27th October 2020 · “Volunteering on the GWSR”

Presenter: Richard Morris

The branch’s first on-line ‘Zoom’ meeting took place on 27th October with 25 members taking part with several being from other branches including our Canadian member. Society webmaster David Jackman thankfully kept the show moving because of internet overload problems. Richard Morris gave a lively presentation on ‘Volunteering on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway’ not only describing how he became first involved with a day’s footplate experience and then later as an enthusiastic Travelling Ticket Inspector. TTI duties do not just involve the checking of tickets but also in ensuring that all is well with the carriage stock. Richard explained various operational issues unique to the line. We saw the regular GWSR locomotives at work as well as the visiting locomotives such as 925 Cheltenham and 6023 King Edward II, which was known as ‘Elvis’ on its visit in 2019. Regulars 2807, 7903 Foremarke Hall and 35006 Peninsular & Oriental S.N. Co featured in many views not forgetting the diesels and the multiple unit. As would be expected of Richard, we saw in the second half several preserved buses as well as those he used to drive for Stagecoach in Cheltenham. In addition he gave a roundup of what he had seen recently of UK and Swiss railway scenes.