TC’s fast car, with Mike Lewis as secondman picked me up, as booked, at 7am from Leighton. A good run West saw me join the 0855 DMU composed of 51363/59510/51360 from Toddington to Broadway.
Normal diesel Galas don’t give you much chance to get much DMU mileage with so many quality locos out, so a very enjoyable and popular full line DMU run from Broadway to Cheltenham followed. On the return run i bailed at Hayles Abbey Halt (a winning shack) for a 20 minute fester for the DMU back. A nice rural isolated shack with 2 oil lamps for lighting!
Kettle 7903, then former Knottingley beast 47376, immaculate in Freightliner grey forward to Cheltenham where i did platform 2 here for the first time. The first of 2 memorable front coach runs to Broadway followed, the highlight of the day, load 8 with an idling 47’3 got the 24 thrashing nicely. An immaculate 47105 was on the freight turn in the morning and on her limited afternoon run i did rake her in from Winchcombe to Todd. The complex timetable held together really well with no delays of note.
By 1600 the quoted rains arrived, dampening spirits slightly but it didn’t spoil what was a superb day at the Glos-Warks.
10 phots from the day
The class 117 DMU composed of 51363, 59510 and 51360 at Broadway with the 0922 to Cheltenham
All eyes out the front on the DMU near Toddington, throw in rattling window frames, underfloor engine noise, the smells and well cushioned seats much DMU nostalgia
The superb 24081 arrives at Toddington with the 0930 Winchcombe – Broadway in nice light
The 117 DMU approaches Hayles Abbey Halt with the 1130 Toddington – Cheltenham
The 117 DMU arrives at Hayles Abbey Halt
Very popular brake van rides on the 1113 Cheltenham – Toddington freight worked by 47105 accelerates away from Winchombe
All eyes on 47376 as she arrives at Winchcombe with the 1145Broadway – Cheltenham
47376 as immaculate as ever at Cheltenham after working the 1145 from Broadway
24081 at Cheltenham about to work the thrashex forming the 1338 Cheltenham – Broadway, load 8 plus dead 47, about load 10 for a single gutsy type 2!
The rains had arrived at Cheltenham as 24081 awaits to thrash East with the 1700 to Broadway
The Moves
51360}
59510} 0855 Toddington – Broadway Toddington – Broadway
51363}
51363}
59510} 0922 Broadway – Cheltenham Broadway – Cheltenham
51360}
51360}
59510} 1033 Cheltenham – Toddington Cheltenham – Hayes Abbey Halt
51363}
51363}
59510} 1130 Toddington – Cheltenham Hayles Abbey Halt – Gotherington
51360}
7903(k) 1148 Cheltenham – Broadway Gotherington – Winchcombe
47376 1145 Broadway – Cheltenham Winchcombe – Cheltenham
24081} 1338 Cheltenham – Broadway Cheltenham – Broadway
47376(dor)}
47376} 1508 Broadway – Cheltenham Broadway – Winchcombe
24081(dor)}
47105} 1457 Cheltenham – Toddington Winchcombe – Toddington
35006(k)(dor)} 35006 (k) 1602 Toddington – Cheltenham Toddington – Cheltenham
24081} 1700 Cheltenham – Broadway Cheltenham – Broadway
47376 (dor)
end
Leighton Lists 