stations and crossings. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway is operated by a group of dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers who keep the stock rolling along. Starting out from the station at Cheltenham Racecourse, the trains take a 28-mile round trip to Broadway through pretty hamlets and some of the most beautiful Cotswolds countryside, with stunning views across to the Malvern Hills.

The station in Cheltenham is like stepping back in time with its original ‘flat-pack’ wooden ticket office and its platform decorated with hanging baskets filled with cascades of colourful flowers. The Station Master and Guard look resplendent in their authentic uniforms. And whilst passengers can’t quite ‘‘ride on the foot plate there and back again’, you can pay the driver and the roaring fire of the furnace a visit before the train departs on its hour-long journey to its destination. With stops en route at Gotherington, Winchcombe and Toddington, the train travels through the Greet Tunnel and over the magnificent Stanway Viaduct. There is also a request stop at Hayles Abbey Halt which is popular with walkers and cyclists

Plush first-class carriages at the front of the train offer a nostalgic way to travel in the privacy of your own enclosed space, with three large, comfortable seats each side facing each other. There’s a buffet car too serving hot and cold drinks and snacks for in-journey sustenance. Or you can break your trip by stopping off to visit the Coffee Pot Café, a 1950’s style railway tearoom on the station at Winchcombe or the Flag and Whistle Café at Toddington.

Just simply making the journey is thrilling enough, but GWSR also operate a series of events each year, including the ever-popular Cheltenham Fryer. Starting and finishing in Toddington and traveling south along the line to Cheltenham, billed as ‘the world’s fastest fish and chips’, there is one date left on this year’s calendar so it’s not too late to have your fish and eat it. Or how about letting the steam train take the strain for your visit to the Cotswolds Food and Drink Fayre on the 20^th/21^st October 2018? Of course, no steam railway would be complete without a Santa Special; running throughout December including Christmas Eve these trips are full of festive fun. There’s also a Christmas Carols by Steam Train event on the 8^th December 2018.

So, it’s all aboard GWSR, whether you choose just to sit back and experience the ride, or enjoy one of the steam train events. For more information and timetables, visit the Gloucester Warwickshire Steam Railway website.

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This post was bought to you by our Cheltenham Champion Susan Duncombe of Secret Concierge. You can find out more about Secret Concierge here...