The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway has announced that 34072 257 Squadron will no longer be attending next weekend’s gala.
The locomotive’s home railway, the Swanage Railway, has declared the locomotive not fit to run, which means it cannot travel to Toddington to take part in the gala.
Thankfully, a replacement has been sourced, and GWR Pannier Tank 7714 will now visit thanks to the Severn Valley Railway and SVR Pannier Tank Fund.
7714 will run instead of 34072 on the timetable. However, some alterations will be made due to the locomotive needing to take on water more often than the tender engine it replaces.
However, departure times will remain as per the timetables.
Responses
A great number of these Preserved Railways these days claim to have secured a loco for a event such as a gala, so for instance Swanage can’t supply 34072 to the G&WR because it’s shall we say very ill, surely Swanage could have supplied another ( obviously not) anyhow of all the steam Preservation locomotives that could have replaced 34072, 7714 is the best they could come up with, Really from up the road at the SVR. As a great number of punters have bought there tickets in advance now find as well as 76077 not being available likewise 34072. Hearing this story to much of late, Preserved Railways need to get realistic and stop fobbing off us with fables. Over the period since COVID I have come across this NO show scenario at least 25 times at various gala events. A number of them like the GWR with a few days to go have still not updated the timetable.
Come on get your act together.
Many thousands of pounds resting on this event, surely your fare paying passenger should be able to see a update on the diagrams / trips by loco.
I’m afraid the substitution of 7714 has put me off attending, am a little fed up of seeing it, along with 75069. These preserved railways need to get their act together and have more consideration for those attending.
Sadly Dave Railway Pres is not what it really started out as.
It’s now a big business where lots of staff are paid, some ludicrous amounts of £ss, to do very little and rob the railway of much needed revenue towards projects.
Paignton & Dartmouth is a example, it’s now a serious tourist Hotspot, the money from Charters and the seaside tourist must be siphoned off to the top brass
Blimey,thats dissapointing.Had been looking forward to seeing the locomotive,when i attend the Festival Of Steam Gala,on Sunday 25th may @ The Glouc,s and Warwk,s Railway . Ah well,there will be plenty more Steam to photograph and Video.