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Stratford to Cheltenham Railway Timeline |
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1859 A single line branch from the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Line is opened from Honeybourne to Stratford-Upon-Avon. 1898 The presentation of the Andoversford and Stratford-Upon-Avon Railway Bill spurs the GWR into acting to secure a line through the Vale of Evesham 1899 An act of Parliament is passed for the construction of the Stratford and Cheltenham line. The GWR's proposals for the line have convinced Parliament that their line will serve the region better than the A&SUA Railway and their Bill is rejected. 1902 Construction starts on the line at Honeybourne. November 1903 Construction of Stanway Viaduct, just north of Toddington is marred by a serious accident. Four of the viaduct's arches collapse after the supports are removed, killing four men. Fortunately, prompt action saves the remaining supports. A combination of bad weather, insufficent time for the mortar to set and use of labourers with insufficient skills (one of the dead was a butcher by trade, earning some extra cash on the site) is blamed. August 1904 The line from Honeybourne to Toddington is opened, although passenger trains terminate at Broadway due to Toddington passenger station not being ready. February 1905 The line reaches Winchcombe, with the GWR providing a temporary bus service to Cheltenham. June 1906 The line opens as far as Bishop's Cleeve. August 1906 The line to Cheltenham opens. 1907 The doubling of the Honeybourne-Stratford branch is completed, and through goods traffic commences. The work on this section has resulted in rebuilt stations at Milcote and Long Marston, and a new viaduct across the River Avon at Stratford. July 1908 Through passenger services begin. March 1912 Cheltenham Racecourse Station opens. August 1928 Possibly the most tragic operating acccident on this line occurs at Bishops Cleeve. Two sisters are killed on the barrow crossing (the station had no footbridge) when they cross in front of an express train they have mistaken for their stopping train. November 1928 Hayles Abbey Halt is opened. 1933 Stratford Racecourse station opens. November 1943 The firebox on American Class "S160" Austerity 2-8-0 No 2403 collapses near Honeybourne East Loop Signal box. Both driver and fireman are badly scalded in the incident, with the latter's injuries eventually proving fatal. October 1944 Honeybourne East Loop Signal Box is again the scene of a fatal accident when a Wellington bomber crashes near it. March 1960 Local passenger services are withdrawn from Cheltenham to Honeybourne, although Cheltenham Racecourse station would be used for race meetings until 1968. The line is maintained as a diversionary route. May 1969 The Honeybourne to Stratford-Upon Avon section closes to passengers. August 1976 A derailment at Winchcombe results in closure of the line apart from the Honeybourne-Long Marston section. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway is formed in the same month; its purpose, to convince BR to retain the line or to sell it to a private concern. However BR chooses to keep the line under "operational control". July 1979 Having done nothing positive with the line for three years, BR lifts the track, apart from the Honeybourne to Long Marston section, which is now effectively a single-track siding. January 1981 The GloucsWarks Railway reaches an agreement with BR to purchase the trackbed. March 1981 The first working party arrives at Toddington. February 2001 Hunslet 0-6-0ST "King George" makes the the first steam-hauled visit along the newly relaid line from Gotherington to Cheltenham Racecourse. Further work on this section is expected to take another two years before it can be opened to the public ("Steam Railway" Issue 255 March 2001). April 2003 Cheltenham Racecourse Station is re-opened. 2008 By this point track has been laid to Laverton |