Previous Special Trains run by the
COTSWOLD LINE PROMOTION GROUP

The prospect of running special trains did not feature in the early plans of the Cotswold Line Promotion Group. In 1978, the priority was to concentrate on encouraging people to use the normal service trains so that the case for closure of the line would be considerably weakened.

Early in 1981, a senior manager of British Rail suggested to the Cotswold Line Promotion Group that it should consider running a charter train and offered a special price to give the Group the incentive to try one. The Group has now run 16 such excursions and these are listed below and on the following page.

Saturday 13th June 1981 The Cotswold-Severn Special	6 car Diesel Multiple Unit from Reading to Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway
Saturday 12th June 1982 The Cotswold-Derwent Special	3 car Diesel Multiple Unit from Oxford to Matlock via Worcester.
Saturday 6th August 1983 The Cotswold-Severn Special No. 2	3 car Diesel Multiple Unit from Oxford to Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway.
The "Cotswold-Severn Special" No 2 awaits departure from Bewdley on theSevern Valley Railway on 6th August 1983. Photo by Graham Matthews.
Saturday 14th April 1984 The Cotswold-Ouse Special	The Group's first locomotive and coach charter, which ran from Oxford to York.  Part of the "Finstock 50" celebrations, the 9 coach train was fully booked two months before the day.
Saturday 5th May 1984 The Cotswold-Ouse Special No. 2	A 12 coach "relief" train for the trip on 14th April.   Also fully booked a month before the day.
	The Group's second "Cotswold-Ouse Special" train, headed by Class 47 locomotive number 47513 "Severn", awaits departure from platform 15 of York station on 5th May 1984.
Sunday 2nd September 1984 The Cotswold-Dart Special	Locomotive and coaches train from Oxford to Torquay and Paignton via Worcester.
The "Cotswold Dart Special" at Paignton prior to its return journey on 2nd September 1984.
Saturday 27th April 1985 The Cotswold-Dee Special	Locomotive and coaches excursion from Oxford to Shrewsbury and Chester via Worcester.
The "Cotswold-Dee Special" awaits departure from Chester on 27th April 1985.
Sunday 7th July 1985 The Cotswold-Ouse Special No. 3	Locomotive and coaches train from Oxford to York and Scarborough via Worcester and called at Combe as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations.
Monday 26th May 1986 The Cotswold-Portsea Special	Locomotive and coaches train from Hereford to Winchester and Portsmouth via Oxford.
	The "Cotswold-Portsea Special" calls to collect passengers at Charlbury on 26th May 1986.