Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, Heritage railway in Stanway, England
The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway is a heritage line in Stanway, England, running steam and diesel trains along roughly 14 miles of track through the Cotswolds. Trains call at several stations including Toddington, Winchcombe and Cheltenham Racecourse, passing through gentle hills and farmland with views of small Cotswold stone villages.
This section opened between 1900 and 1906 as part of the Great Western Railway linking Cheltenham to Birmingham, and closed in 1976 after track damage led to abandonment. Enthusiasts began buying back the line in 1981 and gradually restored it to reach the current route.
The line takes its name Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway from the two counties it originally connected, and volunteers in period uniforms work the stations and maintain the coaches. Original signs and lamps stand on platforms, while waiting rooms hold wooden benches and timetables from the first half of the twentieth century.
Trains run from March through December, with departures from several stations along the route, and special dining or themed services operate on selected days. Most stations offer parking, and some carriages accommodate wheelchairs, though it helps to check ahead.
The Stanway Viaduct extends roughly 200 meters with 15 arches and required extensive work to make it safe for trains again. Some steam locomotives on the line date from the 1930s and were originally built for freight service on other British lines.
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