The GWR has enjoyed a fantastic year so far in terms of tickets issued, although sales were a little down during November - which in any case is the railway's quietest month - compared with last season.  Over the month's eight operating days (nine last year), 1,666 tickets were issued against 2,042 in 2008.

Colin Dymock, head station master, suggests that apart from the one operating day fewer, there has been some appalling weather over at least two weekends.  "Fortunately, the railway hasn't suffered from the rain as it did two years ago although there has been flooding on some local roads which must have put some potential visitors off.

"However, year to date we are still doing very well with 62,742 tickets issued - that's 10.5 per cent ahead of last year despite there being 10 operating days (140 in total so far) fewer than last year.  For those interested in statistics, that's 448 tickets per day, which is an excellent 20 per cent per day more than the 378 per day of 2008.

"That's why we have had to increase the length of some popular services from six to seven coaches."

He adds: "We are tantalisingly close to our 2007 all-time record of just over 71,000 tickets issued.  However, Santa Special bookings are good and we have the Diesel Day and Christmas Cracker events after Christmas to look forward to."