April 2003 The Cheltenham Flyer special edition launch newspaper.

One guest - in fact, Brough Scott, the Channel 4 racing presenter - missed the train back on Tuesday. It took Roger Wyton, a member of racecourse station staff, nearly two and a half hours to drive him to Toddington !

David Ashforth, Racing Post: 12th March 2003

Train-Spotters staged a revival yesterday when the first passenger train for 27 years pulled into a station most racegoers did not realize existed -the one at Cheltenham racecourse.

The GWR launched its service on the lovingly restored line from Toddington with a train full of enthusiastic passengers hauled by engine 0960, Raveningham Hall.

At Toddington station, a display of 'before and after' photographs showed what an enormously dedicated group the Restoration and Archiving Trust's volunteers must be, since they seem to have been faced with a track without rails and stations without all their bricks.

For those with long memories, the beautiful gold, green, red and black-liveried engine brought back memories of the golden age of steam, although the journey was more reminiscent of Oh, Mr Porter or The Railway Children, than the Flying Scotsman and The 39 Steps.

While an Irish band played in the merry way Irish bands do, and 250 passengers celebrated with free Guinness, the 10.45am set off promptly at 11.05am for the journey through Winchcombe and Gotherington to the racecourse station, just a few hundred yards from the Grandstand. The service was non-stop, if hardly express, allowing a splendid, lingering view of the molehills and rabbit warrens that lined the route. I don't think the train stopped at Winchcombe although it was difficult to tell.

Raveningham Hall, shedding white steam and whistling like a neglected kettle, gathered pace through Greet Tunnel (693) yards as it trundled through picturesque fields and rolling hills. As it ambled past a row of bungalows, Mrs Smith at number 36 had hung out the washing, while her neighbour was drinking a cup of tea from a rather pretty mug and eating digestive biscuits, although we were going to fast to read the brand name on the packet.

Everyone alighted safely at 11.35am, cameras rolled, racegoers prepared to race and the Raveningham Hall started to build up another head of steam for the journey back to Toddington.

Tony Paley, The Observer: 9th March 2003

There's no congestion charge in Cheltenham, but for the first time since the 1960's Festival racegoers will be able to avoid the jams by catching the steam train service direct to the newly re-opened racecourse station. The chuffer departs to the accompaniment of an Irish band and free Guinness from Toddington, 10 miles away, every day and takes 25 minutes. James Colling, grandson of the Colling who trained Nimbus to win the 1949 Derby, is the man to contact (01825 746082)

Wendy Walker, The Somerset Guardian: 6th March 2003

A huge piece of metal will play a star role in next week's Cheltenham Festival meeting thanks to a man from Gurney Slade and his business partner.

Raveningham Hall is a 59-year old steam locomotive which will carry 250 happy punters to and from the races, avoiding the traffic jams of Cheltenham.

The Gurney Slade man is racing enthusiast James Colling and Paul Rackham from East Anglia, shares his enthusiam.
The two joined forces to organize Classic Hospitality based in the village.

Their company has teamed up with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway to run steam services every morning of the Festival on March 11,12 and 13.

Racegoers can enjoy a train journey for the last ten miles to the course, traveling through the Cotswolds from Toddington to the racecourse platform, which is only three minutes' walk from the grandstand.

Mr Colling says he was inspired to put steam and racing together after hearing John Inverdale on Radio 5 Live complaining about being stuck for two hours while he tried to leave the Cheltenham track last year.

"I knew of the local steam railway and I thought what a great opportunity," he said. "I know racing, they know trains -let's put the two together."

An Irish band will be playing at the station to add to the normal Irish-tinted atmosphere of Cheltenham. Free Guinness will be served on board.

The Annual Members Cheltenham Magazine: March 2003

Racegoers will arrive at the Cheltenham Festival by steam train for the first time in almost 30 years. Classic Hospitality will be running three trains to and from the course on each day on the Festival from Toddington near Winchcombe to the newly restored Cheltenham Racecourse station.

The trains will run on a 10-mile stretch of track laid by the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway (GWR) - group of volunteers who have worked since 1980 to link the existing track with the Racecourse Station, the southern terminus of the GWR line. The three and half miles of track from Gotherington to the Racecourse cost £500,000, all raised by GWR volunteers.
Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal will open the station and newly restored ticket office at the Racecourse on April 12. It will then be a regular destination and there are plans to introduce more 'special' trains especially for Cheltenham's most popular race meeting to further add to the racing experience.
Bob Stark, GWR's Chairman explains: "Everyone has worked exceptionally hard to make the extension possible. The last Racecourse special train ran in 1976 so we are delighted to see the trains back."

Four Shires Magazine: February 2003

It was the year L'Escargot won the Gold Cup, Bula raced away with the Champion Hurdle and Crisp landed the Queen Mother Chase 1971 -and the last train stopped off at Cheltenham Racecourse Station.

It was the final time the station opened for the Cheltenham Festival following the decline in the mid-50's up until its formal closure as a passenger line in 1960, although it remained open for the races until 1968.

It was a sorry end for a line that first opened over a century ago. But now, some 32 years later the station is set to re-open for the 2003 Cheltenham Festival, and beyond.

Volunteers of the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway (GWR) have spent years restoring the line between Toddington and Cheltenham Racecourse, repairing signal boxes, station buildings and other infrastructure.

Now Cheltenham Racecourse is ready to welcome passengers from the Cotswold villages of Toddington, Winchcombe and Gotherington. The first train to roll into Cheltenham Station was the Raveningham Hall, which pulled six coaches, including a luxury dining train, into the station for November's Thomas Pink Gold Cup meeting, much to the delight of GWR volunteers and others.
And now racegoers will have the chance to travel in style to the Festival, and other race meetings, thanks to a partnership between GWR and Classic Hospitality.

Avoiding the traffic jams and parking problems, racegoers have the choice of two inclusive packages to make the most of their day at the Festival.

Classic Hospitality Limited is offering packages for all three days, which include return steam train trips between Toddington and Cheltenham racecourse.

For more information on the Festival packages, telephone James Colling at Classic Hospitality 01825 746082 or visit www.classichospitality.co.uk.

Alan Lee, The Times: 21st November 2002

Fed up with the traffic chaos at the Cheltenham Festival? There is now an alternative - a novel one. The racecourse station is now operative again after 22 years of wasteful neglect and the local steam enthusiasts have joined forces with business man James Colling - grandson of the trainer of Nimbus, the 1949 Derby winner - to offer exotic rail packages on each day of the Festival.

Steam trains will set off from Toddington, 15 miles downtrack, from 10.30am and return after racing. Inquiries to 01825 746082.

Jon Lees, Racing Post: 18th November 2002

The age of steam was revived at Cheltenham yesterday when the Raveningham Hall locomotive, pulling six coaches, christened a newly-laid rail extension to mark the launch of a traffic-free route to the Festival.

The race train, operated by the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on behalf of Classic Hospitality, completed the first in a series of tests of a line, which has been closed since 1979.

The line is hoped to be fully operational for next year's festival, offering hospitality packages for up to 750 passengers from Toddington to the Racecourse station, a five-minute walk from the Grandstand Classic Hospitality founder James Colling said:" We've already started taking bookings for the Festival. Passengers are guaranteed a steam journey through the Cotswolds. It will cover the 15 miles in 20 minutes and you would never do that by road on a Festival day.

Edward Gillespie The Open Racecard: Sunday 17th November 2002

Travelling to the races, particularly on Sunday, can be a pleasurable part of the day out and I am sure there are many like me who choose a particular route to ensure they achieve the most magical first glimpse of the course. I have in mind a stroll through the bois towards Auteuil or the drive through the beech trees onto Epsom Downs.

Cheltenham is rather good for that with approaches over any one of the three hills and from the top of each you can spot the stands way off in the distance. What is rather boring - and don't I know it from my post bag - is that the remainder of the journey can take another hour.

Well, it need do so no longer because the trains are back!
No, that is not smoke rising from a camp fire at the back of the North Car Park. That is steam. Thanks to the labours of several generations of railway enthusiast, tens of thousands of sleepers have been delicately relaid; the line replace and what had become an overgrown dog walk now throbs to the sound on the Brunel's finest.

Book now for the inaugural excursion to The Festival or bide your time in best British Rail tradition and make a note for The Open 2003.

All Aboard!

Rodney Masters, Racing Post: November 2002

James Colling, whose company Classic Hospitality is the enterprising head of steam behind the reopening of Cheltenham Racecourse Station, is the grandson of Classic-winning trainer George Colling, to whom Barry Hills was apprenticed.
The link between the tow families has remained strong. Colling. Jnr, has the all weather regular Rafter's Music in training with Hills at Faringdon Place, and this month he sponsored the George Colling Maiden Stakes at Newmarket.

The winner was Tante Rose, trained by B W Hills. "I don't think I've seen Barry quite so emotional," says Colling, who presented the trainer with a trophy, which now has pride of place on the Hills dining table.

Colling is expecting upwards of 700 racegoers a day to use the racecourse station at the next Festival, and one of the passengers is likely to be the Queen.

The Racing Post - 22/03/02

New Train of Thought on Getting to Festival

For those of you forced to endure daily hold-ups by road or public transport in and out of Cheltenham during the Festival last week there may be some relief. From next year's meeting three trains will be travelling from Toddington, near Jonjo O'Neill's stable, ferrying up to 800 passengers via Winchcombe to the track and back.

The idea is the brainchild of James Colling, grandson of Derby winning trainer George, who is helping to bring Cheltenham racecourse station back into use for the first time since 1976.

A range of packages will be available from Colling's Classic Hospitality Limited will offer Champagne breakfast, five course dinner, daily members' badge and on-course hospitality as well as travel. The long term aim is to eventually run trains direct from London.

"The response last week was very favourable and people have started booking already. You can avoid all the traffic and disembark virtually on the course."

The Observer - 10/03/2002

The last time racegoers were able to disembark at the train station on Cheltenham Racecourse was when hurdling legends Night Nurse and Lanzarote were strutting their stuff in the late 1970s.

Traffic congestion is going to be bad this week, but as from next year it will be possible to avoid the jams or having to catch the crowded shuttle buses from the main railway station at the other end of Cheltenham by booking with Classic Hospitality on 01825 746082 who will be running a train service direct to the racecourse station.

Packages for the 2003 Festival will include return train journey, member's entrance badge and full hospitality on the course. For those who want the five start treatment you can enjoy a champagne breakfast and a five course dinner after racing, either on course or during the train journey.

The Festival Magazine - 01/03/2002

By Rail to the Races with Classic Hospitality

Classic Hospitality have signed a long term deal with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, which has been extending its line southwards to Cheltenham Racecourse station, due to be re-opened in 2003.