RAILWAY TESTING, TRIALS & TRAINING
A UNIQUE HERITAGE RAILWAY ENVIRONMENT FOR TESTING, DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING
The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway offers a flexible and cost-effective venue for railway testing, product development, staff training and operational exercises. Set within the stunning Cotswold countryside, our heritage railway provides access to a varied operating environment, extensive infrastructure and experienced railway personnel.
With the ability to accommodate specialist requirements at short notice, the GWSR provides an attractive alternative to the national network for vehicle trials, equipment testing, competency training and operational development. Our railway features a diverse range of gradients, Victorian signalling systems, stations and operational scenarios, enabling organisations to test and train in realistic railway conditions while benefiting from a dedicated and supportive team.
WHAT THE GWSR CAN OFFER
The GWSR is not connected to the mainline railway network, so all rail-mounted vehicles arrive and depart by road. A suitable off-loading pad is located at Toddington station (GL54 5DT).
When rebuilt, the line was laid on one side of the former two-track formation, enabling road vehicular access alongside the single track. Combined with multiple lineside access points, this ensures direct, unhindered access to any worksite.
A 14 MILE RAILWAY WITH A TUNNEL
Situated just 15 minutes from the M5, Junction 9 - The GWSR currently operates at 25mph between Broadway and Cheltenham Race Course Stations which is approximately 14 miles, offering a 30 mile round trip with gentle gradients and passing loops, with a mixture of straight and curved sections. Suitable for testing Steam, Diesel or Yellow Plant. We are fortunate to have the second longest tunnel on a heritage railway. Greet Tunnel measures 693 yards in length and curves midway through, meaning that when standing in the centre, it is completely pitch black in both directions. It is a remarkable structure and provides an excellent opportunity for training exercises and operational scenarios.
PERMANENT WAY
We can offer a mixture of bullhead and flat bottom rail, including concrete and wooden sleepers - suitable for all training purposes. At our major stations we have a mixture of turnouts and crossovers, including yard points (hand controlled), Ground Frames and interlocked crossovers. The lie of the land is relatively flat, but there are gradients along the route! See our gradient profile below.
TRAINING
Training Rooms at Toddington and Winchcombe Stations, including a hall to fit 50 people at Winchcombe Station.
Live Railway Environment – Access to operational locomotive and carriage workshops, engineering yards and headshunts containing heritage rolling stock, open rural railway sections, public foot crossings and a variety of lineside locations with road access, providing a realistic setting for testing, training and operational exercises.
Fenced off locations at Toddington and Winchcombe for exclusivity to the yards or site on certain days.
S&T, P-Way facilities and areas to test equipment in a live environment
Available locations for specialised military or emergency service training
Full medical assessment facilities
TRACK
Our track is constructed of a mix of componentry and comprises:
95lb Bullhead fixed with standard steel, Panlock and oak keys.
113A and CEN56 flat bottom rail, fixed with SHC clips, Pandrol clips and elastic spike fastenings.
A wide range of wooden sleepers and concrete sleepers. Predominantly jointed track, with a wide variety of fishplates in use: standard fishplates, lift fishplates and junction fishplates.
Two sections of Continuously Welded Rail (CWR):
One section ½ mile in length through Bishops Cleeve, installed in 2002 and welded using the flash-butt welding method;
One section approximately 3½ miles in length between Stanway and Broadway, installed between 2005 and 2018 using the aluminothermic welding method.
Pointwork (left- and right-handed) constructed of either 95lb BH or 113A/CEN56 FB in both vertical and inclined formats.
Maximum speed is, as per all Light Railway Orders, limited to 25mph.
ON SITE FACILITIES
Superb catering facilities to cater for all corporate events.
Road / Rail loading/unloading road at Toddington. Suitable for vehicles and plant coming in by lorry.
A fully functional Observation Saloon which can be used to travel the line behind a steam or diesel locomotive.
Fully equipped locomotive and carriage & wagon works, with pits and full operational facilities.
Fully fitted changing room facilities, including showers.
HISTORIC SIGNALLING & OPERATIONS
The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) is equipped with an authentic heritage signalling system, providing a realistic operating environment for training, testing and railway operations. The railway retains traditional Great Western Railway signalling principles, with restored signal boxes and mechanical signalling equipment controlling train movements along the 14-mile line through the Cotswolds.
Key features of the signalling infrastructure include:
Traditional Semaphore Signalling – Historic lower-quadrant semaphore signals are in use across the railway, operated through mechanical lever frames and traditional block regulations.
Electric Key Token (EKT) Working – Single-line sections are controlled using Electric Key Token instruments, ensuring safe and efficient operation whilst replicating real-world railway practices.
One Train Staff Working – Selected sections can operate using traditional staff systems, providing additional operational flexibility and training opportunities.
Restored Heritage Signal Boxes – Several fully operational signal boxes are located along the route, offering authentic signalling environments and practical experience in railway operations.
Varied Operating Conditions – The railway combines station areas, passing loops, gradients and rural single-line sections, creating a diverse operational setting for signalling, operational testing and staff development.
This combination of historic infrastructure and active railway operations provides a unique environment for organisations seeking practical railway experience, signalling familiarisation, equipment trials and operational training away from the constraints of the national network.
