Bank Holiday ‘Kids go Free’ at Cotswold Festival of Steam

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) is welcoming youngsters to its award-winning Cotswold Festival of Steam (24-26 May) on the Bank Holiday Monday, 26 May. 

The event celebrates ‘Railway 200’, a year-long nationwide celebration of the bi-centenary of modern railways.

Collage (left to right) 75069, Crowded platform at Cotswold Fest of Steam 2024, 34092 photographed by Jack Boskett.

The Festival will see up to ten steam locomotives operating over the 14-mile Cotswold line, between Cheltenham Racecourse and Broadway. Joining the GWSR’s home fleet of five steam locomotives will be locomotives visiting from other heritage railways. Two have been confirmed so far, a British Railways Standard class 4, no. 75069 from the Severn Valley Railway and ex-Southern Railway ‘West Country’ class Pacific, no. 34092 City of Wells from the East Lancashire Railway.

On Bank Holiday Monday (26 May), the railway is inviting families to enjoy the Festival by offering ‘kids go free’. The theme of the event is ‘Celebrating Railway 200’, marking the bi-centenary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, which was the first commercially successful railway to use steam locomotives, spawning the world-wide railway network that we know today.

Tom Willson, Chairman of the small volunteer organising committee commented: “This is a very special year not just for our railway but for heritage railways throughout the UK, as well as the national network.

We are expecting up to ten locomotives to perform during our Cotswold Festival of Steam. And as a special Railway 200 offer, we are inviting youngsters between the age of 5 and 15 to travel free (under-5s travel free anyway) – up to three with two adult tickets bought for the event, on Bank Holiday Monday.

Railways such as ours depend on volunteers – undertaking everything from drivers and firemen, signallers, station and catering staff as well as those who maintain the infrastructure, buildings, coaches and locomotives. With the doors of our locomotive depot at Toddington and Carriage & Wagon Works at Winchcombe thrown open, it is a great chance for inquisitive youngsters to find out more."

Tom Willson adds: “Education is a key aspect of Railway 200 and our volunteers are always keen to explain how everything works. Many became interested in railways at a young age and love to see young people developing the same enthusiasm – some of our young visitors may well one day find themselves in charge of a train, acting as a guard or working a signal-box.”

Collage (left) 34092 photographed by Jack Boskett, (right images) 34092 photographed by Ian Crowder.

Further announcements are expected soon concerning additional visiting locomotives. The railway expects to operate up to 10 locomotives, including on the delightful independent 2ft-gauge Toddington Narrow Gauge Railway (entry free). The timetable will include double-headed trains, non-stop ‘expresses’ and goods trains. There are opportunities to visit locomotive footplates and ride on the brake van of goods trains (small additional fee). 

The owners of Gotherington Station are opening their grounds for the occasion and offering refreshments and opportunities to try a ‘pump trolley’ on the private siding, while both the David Page locomotive shed at Toddington and the Carriage and Wagon Works at Winchcombe will be open. Also at Toddington will be several traction engines in steam as well as miniature traction engines, some offering trailer rides. Refreshments will be available at all main stations.

Tickets are now available at www.gwsr.com