Category: Organisations We Support

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Organisations We Support – Western Loco Association

Class 52 Western Maroon Data Panel Personalised Mouse Mat

Organisations We Support – Western Loco Association

Welcome to the second article featuring the fundraising organisations we support.

Our new Trade Portal for fund raising organisations and societies has been extremely well received and has markedly increased organisations coming to us for their fundraising gifts.

One of the benefits of full membership of the Portal System is promotion of your group or society, both here on our website and also on social media.

So here we go – welcome to the Western Loco Association.

Western Loco Association

The Western Loco Association has been around a long time and are owners and operators of Class 52 locos D1013 Western Ranger and D1062 Western Courier, based on the Severn Valley Railway.

This excerpt from the WLA website sums up what makes the Class 52 Westerns special and grabbed the attention of railway enthusiasts at the time – 

The “Westerns” were always a little special, ever since their inception in 1961, and were the final development of the Western Region diesels using hydraulic transmission. Other regions based their designs on electric transmissions utilising large medium-speed diesel engines. The “Westerns” married superb bodywork styling and German-designed high-speed Maybach engines and Voith transmissions to produce a locomotive that was extremely powerful and considerably lighter than an equivalent diesel-electric.

A decision to rationalise the diesel locomotive types on British Rail marked the beginning of the end for the diesel-hydraulics. The “Westerns” were the last survivors and struggled on magnificently despite their neglected state until the final locomotives were withdrawn in February 1977.

With their impressive design, awesome engine sound and fabricated aluminium and steel name and number plates, the “Westerns” had many marks of distinction. All 74 “Westerns” were named, proud names such as “Western Glory”, “Western Thunderer” and “Western Crusader”, and these endeared them to enthusiasts who saw them as the last sign of the spirit and traditions of the Great Western Railway.

The demise of the mighty “Westerns” evoked a fanatical following, the like of which had not been seen since the end of steam traction, and this led to the early efforts of the W.L.A. to preserve an example of the class. The results of these efforts, “Western Courier” and “Western Ranger”, can be seen on the Severn Valley Railway today.

What WLA Fund Raising Products Are Available?

There are a wide range of designs available from the Western Loco Association online store.

We supply a number of designs to the Western Loco Association including our popular loco Data Panels and embroidered clothing.

Although these designs are ‘our’ standard designs, if you buy them through the Western Loco Association website, or order them from their fund raising stall, the WLA get full benefit of the proceeds, which helps them and us!

I 1st met Peter Bamber and their fund raising team at Crewe Heritage Centre a few years ago during a Diesel Day event at the Centre. Since then our arrangements have evolved into a great arrangement for both parties!

I’m delighted to help them raise much needed funds for their locos.

Keep your eyes peeled for new products as we work together to bring new and novel ideas for merchandise to life!

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Class 52 Data Panels

Class 52 Data Panels featuring any Western in the liveries carried during service

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Clothing

Embroidered Westerns on hoodies, polos and jackets

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Class 52 Picture Coasters

Pictures of Westerns on Coasters

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Current WLA Fundraising Appeals

Currently the WLA is running an appeal for funds to help with the bogie overhauls on D1013 Wewstern Ranger.

This is a hugely expensive undertaking which you can read all about over on the  D1013 Bogie Overhaul Appeal page

Western Loco Association on Social Media

Check out the WLA social media sites and keep up to date with all their various news and updates  –

 

Now you know a little more about the Western Loco Association, why not check out their links in this post?

If you are interested in our Trade Portal service, then follow the links in this article or submit an enquiry below.

We’ll get in touch to discuss your needs!

Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Gary, Dawn and Kay!

 

 

Enquire How GDMK Images Can Help Your Organisation or Society

 

 

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Organisations We Support – Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Museum

Builders plate coaster

Organisations We Support – Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Museum

Welcome to a new series of articles featuring the fundraising organisations we support.

We have supported well over 20 organisations over the last three years with their fundraising product needs.

Our new Trade Portal for fund raising organisations and societies has been extremely well received and has markedly increased organisations coming to us for their fundraising gifts.

We would like to publicly thank John Piper of the NSERS and SEG for his much appreciated help in trouble shooting and testing of the portal before it went live.

Both organisations are honorary members of the portal scheme.

One of the benefits of full membership of the Portal System is promotion of your group or society, both here on our website and also on social media – so here we go with our first in a new series of posts!

The first new group to join our full Portal Scheme was the Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Museum.

Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Museum Background

“The Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Museum was formed in 2016 by a group of local railway preservationists with a shared aim of preserving the history and heritage of the Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company Limited and associated organisations from 1860 until 1986.

In 2020, the museum became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), its Registered Charity Number is 1191551 and is now working towards achieving its overall goal of creating a permanent museum for its ever-growing collection of artefacts, relics, rolling stock and other transport related items. 

The museum is currently looking for a permanent home in the Gloucestershire and South Wales area. The object of the CIO is: 

To advance the education of the public in the history of the railway and general transport heritage of the United Kingdom, with special reference to the Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company Limited from 1860 until 1986 and industrial and light railways in the Gloucester area, in particular but not exclusively by the creation and operation of a museum and owning, repairing, constructing and preserving railway heritage, coaching stock and associated artefacts for use and appreciation by the public.”

 

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GRCWM Gift Designs

The Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Museum is relatively new to the fundraising merchandise scene and took full advantage of our Portal design service and drop-shipping facilities.

We worked with them to produce an initial range of designs for their new online store – which incidentally can be found here – GRCWM Online Shop

After settling on designs, we produced product mockups for the society to use on their shop and social media pages.

Check out the GRCWM social media sites here –

 

What GRCWM Fund Raising Products Are Available?

There are a wide range of designs available from the GRCWM onlne store

 

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GRCWM Makers Plates

Makers plate designs

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Locomotive Designs

Designs featuring locomotives built by the GRCW Co

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DMU Data Panels

DMU Data Panels featuring multiple units built by the GRCW Co

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Clothing

Several different T-Shirt Designs

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GRCWM Anniversaries

5th Anniversary

The GRCWM Is currently celebrating the Societies 5th Anniversary and has a range of anniversary fund raising gifts for you to buy.

 

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Churchill Tank 80th Anniversary

It is also the 80th Anniversary of the Churchill tank which was manufactured by the company in World war 2.

To commemorate this anniversary the museum has a range of items featuring a Churchill tank.

 

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Now you know a little more about the Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Museum, why not check out their links in this post?

If you are interested in our Trade Portal service, then follow the links in this article or submit an enquiry below.

We’ll get in touch to discuss your needs!

Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Gary, Dawn and Kay!

 

 

Enquire How GDMK Images Can Help Your Organisation or Society