Back to work (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Back to work

A LOCOMOTIVE which is part of the proud history of the Great Western Railway is to go back to work.

For the past 23 years, 7903 Foremarke Hall has been under restoration, but now it will be the highlight of a heritage railway line in Gloucestershire.

It was one of the last batch of Great Western Modified Hall class engines built at the Railway Works, with the final finishing work carried out in 1949.

The engine belongs to a class nicknamed greyhounds because of their speed, and 7903 Foremarke Hall set a record in 1951 when it became the first engine to cover the distance from London to Plymouth in less than four hours it was pulling a boat train at the time.

However, even as the engine was being built, the age of steam was drawing to a close, and 7903 Foremarke Hall's career lasted only until 1964, when British Rail withdrew it from service.

Then engine's next home was a scrapyard in South Wales, but rescue came in 1981 when it was bought by a group of enthusiasts calling themselves the Foremarke Hall Transport Trust, who moved it to the Swindon and Cricklade Railway in Blunsdon, where the long restoration process began.

In September last year, it steamed for the first time in 39 years.

The engine is still owned by the enthusiasts who bought it all those years ago and will soon be moved to the Toddington headquarters of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

Jim Clark, chairman of the owners' group and a key member of the restoration team, said: "She is a beautiful engine to work on.

"I live near Dorchester and travelled thousands of miles over the years of the restoration.

"The Swindon & Cricklade railway has kindly hosted us all these years, but at present the line is only one mile long.

"We have been looking for a railway that would enable 7903 to stretch its legs and the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway was an obvious choice."

The award-winning Gloucester-shire Warwickshire Railway offers a 20-mile round trip through the Cotswolds between Toddington and Cheltenham Race Course.

Mr Clark said: "It's not too far for our own volunteers to come to see their handiwork in action."

Ian Crowder, the railway's commercial director, said: "We're thrilled that the owners of Foremarke Hall have chosen our line as their home.

"We expect the engine to become the mainstay of our 2004 services and we're sure it will be popular ."

Barrie Hudson

Bidding to re-open the Stratford-Cheltenham line

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's long-term aspiration is to reopen the entire route of the former Great Western line from Stratford-upon-Avon to Cheltenham.

The line was closed in 1976 and all track lifted in 1979.

The heritage railway moved to the site of the former Toddington Station in 1981.

It has yet to announce the exact date when 7903 Foremarke Hall will join its roster of steam and diesel locomotives, but it will move from its current site in April.

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway has won a string of heritage railway awards and runs regular excursions for paying passengers.

Full details of the railway's activities are available on 01242 621405 and at www.qwsr.com.