About
Get ready for a journey back in time, where vintage locomotives and the finest brews come together in perfect harmony.
On Friday 14th, Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th June The heritage Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway in the Cotswolds is delighted to once again team up with their friends from the North Cotswold branch of CAMRA to bring you the 22nd Ale & Steam event. Why not join them and relax with a pint of real ale or cider while watching all the action on the rails.
As in previous years they 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. A good variety of ciders, as well as soft drinks and hot and cold food will also be available at both Winchcombe and Toddington.
New for this year sees Friday as a 'Mixed Traction Day'. As well as a steam locomotive running between Cheltenham Racecourse and Broadway, two of their heritage diesel locomotives are expected to be in operation (subject to availability) from early afternoon until the close of the event. This will include a combination of double heading and top and tailing. Their ever-popular DMU will also be in operation throughout the day.
A special timetable has been written for the Friday, which allows extended station dwells at Toddington and Winchcombe, enabling passengers wishing to sample some heritage diesel traction to also visit the bars at both stations, without missing out on any mileage!
On Saturday two steam locomotives will be in operation, with the DMU running a shuttle service between Toddington and Winchcombe throughout the day and a diesel locomotive operating additional late trains to both Broadway and Cheltenham.
Steam and Ale Bars at Toddington will be open from 10:30 until 18:15 and at Winchcombe from 10:30 until 18:30 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, they ask you buy a platform ticket priced at just £3.
To make purchases at the bars, 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 11:00. While they 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 15:00, 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.
Join for a journey through the Cotswolds countryside, and stop off at Winchcombe where you will be able to purchase and enjoy a range of real ales and ciders.
For more information visit www.gwsr.com