In the works: Chocolate and cream BR Mk 1 First Open from the Elegant Excursions dining set in Winchcombe works for refurbishment. While this vehicle is under repair, Great Western 1st Class saloon no. 9004 will be incorporated into the set (Photograph: Ian Crowder)  


Just a wagon: but thousands of these utilitarian wagons conveyed millions of tons of the nations produce over the decades. This 12 ton ventilated truck along with another 19 or so vehicles will form part of the GWR175 goods train (Photograph: Ian Crowder)  

The Honeybourne Line will boast a spectacular cast of locomotives and rolling stock for GWR175 and the list of resident and expected guests is now on the GWR175 section of the website. Up to 12 locomotives will be working during the nine-day event and you can find the full line-up here.

Although locomotives are naturally the focus of an event such as GWR175, there is of course much more than that to the running of a railway. Think, for example, of the coaches you will be travelling in.

Moving the people…

The Honeybourne Line's own locomotives and rolling stock paint a generally 1950s and 1960s image of the former Western Region of British Railways.  The line's coaching stock comprises British Railways Mk. 1 coaches - solid, safe and comfortable vehicles that, while sharing a basic standard design, were finished in a variety of styles and layouts, for both locomotive-hauled and multiple-unit trains. 

The Mk.1s took the best elements from the 'big 4' pre-nationalisation coaching stock and were introduced in 1951, continuing in production at various works until 1963 and could be found throughout the UK, including the former Great Western system.  Standard BR liveries for locomotive-hauled stock included 'blood & custard' (red and cream) later replaced with maroon, although the Western Region started turning its stock out in pre-nationalisation chocolate & cream during the late 1950s. With former Great Western locomotives sporting British Railways green - a livery similar to the Great Western Railway's latter express livery - this re-captured something of the system's glory days.  All three liveries will be in evidence during GWR175.  These coaches are the great survivors - with the advent of British Rail, many adopted blue and grey livery, others were converted into other uses - such as electric multiple-unit stock while some still remain in excursion service on the national network even though they are approaching their half-centenary.

Early examples of these fine coaches internally boasted fine varnished veneers while later ones displayed Formica and aluminium-finished interiors - examples of both can be appreciated on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

However, there will be genuine GWR coaches either running or on display during GWR175.  These include a freshly-overhauled Hawksworth Engineer's Inspection Saloon: a fully self-contained vehicle designed to conduct the 'top brass' on tours of inspection - and in some luxury. 

Talking of luxury, a first-class saloon, no. 9004, that was reserved for the use of the aristocracy will be seeing service within the railway's 'Elegant Excursions' dining train and will be on show: it underlines just how the 'other half' travelled.  And for those lucky enough to travel in this coach while on loan to the railway it should be an experience to remember!

And of course, visitors will be able to enjoy local train travel as it was between the wars with the lovely Auto-Trailer no. 178, making a repeat visit to the line.  It will work with auto-fitted locomotives no. 1450 and 5542.  Other GWR vehicles are expected at the railway for GWR175 - keep reading!  There's more information on rolling stock here.

…and moving the goods!

The Great Western Railway of course shifted millions of tons of freight of almost every conceivable description.  From coal to cars, iron ore to armaments; steel to stone; furniture to fruit and fish; cattle to covered goods; eggs to engineering equipment; oil to milk and beer; fruit to meat and two veg - and the rest.  To convey these a startling variety of vehicles were constructed in their hundreds of thousands with GWR wagons appearing throughout the country. 

For GWR175, a demonstration train comprising an interesting mixture of about 20 GWR freight wagons will be running, essentially capturing the very essence of a mixed freight of the between-wars period but with vehicles ranging in date from the end of the 19^th century to just before nationalisation. 

Of course, locomotives attending the event include freight designs that would commonly have been seen hauling such trains.

You can find out more about the rolling stock currently expected by clicking here.