THE COTSWOLD VENTURER RAILTOUR - SATURDAY 22nd AUGUST 2020

THE COTSWOLD VENTURER
(LONDON PADDINGTON - WORCESTER)

Finally seem to be returning to heritage railtours with Steam Power and can enjoy this scenic rail tour through the beautiful Cotswold Hills. The destination is the cathedral city of Worcester, located on the banks of the River Severn and internationally famous as the home of Worcestershire Sauce. Travelling outward via the Golden Valley line through Stroud and Kemble and also return the same way, which will include the steep climb up to Sapperton tunnel. This steam hauled service leaves London Paddington at around 07:40 hauled by Princess Coronation Class steam locomotive No.46233 Duchess of Sutherland and heads down the ex-Great Western Railway (GWR) main line. Will be stopping at Slough, Reading and Didcot to pick up more passengers.
  
The journey continues through the Vale of White Horse to Swindon, where we take the Golden Valley line through Kemble and up the climb to Sapperton Tunnel. We bypass Gloucester and head northwards through Cheltenham to Abbotswood Junction, were we leave the main line to Birmingham and head for Worcester Shrub Hill. There will be more than three hours to explore the fine city of Worcester. The river Severn runs through the city and is overlooked by the 12th century Worcester Cathedral. The site of the final battle of the Civil War between Oliver Cromwell and King Charles II was here. It is also the home of Royal Worcester Porcelain, and the birthplace of the composer Sir Edward Elgar is nearby at Lower Broadheath.

Our steam hauled train leaves Worcester Shrub Hill in the late afternoon and returns to London via the Golden Valley line. We follow the former Great Western Railway route from Standish Junction and climb steadily through Stroud before the gradients increase dramatically to 1 in 74 at Chalford. We continue to climb through the Golden Valley at a gradient of 1 in 60 prior to entering Sapperton tunnel at the summit of the climb. On easier gradients, we descend through Kemble and onwards through Wiltshire to the former railway town of Swindon. Now retracing our earlier route through the Vale of White Horse back to Didcot and Reading. Our final part of the journey calls at Reading and Slough to set down before arriving back in London Paddington in the evening.

LMS Princess Coronation Class No.46233 Duchess of Sutherland
Preservation History
Following withdrawal from regular service, 46233 was acquired by Butlins Heads-of-Ayr holiday camp, Scotland, in October 1964. It was later purchased by Bressingham Steam Museum. Then in 1996, 6233 was acquired by the Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust (PRCLT) with the intention of returning her to main line running and in 2001, No. 6233 returned to the national network after an overhaul assisted by the heritage lottery fund and match funded by the PRCLT.

On 6 March 2010, 6233 was rolled out in LMS lined black livery, which was retained during 2010, before a major overhaul, taking 6233 out of service for the 2011 season. Two years later now renumbered 46233 was rolled out in "authentic (Brunswick) green" livery, as used by British Railways during the early 1950s, at the Midland Railway - Butterley following a major overhaul. Most recently she has regained her original number "6233" and LMS "Crimson Lake" livery to mark its 80th birthday.

Hopefully we can continue to see more of these trips and other events open to the public over the coming months.