The Chairman and the Directors of
the GWRT are pleased to pass on to you a copy of a recent press release regarding two very
well known new member of our railway.
Delight at HRH The
Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall joining railway
HRH The Prince of
Wales’ interest in historic railways is widely known and, because of this, His
Royal Highness and The Duchess of Cornwall have
accepted honorary life membership of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) – the heritage railway closest
to their Highgrove, Gloucestershire home.
His Royal Highness
is an occasional
visitor to heritage railways and has also enjoyed travelling by the Royal Train
on the national network with a steam locomotive in charge. His membership
of the railway perpetuates a strong link between the Royal Family and steam,
given that over generations many locomotives have been named after Kings,
Queens, Princes and Princesses, a practice that continues to this day.*
Henry Howard, chairman of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
Trust, of which supporters of the railway become members and volunteers;
commented: “I’m delighted that His Royal Highness and The Duchess of Cornwall
have accepted our invitation to become honorary life members of our
fast-expanding railway.
“His sister, HRH The Princess Royal, has visited the line both privately
and in an official capacity, when she opened Cheltenham Racecourse station in
2003.
“We have exciting events on the horizon, not least of which will be the
opening of Broadway station and completing a new carriage overhaul facility at
Winchcombe.
“Their Royal Highnesses have yet to visit the railway and of course we
would be delighted to welcome them and demonstrate why we are attracting up to
90,000 passengers each year.”
The volunteer-run GWSR is one of the leading tourist
attractions in the region, operating steam and heritage diesel train services over
the at-present 12-mile line between Cheltenham Racecourse and Laverton.
The railway’s appeal to attract £500,000 share investment under the
government’s Enterprise Initiative Scheme, to be used to repair five bridges
between Laverton, the present northern extent of the line and Broadway, two
miles distant, has attracted over £430,000.
Alan Bielby, chairman of Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway Plc
added: “This means we are on track to re-open the line as far as Broadway in about three years.
“It’s a fantastic achievement and a powerful demonstration of what volunteer
effort can do. We’re preserving an important part of Britain’s railway
and transport heritage as underlined by several awards.
Members of the Royal Family are no strangers to the former main line
that ran between Stratford upon Avon and Cheltenham. The station at
Cheltenham Racecourse, completed in 1912 specifically to serve the Prestbury
Park racecourse which hosts the famous National Hunt Festival, has been visited
most years by members of the Royal Family and that interest in National Hunt
racing continues.
Adds Mr Bielby: “The Royal Train frequently brought members of the Royal
Family to the races and occasionally, it was berthed in sidings at Bishops
Cleeve overnight during race week.
“We’re really delighted that the Royal connection with our historic
railway has been cemented in this way and will continue into the future.”
Henry Howard
Chairman
GWRT
welcome news for the GWR , many volunteers will have thought about who would open Broadway station and extension and who better to ask ! the timing is critical as their diary fills up faster than anyone's so good luck to get a day booked when we are ready.
ReplyDeleteTo be editorially accurate, the closest heritage railway to Highgrove House is actually The Swindon And Cricklade Railway. A quick drive out on Google Maps shows that it is about 20 miles to Blunsdon, and about 30 to Cheltenham.
ReplyDelete