From the BBC:

 


I'm sorry to have to correct you on that, grahame, but there was - I've now found it and merged everything relating to the excellent Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway into this one topic, for ease of future reference. 

 

I don't think there WAS an original topic, Chris ... the Coffee Shop is surprisingly patchy when we get onto heritage / attractions, especially where they are not [yet] available to our members and guest readers.

 
Not related to the appeal, but I'm struggling to find the original topic. 

From the BBC, see https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2jjveyv8k2o

 
Stanway Viaduct, a little to the north of Toddington Station, has suffered from failure of the waterproofing layer of its deck, leading to water penetration and subsequent damage to masonry

An appeal to raise funds to repair the damage and secure the structure into the future has been launched

https://www.gwrt.org.uk/donate/stanway-viaduct-appeal

 

I did a trip Tuesday last week, it was a great day as always. The narrow gauge was not operating the day I went though.  The railway was busy but plenty of space on board the trains.

I am a share holder and get free tickets, but I decided to pay the normal fare to give the railway the revenue

 
Visited the line today for a day out. Round trip from Toddington with a break at Broadway. Two 7 coach trains operating busy but plenty of space. Also visited the narrow gauge line which hasn't been operating on my previous visits. Nice day out, but more expensive than previous years.

 
Some pictures of the current condition of some of the bridges etc can be found here:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zig3js84ef7role/AACz7bcl-ImomVlwTD1cxXoma?dl=0

It's a big mess

 

My understanding is that they just want shot of it, so for next to nothing. BUT the DfT want the highways authority to pick it up so that the bridges get maintained, leasing to GWSR antvof course the total lack of any bridge maintenance means a big bill for the taxpayers through the precept to carry this work out.

 
It possibly needs more local authorities to do what the New Forest National Park did. They made a ruling that former railway lines and associated areas (not sure of the wording for the second half) could only be used for active and sustainable transport. Thus preserving the Chichester - Midhurst line and the Petersfield - Pulborough line and the former Hampshire lines within their area from further development.

 
I think that passive provision of the line is the best bet at present.  It rather depends on what Sustrans want for it.

 
I do hope they elect to purchase it to safe guard any future option, if they did a share offering its is something I would consider

 
As a frequent road user of the bridges along this section of trackbed, I have to say that the majority appear to be in a fairly ropey condition. It's no wonder that Sustrans, having done nothing but neglect this infrastructure for, what, quarter of a century, now want to be shot of it.  The bridge repair bill would obviously be above the seven-figure mark. 

This section last saw traffic (other than demolition trains) in 1976, 45 years ago.  BR did precious little maintenance in the years prior to that.

I really hope the GWSR can do something, over time, to restore trains between Honeybourne and Broadway, but it will be a mega costly enterprise

 
GWSR say they have no funds after Covid effects on their finances & a survey of the bridges on the offered trackbed show minimal upkeep by RPL with work now necessary on most of them. Difficult situation

 
GWSR in the news again with what could be their securing of trackbed between Broadway and Honeybourne.  Current owners, Railway Paths Ltd (a subsidiary of Sustrans), apparently don't see the trackbed as fitting in with their plans, hence the prospect of a change in ownership.
Even if it all happens, don't expect a link up with GBR at Honeybourne anytime soon, as the article below says, the GWSR are some way off being ready to extend that far yet.

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/08/gwsr-could-take-on-broadway-to-honeybourne-trackbed.html

 

Yep, I noticed that too and quickly changed it!  Don't think the GWSR reaches as far South as Avonmouth!   

 
Wrong link I think!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-57914924

 
I thought that reviving this thread was more appropriate than starting a new one given the news here from the Beeb regarding the GWSR's 40th anniversary.

Happy 40th GWSR!

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-57914924

 
The GWSR have another landslip - this time at Gotherington. It looks like they were hoping to fund the repairs, which are underway, from running revenue - but of course everything's stopped due to Coronavirus, and so they are appealing for funds.

Source: GWSR

 
Was able to give my regards to Broadway today as a birthday treat for tomorrow by my good partner in rail related matters (many thanks to trainer). We were hauled by King Edward II and I did wonder if there were any red hot pokers left behind in the firebox. Very well loaded with coach parties.The new station and the new extension seems resplendently splendid with the Broadway station having no less than 4 fully uniformed staff on the platform. Weather was perfect, you could see for miles, and think it was one of the best return journeys I have had on the line in recent years.

 
First train with passengers to stop at Broadway since 1960, a special for members and shareholders.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVHB95g4RUo

 
As tests go, that one went jolly well, I reckon!

 
The first test train with a steam engine entered Broadway station today :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08MX_92rYjM&feature=youtu.be

 

Please let this fall under JFDI rather than GRIP!

 
If they apply the GRIP process, we can expect to see it running some time in the early 2090s...

 

Yes, reckless haste I know but this one really might not take geological time. The frame is off to Loughborough I gather for professional assembly. Parts for it have been procured over the years apparently and the blog implies it might run on the GWSR.

http://gwsrsteamloco.blogspot.co.uk/2017/

Found on the 31st Dec edition about 2/3rds down.

 

What, under 15 years maybe?

 
Regulars or occasional visitors to the railway may have noticed, as have I, the component parts of a steam loco that has sat on wagons on the north headshunt from Toddington for a very long time and wondered what it was there for and what was going to be done with it.
Well, according to the GWSR Broadway extension blog it's No 76077 in dismantled kit form which is now moving to proper restoration. More details are also on the GWSR Steam Loco blog but it only had a short working life before retirement and so is actually in remarkably good nick. Nice to see an old loco being restored in what may be a relatively short while.

 

Mine bears the scars of Witwatersrand quartzite. Hard knocks, good times, mostly ...

 
I once worked on a tunneling site - not high enough to stand up in. There was a doorway part way along installed for possible airlock if needed (never was), and once I walked straight into it (bent over so straight on top of my head) quite hard.  Very grateful for hard hat then!

 
I used to wear a hard hat underground. Without it, I wouldn't have hit my head on the roof so much, but it was handy for holding my lamp.

 
Apologies if I took your comment the wrong way. 

Actually I too used to wear a hard had on my 10 years on P.Way - and it didn't save a single accident but was a huge pain in the arse when clipping up track because it kept falling off !

Anyway have a great Christmas and its certainly great news that the GWR  are in Broadway.

 

It was a joke that obviously backfired in your case.  I've worked on the track for the past 49 years and have only been hit on the head once and that was by a flying rolled up newspaper hurled out of a delayed train window by some frustrated commuter.  In the first 18 years of my career never wore a hard hat once (just a wooly one!).

 

Goggles are used for rail cutting etc. and there are plenty of hard hats if needed. Which for watching a train go into a station they aren't !

FYI from the HSE site
"If there is no risk of injury to the head, then hard hats are not required by law." 

 
Perhaps GWSR aught to be encouraged to bid for the GWR franchise

 

...wot, no hard hats, goggles etc.......

 
The first works train reaches Broadway station. Fantastic achievement for a heritage line - on time and on budget with most of the track laid with continuous welded rail to a very high standard. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGU4TTG5YTE&feature=youtu.be

 

 
In polite circles, one partakes of the sandwich first, followed (perhaps) by a slice of cake. 

Best wishes to the Broadway café, anyway! 

 

They have acted as all good boards of trustees should act, they looked at the commercial viability of a café and made a proposal, however they have been willing to take on board the views of the volunteers building Broadway and in my view have agreed to a café provided a case can be made for its staffing etc.

I for one look forward to sitting at Broadway café and having a coffee, a slice of cake and a sandwich

 
Looks like the GWSR board has had a change of mind regarding the Broadway cafe according to their boardroom blog and the Broadway Station Rebuild blog.

 

I shall be in Oxfordshire later this week. I shall apply for shore leave.

 
Well, The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway (EVR) in Wirksworth, Derbyshire appears to operate a very successful outfit in an ex Gatwick Express coach in a station siding. No idea how it's staffed, but they attract locals, walkers, cyclists, tourists and trainloads for hot and cold snacks. I receive a free, daily update email from the railway (Just sign up) on progress, specials, vistitors and successes of the engineerium. (all very positive news in these bleak times, and I thank them for it). No doubt like GWSR, it's a very well run operation, largely by dedicated volunteers. I'm sure if a catering officer from GWSR contacted the EVR operation, advice would be forthcoming, to say nothing of a 'behind the scenes tour and a warm welcome) I'm not even a member of the EVR, just a visitor. Jim

 
Red Squirrel - I will, but it's Blogger with its accursed commenting system that seems to break every browser I try, so it might take a few goes...

4TN - come over to Charlbury and we'll sell you some cake.

 

Cheese scones, please.

 
I don't suppose you could be persuaded to post words to that effect here, could you?

http://gwrboardroom.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/broadway-station-there-appears-to-be.html

 
Quite. As a cafe magnate (ho ho - well, the chairman of Charlbury Deli & Cafe Ltd) I know we'd be very interested if a similar opportunity arose here; indeed, we run the cafe in the new Charlbury Community Centre as our second venue.

For an existing business, it's a really attractive prospect. You don't need a kitchen; you prepare the sandwiches etc. at your main cafe in the less busy periods, then ship them up to the station to be sold there.

I don't know the Broadway site well enough to comment definitively, but the combination of steam railway, Caravan Club site, and its situation in a busy walking/cycling area makes it look like a good prospect for a cafe business.

 

This issue seems to have come to light because the station building has reached the point where the location of services needs to be decided. Presumably someone thinks it's a good idea to economise by not installing plumbing, drainage and kitchen electrics.

It looks like the powers that be in the GWSR have a fixed view of what a cafe should be - they appear to have ruled our franchising it, and it doesn't appear to have crossed their minds that for most people a decent cup of tea or can of pop with maybe a slice of Mr Kipling or a bag of crisps is quite sufficient, requires little equipment to prepare, and can be sold with a decent markup. Hot food could come later.

The 'Board' state in their blog that they wish to "increase the size of their retail estate" - as if they were John Lewis or something. Presumably they have access to market analytics, hidden from the rest of us, that show exponential growth in the gift shop tat market whilst coffee shops stagnate; the evidence of my eyes suggests otherwise.  They also say that this decision was taken two years ago... if that's the case then it looks like they didn't communicate it very well to the people who are building the station.

 
That would be the case if they were to run it themselves & perfectly understandable, but they could sell a concession for immediate income

 
A shop has a lower start up cost. Given that GWSR have financial constraints just like everyone else and they have (I gather) to budget for the platform 2 waiting room still to be built, a delay to a cafe my be a necessary measure. I'm sure it could turn a profit but a 2018 opening may be step too early. A little more clarity of intention might be a bit more diplomatic though.

 

 

A shame, unless Pumpkin were going to run it.

 
You would, and I would...

The debate rumbles on on the blog site comments section...

 
Maybe you're right - but surely, they'd put feelers out to local trades people to see if anyone wanted a concession before redesigning it?

 
The implication is that they haven't asked anyone beyond their own volunteers to staff it.

On the face of it (and of course this is just my uninformed opinion) the cafe ought to be viable - there's a popular Caravan Club site next door with no onsite catering facilities and providing a steady stream of visitors; there are no other facilities nearby (Broadway village centre is nearly a kilometre away) and the station itself is maturing into an attraction in its own right.

 
Looks as though there wasn't much chance to make a profit for those interested in bidding to run it?

 

Any thoughts..?

 
and in case you didn't notice this item on one of their senior members:
https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/uk/steam-engine-driver-steps-footplate-65-years-railways/

 
Never mind getting a GRIP - they JFDI! 

 

GRIP 6 then?

 
The scaffolding is down at Broadway Station, and after all that heartache two years ago just look at the amazing result:

[image removed]

Photo: Broadway Extension Blog

The track will be laid shortly - brand new bullhead rail, on brand new jarrah sleepers. Fantastic!

 
All hail Hayles Abbey Halt! The halt was opened on Monday. Footage I saw looks like even the weather was relatively kind, all considering the national picture.

 
Photos    I used a wide angle lens so some may look a little distorted also the light was a bit tough with the setting sun

IMG_6865 by Electric Train, on Flickr

IMG_6879 by Electric Train, on Flickr

IMG_6851 by Electric Train, on Flickr

IMG_6854 by Electric Train, on Flickr

IMG_6834-2 by Electric Train, on Flickr

IMG_6875 by Electric Train, on Flickr

IMG_6868 by Electric Train, on Flickr

IMG_6859 by Electric Train, on Flickr

IMG_6845-2 by Electric Train, on Flickr

IMG_6842-2 by Electric Train, on Flickr

IMG_6834-2 by Electric Train, on Flickr

IMG_6881 by Electric Train, on Flickr


IMG_6885 by Electric Train, on Flickr

 

I attended the Broadway open evening on Friday a very well attended it was too.  This was the last time they will hold an open evening, they were always aimed at raising the profile in Broadway its self and some funds which in the early days of the build the team had very limited funds.  The plan is to open the line to Broadway Good Friday 2018.

The new station building will not be fully complete internally by the line opening and the engine run round will be initially by Ground Frames.

The Signal Box operating floor was open to visit, it is an excellent replica of a GWR Signal Box, like wise the station building is going to look very authentic.  The pedantic could pick holes in things not being true to the 1904 era, however given the requirements of modern building regs etc the team at Broadway are doing an excellent job.  Indeed the whole railway are involved, C & W at Winchcombe refurbish heritage wooden items or make new items like the Block Shelf in the Box, the Loco Dept have fabricated and are installing the steel roof trusses on the station these have been made to the same design as Toddington, the S & T are busy fitting out the Box and wayside signal posts and the PW and attacking the line form both the South and the North.

The passenger use of the line North from Toddington has been extended to the point where you can now see Broadway Goods Shed!  I took the 11:25 Auto Coach from Toddington north to the end of passenger use today, this was only the second steam hauled train to use new section of line (the first being the 10:55)

I will post some photos when I have sorted them out, difficult to see very much of the new station as it was fenced off due to being a construction site.  I will add the Broadway team do act very professionally in the way the conduct their site works which is a credit to them.

 

 
Wish I was going too but will have to make do with reading their blog and of course, any posts about this from Electric train and any other visitors.

 

I am going to the open evening Friday

 

...and it looks like there's plenty to see - doesn't that canopy look lovely? Disappointed that I can't get up there:

[image removed]

Image courtesy of GWSR

 
Broadway Station has an open evening tomorrow, 1830 to 20.30. Limited parking but vintage bus shuttle from Childswickham Road car park.

 
Not to forget that while all this has been going on, Hayles Abbey Halt has been rebuilt and is due to open on the 5th June.

 
Indeed, great news, and I for one can't wait for the reopening. It's good to see that the hiccup a couple of years ago following the controversy about the canopy was smoothed over, and that the powers that be seemed to listen to the criticism and act accordingly.

 
Another update, from the BBC:

 

Just as well - it looks too low to fit a train under.

When finished the new (well, ex-HNL) footbridge will have its roof, steps, daggerboards and so on - it'll look pretty darned good.

 
And if you want more information on how things are going then the excellent station rebuild blog has lots more pictures, including the lifting this week of the footbridge into position. (Not quite as per the artist's impression, but hey, when you get offered one for free, beggars can't be choosers).

http://broadwaystationgroup.blogspot.co.uk/

 
From the BBC:

 
Had a look at Cheltenham Race Course Station today. The new platform is now in the hands of the regular CRC team after the Broadway gang signed off on the platform wall building. Had a quick chat with one of the two people working there today halfway up one of the lamp posts (him, not me). The next big step there is a footbridge which is preferred to the barrow crossing for many reasons but this will be when money allows. BTW, Broadway will not be the next new station on the GWSR. That honour goes to Hailes Abbey Halt,being rebuilt as a single platform by the Building Services team this year. I've added a pic of CRC taken from the road bridge. Sorry for the lack of quality, the Fire 7 is at it's price for a reason!

 
The track looks like Hornby 00

 
Looks 00 plastic coal in the LMS tender.

 
I'm trying to work out if that's 'O' gauge or 'OO' - any ideas?

 
From the BBC:

 

Sounds like a sensible compromise may have been reached - thank goodness.

Time to dust off the old wallet: money where mouth is, and all that!

 
Well they've had their AGM; it looks like the cheap and cheerless solution is going to win the day at Broadway.

There's very little news coming out of the BAG since the blog closed, though there's a fairly heated debate going on in another forum.

I think the GWSR board have got this very wrong - they are going to spend a fair amount of money putting up inauthentic buildings at Broadway, whereas all they need when the line reopens is a couple of Portcabins and a sign saying 'come back next year to see what progress we've made!' - because people will do just that, if there's something interesting happening. On top of that they seem to have no conception of the own-goal they've scored by losing the 'Steaming to Broadway' blog, and not replacing it.

I've been a regular visitor and donor at Broadway. Not any more.

 

Note that the blog referred to in the link above will be closed and archived at 22:00 on 17/5/15.

Such a shame.

 
I have met Bill a few times in the past 3 years and a number of the BAG team, they are like many volunteer groups; passionate, enthusiastic, committed, dedicated etc to what they are doing.  It is sad that Bill has resigned however I respect the fact he has made what must have been a very personal and difficult decision. 

I am sure the BAG will continue and to open Broadway Station in time for the extension of the GWSR

 
I was a bit puzzeled by this sudden comment so investigated a bit and found this (health warning: its rather long) http://broadwaygwsr.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/the-last-post-1038.html

 
Yes, very sad. My very modest monthly donation to support the rebuild has abruptly stopped, and I do wonder whether the same will be true for the many volunteers who have given their time over the last few years to rebuild what has been, to date, an excellent station.

 
Ructions at Broadway, with Bill Britton resigning as Chairman of the Broadway Area Group and Head of Department, Broadway.

Looks like the high standards set so far by the Broadway team are about to be adandoned, supplanted by a cheap and cheerless design for the new station buildings. Very sad.

 
You of course mean Equality Act compliance. DDA was repealed in October 2010. 

 

They don't need to, the permanent way  i.e. the track and associated items (I also believe the platforms are covered too) is permitted development, the planning permission is to but the buildings up, the DDA compliance would only relate to the station buildings

 
As long as there's the alternative of a barrow crossing I don't imagine there's a problem.

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway specifically mention this for the existing stations in their 'Access Statement'. I imagine a barrow crossing would also be provided at Broadway Station. Although I do note that there is no mention of one in the planning documents held by Wychavon District Council.

 
Looks lovely.  Having spent yesterday in Chippenham, where a footbridge without lifts causes very real issues (being dealt with at last) for wheelchair access, I find myself wondering what the situation is for heritage railways and their existing historic structure, and for them when they do a new-build, old-style.

 
From the BBC:

 
From Crossrail:

 

Connecting with NR at both ends would be even better!

 
Space for a new 'heritage' platform was allowed for when the 2012 resignalling was carried out at Honeybourne.

 
I hope this line will not be "finished" when services reach Broadway. Without a connection to the national network, this line, agreeable though it is, will simply be adults  playing with trains. A connection with Network Rail at Honeybourne must be the ultimate goal.

 
From the BBC:

 

We shall overlook it on this occasion, in view of the relevant and commendable nature of that particular appeal. 

 
And if anyone else wishes to purchase shares as part of the Bridges appeal and help it close the 30k gap to the 500k target then you have until the end of October to do so. There's a minimum subscription of ^100 and tax relief of ^30 under the EIS (if you are a taxpayer), more information is available by following the links on www.gwsr.com.  (With apologies for the shameless plug.)   

 

I have a share in that bridge ............ oh and the others that are being repaired

A couple of blogs worth reading
http://bridgestobroadway.blogspot.co.uk/
http://broadwaygwsr.blogspot.co.uk/

 
From the BBC: