COLLETT ’14XX’ No. 1450 and auto-trailer No. W238W are to have their stay at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway (see separate story) extended so that they can formally open the railway’s rebuilt Hayles Abbey Halt.
![](https://www.mortonsdirect.co.uk/railwaymagazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2017/04/RM-April-p75.jpg)
The original halt was opened in 1928 specifically to serve the nearby Cistercian abbey (now spelt Hailes Abbey), and was a stop on the GWR and BR Cheltenham St James to Honeybourne service.
The delightful 0-4-2Ts were a familiar sight on this working, and a well-known image by Peter Nicholson shows class member No. 1424 stopping at the halt with, by fortunate coincidence, No. W238W in tow.
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Having that very auto-coach on the line, together with a ‘14XX’, was too good an opportunity not to exploit and the ensemble will remain on the line for the VIP opening in early June – date to be announced.
Read more in the April issue of The RM – on sale now!