The ‘beauty’ in question is ‘O1’ class 0-6-0 steam locomotive no. 65 which was built for the South Eastern Railway (later the South East & Chatham Railway) in 1896.
Victorian splendour for Cotswold Festival of Steam
• Latest visitor announced for a spectacular locomotive line-up
• SE&CR 0-6-0 no. 65 at 129 years the oldest locomotive at the event
• Show theme marks 200 years since the beginning of the modern railway
• Kids go Free* on Bank Holiday Monday, 26 May 2025
The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR), which operates steam and heritage diesel services over its 14-mile line between Cheltenham and Broadway, is welcoming a unique 129-year-old Victorian beauty to its Cotswold Festival of Steam, 24-26 May 2025.
The ‘beauty’ in question is ‘O1’ class 0-6-0 steam locomotive no. 65 which was built for the South Eastern Railway (later the South East & Chatham Railway) in 1896.
It is being loaned to the GWSR by courtesy of the Bluebell Railway in Sussex. The engine is finished in the very elaborate and colourful livery of the former South East & Chatham Railway (SECR) which served South-East England from its Charing Cross terminus in London.
This locomotive has very rarely left the Bluebell railway on loan and it is believed that this is the first time in its entire history that it has worked on railways outside the South East.
No. 65 was one of 122 ‘O’ locomotives designed by James Stirling, built between 1878 and 1899. Of them, 58 were re-built by his successor Harry Wainwright including no. 65, to become the ‘O1’ class. They were designed primarily to handle goods traffic and many were very long-lived, in their later years eventually finding work handling both passenger and goods trains on the numerous branch lines of Kent.
Most had been withdrawn by the outbreak of the Second World War but a few soldiered on into British Railways ownership and two, including no. 65 (no. 31065 in British Railways days), lasting until 1961. It was bought by a private individual from British Railways and was dismantled, eventually arriving in parts at the Bluebell Railway and returned to steam in 1999.
Tom Willson, chairman of the Cotswold Festival of Steam organising team commented: “No. 65 truly is an elegant addition to the Festival and will be the headline act for what is shaping up to be a spectacular show.
“It is a remarkable survivor from the days when practical machines were built to look beautiful. It really does reflect our theme: ‘Celebrating Railway 200’, marking the bi-centenary the birth of the modern railway network, highlighting development of steam locomotives from the Victorian era to British Railways days: from no. 65 built in 1896 to British Railways Standard class 4 no. 75069 which is six decades younger!”
Mr Willson added: “This is a great opportunity to introduce youngsters to the extraordinary world of heritage railways because on the Bank Holiday Monday 26 May up to three young people aged up to 15 can travel free* with an adult paying the full entrance free.
“Our railway relies on around 900 volunteers and just 11 paid staff to maintain and operate it and we hope some young people might consider this a worthwhile way to spend their future free time.”
In date order, the guest and resident locomotives working over the Cotswold Festival of Steam weekend are (note, all locomotives subject to availability):
• 1896 – South Eastern & Chatham Railway ‘O1’ class 0-6-0 no. 65, rebuilt 1908. Visiting courtesy of the Bluebell Railway
• 1905 – Great Western Railway 28XX class 2-8-0 no. 2807 Resident, owned by Cotswold Steam Preservation Ltd
• 1941 – Southern Railway / British Railways ‘Merchant Navy’ class Pacific no. 35006 Peninsular & Oriental SN Co, (rebuilt 1959. Resident, owned by 35006 P&O Ltd
• 1942 – Great Western Railway 2885 class 2-8-0 no. 3850, a development of the 28XX class. Resident, owned by Dinmore Manor Locomotive Ltd
• 1944 – Southern Railway ‘West Country’ class Pacific no. 34092 City of Wells. Visiting courtesy of the East Lancashire Railway
• 1949 – British Railways (Western Region) ‘Modified hall’ class 4-6-0 no. 7903 Foremarke Hall, resident, owned by Foremarke Hall Transport Group
• 1955 – British Railways Standard class 4 4-6-0 no. 75069. Visiting courtesy of the 75069 Fund and the Severn Valley Railway
Further visiting locomotive announcements to follow.
The Cotswold Festival of Steam, 24-26 May, is also throwing open its doors to the locomotive shed at Toddington and the Carriage & Wagon Department at Winchcombe. There will be a display of 100 ‘O’ gauge models at Winchcombe illustrating the development of railway locomotives over 200 years and at Toddington, several full-size and miniature tractions engines will be in steam. The owners of the former Gotherington station building are also opening their lovely grounds offering an opportunity to try a ‘pump trolley’ on their private siding. There are refreshments available at all stations except Hayles Abbey Halt.
This is a ‘closed event’ meaning access to stations and trains is by entrance ticket only, which can be booked at a discount in advance at www.gwsr.com
*Terms and conditions apply. Up to three children aged 5-15 can travel free with a full-entry-fee paying adult. Children under 5 travel free on any day.
Ends
NOTES FOR EDITORS
PHOTOGRAPHS of this delightful locomotive can be downloaded here. Please credit photographer (in the file name)
Media contact: Ian Crowder, 07775 566 555 or ian.crowder@icloud.com
