Get ready to step back in time and savor the best of both worlds at the GWSR Real Ale Festival.
Join us for a unique blend of historic charm and craft brews as our steam railway comes to life with the rich aromas and flavors of real ale. Whether you're a passionate ale enthusiast or just looking for a delightful day out, this festival is your perfect ticket to a memorable experience.
What to Expect:
On Friday 13th, Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th June we are delighted to once again team up with our friends from the North Cotswold branch of CAMRA to bring you the 23rd Ale & Steam event. Why not join us and relax with a pint of real ale or cider while watching all the action on the rails.
As in previous years we will have bars available at both Winchcombe and Toddington stations, with up to 25 ales available at Winchcombe and up to 20 ales at Toddington. There will be a local selection of beers from some of our finest Gloucestershire breweries, but many of the ales on offer will be sourced from some of the best breweries in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, providing a west-country themed event. A good variety of ciders, as well as soft drinks and hot and cold food will also be available at both Winchcombe and Toddington.
On both Friday and Saturday an intensive timetable will be in operation, with trains running hourly throughout the day, including additional late trains to both Broadway and Cheltenham
Friday will be a ‘Mixed Traction Day’. As well as a steam locomotive running between Cheltenham Racecourse and Broadway, two of the railway’s diesel locomotives will also be in operation, providing an hourly service throughout the day.
On Saturday the same timetable will operate, but with two steam locomotives and two diesel locomotives in operation.
Steam and Ale Bars at Toddington will be open from 1030 until 1815 and at Winchcombe from 1030 until 1830 on both Friday and Saturday.
Normal train fares apply and there will be free entry to the festival with a valid train ticket for the day of your visit. Members and Shareholder vouchers will also be valid. If you are not travelling on the trains, but wish to sample the beer at either station, we ask you buy a platform ticket priced at just £5.
To make purchases at the bar’s beer tokens must be purchased from CAMRA representatives. These will be valid at both bars and on all days of the festival. Unused tokens can be refunded or donated to charity at the end of your visit. You will also be required to purchase a glass from CAMRA representatives at £2 each.
On the Sunday both bars (subject to availability) will be open to sell any remaining beer from 1100. While we cannot guarantee a full range of beer will be available, every effort will be made to ensure a good selection of ales remain and this will offer an ideal way to finish the weekend. Bars will close at 1500, or earlier if beer supply is exhausted. On the rail side a normal pink timetable will operate with one steam locomotive and one diesel locomotive operating.
Train tickets are now available to purchase and a 5% discount is automatically applied to all tickets purchased online. Standard ticket pricing applies.
Prices
Adult
Child
Family
Dog
Prices
Adult
Child
Dog
Family
2 Adults and up to 3 Children
Extended Family
4 Adults and up to 3 Children
Contact Information
01242 621405
Trains Running
21 "Mavis"
Diesel Locomotive
No 21 "Mavis" has been stored at Toddington for some while, awaiting refurbishment. It is privately owned.
TSO 4763
Preserved in 1987 by the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway, moved to the GWSR by March 2004.
BSK 34929
Preserved 1982 By Stratford area group of GWSR.
FO 3132 (Mary)
Named 'Mary' in honour of a long-serving volunteer on the railway.
DMBS
DMU / Railcar
Cars W51360 and W51372 are owned by Cotswold Diesel Railcar Limited . W51360 is currently the 'spare' for our 117 set and W51372 is awaiting restoration.
Class 122
DMU / Railcar
W55003 is a Class 122 'Bubblecar' owned by Cotswold Diesel Railcar Limited and is currently undergoing refurbishment plus the creation of wheelchair-friendly accommodation at Toddington.
Class 117
DMU / Railcar
Normally comprising cars W51405 (DMS), W59510 (TCL), W51363 (DMBS), this Class 117 unit was purchased in 2011 by Cotswold Diesel Railcar Limited and is now running regular services from Toddington.
John
Steam Locomotive
'John' has been on the Railway for over 30 years. The loco is presently undergoing restoration including the construction of a virtually new boiler.
20228
Diesel Locomotive
20228 (D8128) - Class 20 Diesel Electric Locomotive. 20228 is privately owned and is now a permanent resident on the GWR. 20228 moved to the GWR in 2020 and should become serviceable during the 2022 season.
Des 372
Diesel Locomotive
372 arrived at Toddington in October 1999 and since then has been used extensively as yard shunter.
D2280
Diesel Locomotive
D2280 arrived on the GWSR in 2018 and is now part of the shunting fleet at Toddington. It is privately owned . There is a Bachman model of this locomotive available in BR green.
11230
Diesel Locomotive
11230 arrived on the GWSR in 2003 and is now working at Toddington with its restoration almost complete.
D2182
Diesel Locomotive
D2182 is usually to be seen shunting at the carriage works at Winchcombe
47376
Diesel Locomotive
47376 is owned by The Brush Type 4 Fund and is a permanent resident on the GWR. The Brush Type 4 Fund was formed in 1992 and, in November 2002, bought No 47376. The loco was transported to the GWR in 2003 after receiving a replacement engine at Ashchurch from sister loco No 47295.
47105
Diesel Locomotive
The Brush Type 4 Fund was formed in 1992 with the aim of preserving a Series Parallel Class 47, after 2 years of fund raising 47105 was bought from Crewe in January 1994.
45149
Diesel Locomotive
A class 45/1 Diesel Electric Locomotive. This locomotive is owned by The Cotswold Mainline Diesel Group and is a permanent resident on the GWR. It first ran in preservation during the 2013 Heritage Diesel Weekend.
37215
Diesel Locomotive
A class 37/0 Diesel Electric Locomotive, is owned by The Growler Group and is a permanent resident on the GWR. 37215 was preserved in 1994 and was returned to working order in 1998.
D6948
Diesel Locomotive
A class 37/0 Diesel Electric Locomotive, is owned by four individuals who are both Growler Group members and active working members of the GWR diesel department and is a permanent resident on the GWR. 37248 came to Toddington in 2010 and has undergone an extensive refurbishment including the provision of steam heating and a return to BR green.
D5343
Diesel Locomotive
A class 26 Diesel Electric Locomotive. This locomotive is owned by The Cotswold Mainline Diesel Group and is a permanent resident on the GWR. 26043 ran for the first time in preservation during the 2013 Heritage Diesel Weekend.
5081
Diesel Locomotive
A privately owned and is a permanent resident on the GWR. 24081 was preserved in 1981 and has remained operational throughout its life in preservation. Its bogie refurbishment is now complete and the loco is fit for service.
20137
Diesel Locomotive
A class 20 Diesel Electric Locomotive. 20137 is privately owned and is a permanent resident on the GWR. 20137 was purchased from British Rail at Wigan in 1994 and moved to the GWR. 20137 was returned to working order in 1995.
76077
Steam Locomotive
A BR Standard Class 4 mixed traffic locomotive, built 1956. Restoration started.
3850
Steam Locomotive
A '2884' class heavy freight locomotive, built 1942. Owned by Dinmore Manor Locomotive Limited. It's comprehensive 10-year overhaul has just been completed at Toddington. It returned to steam on August 2024, bearing the wartime black GWR livery it carried when new.
2874
Steam Locomotive
A '28xx' class heavy freight locomotive, built 1918. This locomotive is owned by The 2874 Trust Limited and it is slowly being restored from 'Barry Scrapyard' condition.
2807
Steam Locomotive
A '28xx' class heavy freight locomotive, built in 1905. This locomotive is owned by Cotswold Steam Preservation Limited and, after a 29 year restoration, is one of the GWR's resident locomotives.
Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co.
Steam Locomotive
35006 Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co. is a Southern Railway rebuilt Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 steam locomotive. It was built at Eastleigh locomotive works in December 1941 and given the Southern Railway number 21C6.
Foremarke Hall
Steam Locomotive
Although every inch a Great Western Railway thoroughbred, No. 7903 Foremarke Hall was one of the 79XX series, in the last batch of the Modified Hall class built at Swindon in 1949 under BR auspices.
Dinmore Manor
Steam Locomotive
7820 Dinmore Manor is a British Railways locomotive, part of the Manor Class. It is one of nine locomotives preserved from the class, which originally numbered 30.
