Avon Valley Railway Updates and Videos

But he said "a bit like the WSR, but has the advantage that it doesn't wash its dirty linen on this forum" which I took to imply that mentioning financial difficulties was "washing dirty linen". Perhaps I misunderstood; no doubt Simon will clarify for us.

 

Washing dirty linen was a reference to the WSR thread where all and sundry seem to take delight in exposing all that they feel was, is, and will be wrong with the WSR.

In contrast, the members of the AVR seem to refrain from such behaviour, much to their credit.

I have a soft spot for the AVR having been a founder member and wish it well.

 

See response above.

 

Why permanently?

 

Who is going to overhaul it, out of their own pockets, then not want to use it? A Barry rebuild is much more expensive than an overhaul, so you are looking at at least 2 tickets to pay that off. Ah, but then there's another overhaul to pay for....

 

I believe that the group owning 44123 have been restoring (almost building from scratch) the tender first, which has the opportunity to be hired out to other groups who have a loco but no tender, and thus raising money for the loco restoration. There is only so much covered workspace at Bitton and the tender restoration in the shed is going well.

 

Just wondering which loco groups are likely to want to hire a Fowler tender?

 

Probably the group building the new P2.

 

I wandered past today and noticed the state of the track East of Bitton, but I do think the AVR is at a bit of a drawback here: with the long straight stretch, with path alongside, every dipped joint and other track wobble is immediately obvious to passers-by. Other railways may well have the same problems, for all I know, but you can't just look along the line and spot them!

Here's a very-zoomed-in snapshot of the stretch in question:



Incidentally, if anyone likes indiscriminate bargains, the second-hand-junk coach at Bitton is apparently offering their entire stock of railway books for £110 at the moment, because they have just too many.

 

DMU Week at the Avon Valley Railway The Diesel Multiple Units British Rail Class 107 No. 52006 & 52025, being pulled by Ruston Hornsby 0-6-0 No.429 River Annan.

Thanks to all involved had a great day

 

The Sentinel shunter used at Fry's Somerdale chocolate factory at Keynsham, near Bristol, in the 1920s will return to steam at the AVR in April.

The Sentinel shunter moved cocoa, sugar and chocolate around the factory but was retired in the 1950s.

It took five years to track the old engine down to a shed in Essex.

https://www.avonvalleyrailway.org/events/chocolate-train/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-en...-chocolate-factory-steam-train-to-be-restored

 

According to the railway's online timetable the next running day is on 31st March. Has the railway forgotten about the Industrial Mixed Traffic event on 16th March? <BJ>
https://www.avonvalleyrailway.org/events/industrial-mixed-traffic-gala/

 

Surely if an opportunity comes along, you take advantage of it regardless? So long as the PR machine is doing its bit which it must have as you’ve clocked it, it has to be a good thing. As it is also in aid of a specific cause it should be recognised and hopefully you’ll come along and support the cause by having a ride.
Credit must be given to the event organiser who is a youngster and should be encouraged.

 

I’m not sure what other people think about this, but personally I find timetables start and finish with the terminus of the line unnecessarily confusing, other examples of this include the Dean Forest Railway and the Bodmin & Wenford. Are there any benefits I’m missing?

 

Likewise, I'd far rather half a column was left blank at the beginning and end of the day.

 

The GWSR which is based around Toddington, does this:

Edit: For some reason the photo doesn’t seem to upload, here’s a link anyway https://www.gwsr.com/planning_your_visit/visiting_gwsr/2019_Calendar_and_Timetables.html

 

If one of your volunteers hadn't told me about it I would not have known. That's why I searched for the event on the AVR website.

Each year the railway organises an excellent Autumn Steam Gala but again there's no mention of it on the timetable.

Whenever an AVR event is about to take place I post the gen on the local South West Rail Gen. I regularly receive replies from folk saying that it's the first that they've heard of it.

Come on Avon Valley Railway. If you're about to organise a gala shout about it from the roof tops so that everyone knows about it.

Good luck with the Industrial Mixed Traffic gala. <BJ>​

 

Trains start from Bitton, head for Oldland and then the engine runs round and then the train heads to the other end of the line passing through Button on the way. A further run round and the train returns to Bitton. That is a complete journey and is covered by a return ticket. Hence the layout in the timetable. I guess you could also board the train as it enters Button from Oldland and continue toward Bath and then go to Oldland and then back to Bitton.

 

With regards to the Industrial Mixed Traffic Gala, it was a late addition to the timetable after the paper timetables had already been printed, hence why it appears online but not in the paper timetable. We've been doing our best to publicise on Facebook (mostly the organiser writing posts and myself posting them) so hopefully we've got the word out there sufficiently. While yes I am a Trustee, I also have a full time job that requires my attention eight hours a day most days of the week, so while I do my best to get the word out there, we do rely on others to spread the word!

As for an Autumn Gala, the reason it isn't in the timetable is because we aren't having one this year! All of our efforts are going into the 150th Anniversary at the beginning of August, so we hope many will enjoy what we have to offer. Planning continues, though there are certain difficulties with organising a major event in the middle of the summer holidays!

 

How is it confusing?