April 2019

Sunday 14th April:

Today we were taken down to one of the rakes of coaches at Winchcombe and taught about the role of a Guard and a Travelling Ticket Inspector, such as how to refill the water tanks for the toilets and charge the batteries. We also learnt other things such as how to climb up into a carriage safely, the easier to understand part of vacuum brakes and where the cylinder is, how to reset the brakes, how to switch the couplings on carriages between buckeye and the hook as well as looking at the couplings on some of the wagons, the difference between Mk1 and Commonwealth bogies, how to release the brakes after the emergency chain is pulled and other parts of the carriages. Afterwards, we looked at a brake van and the braking systems in it before making our gas mask boxes towards the end of the day in preparation for the Wartime Weekend. 

Saturday/Sunday 27th/28th April

1940's Newspaper boys.

This weekend was the Wartime Weekend, where we had the chance to dress in 1940s clothing and were handing out event programmes and ID cards at the entrances of Toddington and Cheltenham Racecourse stations. 

An Army Officer passes the "Newspaper Sellers"

Various visitors also appeared on occasion, such as Winston Churchill and King George.

Laurel and Hardy provided entertainment for the troops and civilians

After the stations quietened down, some of us went home and the rest rode the trains and went to various exhibits throughout the day, where we got to see various displays such as a makeshift war room at Winchcombe Station and various war vehicles at Toddington. 

Don't Panic Mr Manwairing!! The Home Guard waiting for their train.

They even had a working spitfire in the car park, and its mighty Merlin engine would be started every hour. It was a great event and everyone had a great time.

The Spitfire in Toddington Carpark.

Written by Jake.