Representatives from railway interests gathered at STEAM, the museum of the Great Western Railway in Swindon, to discuss and co-ordinate GWR175 activity and are posed in front of Caerphilly Castle, the first Castle Class 4-6-0, no. 4073 Caerphilly Castle, completed at Swindon in 1923. The GWR was represented by Andrew Goodman (5th from left) and Ian Crowder (extreme right) (Photograph: STEAM)  

A group of people representing heritage and national railway interests recently met at STEAM, the museum of the Great Western Railway, with one thing on their minds: how to do justice to the 175th anniversary of the Act of Parliament that authorised construction of the Great Western Railway.  Out of the meeting came a range of excellent initiatives that will mark this rather special year.  A central part of the celebrations will be played by the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway with a nine-day event between 29th May and 6th June 2010.

This promises to be the pre-eminent celebration of GWR175 with a range of visiting Great Western Railway locomotives, both working and on static display (including the broad-gauge 'Iron Duke' replica from the National Railway Museum); as well as models, railwayana, presentations and displays. 

The activities of all GWR175 events both on heritage railways and on the main line will be co-ordinated under a common logo and theme, and with a range of marketing and public relations initiatives.

2010 is going to be a momentous year - and your favourite railway is at the forefront of the celebrations. Mark the dates in your diary now: 29th May to 6th June.