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CrossCountry Trains Team Day
XC Trains Take Over Cotswold Diesel Railcar
Monday 3rd June saw the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway and Cotswold Diesel Railcar's 1958 Bubble Car W55003 being used on a 'Railway Experience Day'.
Following an idea from CrossCountry's Timetable Manager, GWSR Volunteer and CDRL Shareholder Andy Smith, the GWSR and Bubble Car where hired by CrossCountry Trains for the day .
Ten members of their planning, performance and roster teams then had a go at running a railway, starting with designing the timetable and then helping operate it by taking it in turns to be signalman, secondman and guard.
Four successful round trips were operated between Winchcombe and Laverton and the XC team members gained some valuable practical experience, as well as really enjoying the day.
They were all very impressed with the railway, the scenery, the friendliness of the volunteers - but most of all with the 'soothing ride' on the Bubble. For most it was their first visit to the GWSR and many are now promising to return as visitors on a normal operating day.
It is hoped this day can be repeated in the future and become a regular event in the calendar.
Footnote: Andy Smith is also responsible for planning the timetable that will be used on the 2013 Railcar Convention Drivex Day on Friday 4th October.
Our Historic Railcars
The CDRL Fleet - Full Details
Cotswold Diesel Railcar Ltd own a total of four ex-British Railways Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs). Today these vehicles are generically referred to as 1st Generation or Heritage DMUs/Railcars. Regular passenger services are run on The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, operating between Laverton and Cheltenham.
We have a total of four vehicles, consisting of a Class 122 "Bubble Car" and a Class 117 3 Car Set. A tremendous amount of operating flexibility can be achieved with this small collection, allowing trains of any size from 1 to 4 coaches to be run, depending on passenger loadings. Another operational benefit is the fact there is a driving cab at each end of the train, negating the requirement for a locomotive to "run round" the coaches in order to go in the opposite direction. This was a decisive factor when passenger services were launched from Toddington to Laverton, as the run-round loop had yet to be completed (this loop was completed in March 2013, allowing the GWSR's steam services to operate as far as Laverton).
Class 122 "Bubble Car" (W55003)
Undisputedly the pride of the fleet, W55003 is ideally suited to The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway and in fact operated some of the last passenger services over the line in the late 1960s.
It is a single car design, seating a total of 65 people when at full capacity. This vehicle is of particular historic importance locally, having been built at The Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Works (GRCW) in 1958.
One of the notable features of the "Bubble Car" is its "lively ride" which arises from the lightly sprung suspension. Our younger passengers in particular seem to quite enjoy this part of the journey.
Full technical details are available by clicking here.
Above: W55003 at Ropley on The Mid Hants Railway on the occasion that Cotswold Diesel Railcar directors went for a test drive on 18th March 2011. Photo by Jim Clarke.
Class 117 3-Car DMU (W51405, W59510, W51363)
Designed to work as a 3-Car set, each vehicle is slightly different in terms of its functionality.
W51405 is classified as a DMS:
- Driving - there is a driving position at one end of the vehicle.
- Motor - two diesel engines are fitted under the vehicle.
- Second - all seating accomodation is for second class passengers.
W59510 is classified as a TCL:
- Trailer - no engines are fitted, this vehicle is not self propelled.
- Composite - contains both first and second class accomodation.
- Lavatory - two in fact!
W51363 is classified as a DMBS:
- Driving - there is a driving position at one end of the vehicle.
- Motor - two diesel engines are fitted under the vehicle.
- Brake - a section used for the conveyance of parcels, bicycles, etc.
- Second - all seating accomodation is for second class passengers.
Full technical details are available by clicking here.
Above: The complete Class 117 set stabled in Toddington's Platform 2 on 2nd January 2012. The unit had only recently undertaken the GWSR's first Santa Special services North of Toddington. Photo by Roger Bush.
Getting in Close
Can You Tell What It Is Yet?
It has been almost two years since Cotswold Diesel Railcar was founded by a small number of Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway volunteers.
In that time our DMUs have accrued over 20000 miles of running, many hours of maintenance has been carried out and our knowledge of these 1950s/60s machines has grown tremendously.
Some of our volunteers have become almost intimate with our four vehicle fleet of 1st Generation DMUs, and are easily able to identify all of the close up pictures below.
The question is, can you?
The answers are available by clicking here.
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