12th - 14th May 2023 saw the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway host their annual Cotswold Festival of Steam Gala. This years theme was 'Cheltenham & Gloucester Remembered', inspired by the huge variety of motive power around Cheltenham and Gloucester during the heyday of steam.
Stars of the show included GWR Castle Class 4-6-0, No.4079 'Pendennis Castle' (Courtesy of the Great Western Society Didcot) and Ex L&Y 'Pug' 0-4-0ST, No.11243 (visiting from the East Lancashire Railway). The event also saw Ex GWR 4-6-0 ‘Modified Hall’ Class, No.7903 'Foremarke Hall' masquerading as fellow class member No.6999 'Capel Dewi Hall' - which took over from No.4079 'Pendennis Castle' at Westbury on the 1Z48 Railtour on 9th May 1964.
Filmed on a rather changeable Saturday 13th May, we see all eight locomotives in action from a number of locations along the route, with an intensive timetable of passenger, local and goods services.
Locomotive List;
Ex L&Y 'Pug' 0-4-0ST, No.11243 (visiting from the East Lancashire Railway)
BR Std 2MT 2-6-0, No.78019 (visiting from the Great Central Railway)
BR Std 4MT 4-6-0, No.75014 (On loan from Dartmouth Steam Railway)
Ex SR U Class 2-6-0, No. 31806 (visiting from the Swanage Railway)
Ex GWR 4-6-0 ‘Manor’ Class, No.7820 'Dinmore Manor'
Ex GWR 4-6-0 ‘Modified Hall’ Class, No.6999 'Capel Dewi Hall' (No.7903 'Foremarke Hall')
GWR Castle Class 4-6-0, No.4079 'Pendennis Castle' (Courtesy of the Great Western Society Didcot)
Ex SR Rebuilt ‘Merchant Navy’ Class, No. 35006 'Peninsular & Oriental SN Co'
Hope you enjoy!
