Avon Valley Railway Gala 2010

Personally speaking, something small and noisy would be preferable. A USA tank would be ideal but I'd be just as happy to have a few noisy trips behind the Tkh tank and the big RSH. The N7 doesn't really interest me at all but if it's going to be something from the big four a Jinty would get my vote.

The main thing the AVR need to do though is have a decent timetable. Last years gala was really let down by the poor timetable and diagramming. If I remember correctly, the prairie only made two round trips on the passenger train and I spent most of the day waiting at Riverside or avoiding the DMU.

 

Personally I agree with many others that N7 may not be the best choice in gaining a high amount of interest in the gala. I had it at the West Somerset Gala in October 08 and will not go out of my way for it. I would recommend that one of the two panniers at Didcot could be useful as I don’t remember either 3738 or 3650 running at any other location (Please correct me if I’m wrong). It would be a chance for haulage on a longer route and would tie in nicely with GWR 175. Another benefit is that it isn’t as long distance wise so i would gather reduce the costs in transporting the locomotive. Another potential visitor could be the Peak 8f 48624 as that has also not run off Peak Rail.

 

My initial problem was you considered Austerities boring! One thing they aren't is boring - Hunslets Finest sound great, look good and most have histories that make the majority of ex BR engines look very dull. But then platform end train spotters can not find them in their ABCs....

More importantly I can not understand where you think I am criticising the railway. As my local line I want it to thrive and in fact I tried to promote it through my penultimte sentance. I have attended the last two galas and would hope to attend this years.Although the N7 dosen't float my boat (or many others by the posts on here) I congratulated the railway on thinking outside the box.

As far as supporting preservation is concerned over last weekend and next weekend I will put a very significant amount of money into various pots both in this country and Germany. What have you done?

Oh well you can see why this forum is going down the pan because people just want to argue and not read posts ...and no doubt there will no apology!

Good luck Avon Valley and a Black 8F, Scots Guardsman, a Green Jubilee or a Black 5 would also be a lovely as reminder of the premier railway in the Valley!

 

It certainly wouldn't excite me (and IMHO many other locals) as much as a Midland engine on the Midland. The visit of the 7F apperared to be a big success, the GW tank not so.

Anyhow can people stop calling it a USA tank - it isn't one. In fact it has never been anywhere near the USA. It is a 62! I am sure it was a draw at the Churnet because it was different.

 

To be fair, I originally said "a USA tank" - K&ESR's are real ones, right? But good point, well made. Still, at least we've got this far without the 'J' word being used for 'austerity'! ;-)

 

48624 will already have been running at the Churnet Valley Railway for a number of months before the AVR gala so it would have run away from Peak Rail

Regards

Chris

 

Doesnt seem to be much support for the N7.
Personally I would be more than happy to attend a photo charter with the N7 on the AVR; simply because I have not done either the loco or railway on a photo charter before. Having said that I think the general consensus from the photo charter community is to have a loco on/near its original stamping ground (hence a LMS rather than LNER loco).
Distance is also a factor for me - travelling from the North East, and hence being able to combine the event with the Didcot celebrations would be more likely to get me there (just obviously try and make sure its not against a unique event/charter at Didcot as this would likely win out).

Can I just congratulate the AVR in trying to get a guest in an organise events around it. I hope this is a success and the railway continues to have such galas in the future. Sadly (due to the distance) while I would be interested I cannot commit for certain at this time.

 

I must agree, the N7 would not draw me to the AVR. I do live locally and agree with the comments about the 2009 gala, lack of steam, too much industrial diesel and DMU. The best timetable, I believe, and loco line up was with the 7F a few years ago. The AVR got the most out of the visiting loco with different combinations, local passenger, the pines and the freight. I highly agree with the comment which Hunslets Finest said about the AVR having a fantastic freight set. At the last gala I was talking to the freight guard and he was very positive about improving the set even further and adding more fully restored vehicles in the next few years, pity not a lot of others can’t be as positive and enthusiastic as him.
The AVR is a midland/LMS line so it should, in my view, try and attract more of the in keeping visiting locos - 41241, 45370, a 4F and 53089 would be a nice line up over the years to come. I believe the AVR has got good potential, even Steam Railway magazine commented a few years ago when they did a good report about them but, since, has gone a bit stagnant over the last few years.

 

I attended the gala with 5521 last year but felt that the loco was very much under used, although the ambitious timetable was itself worthy of much credit. Personally, I feel that if a visiting loco is being brought in as a headline attraction for the event, its use must be maximised. I think the poor weather at the 5521 gala had a significant bearing on visitor numbers, and perhaps less so to with the choice of loco.

With regards the N7, it's a nice enough loco, and will look ok on the AVR maroon MK1s, but it has no relevence to the line at all. Having the 7F there a couple of years ago was brilliant - and having a visiting loco with links to the line would be great to see again. Plenty of suggestions have been made already, and personally I'd love to see an Ivatt 2-6-2T there. A 4F, 8F or Black 5 would be good too. With the 4F, there's the opportunity to renumber as 44123 during its visit to promote interest with that loco's restoration and show something of the AVR's future when that loco is completed.

 

Isn't 44422 going to be leaving the Nene Valley around September time? That might be a fitting and practical choice of visiting loco and as Mighty Mogul pointed out, a chance to preview 44123 when complete. If they did get 44422 in the railway could use the gala to launch some sort of small scale appeal for funds towards 123's restoration (though I have no idea how much money is required or how far along work is, if at all).

 

Hi Marcus -

Personally speaking, I would happily support an N7 visiting the Avon Valley, in the form of attending both the gala and the Pie 'n' Pint evening. Last year I planned to bring a group of six along to 5521s P&P charter, on an evening out from uni....no doubt the same bunch could be persuaded to part with their cash again, for 69621.

Whilst others make fair points about how the loco is technically unsuitable for the line, if the opportunity is there to borrow it, then maybe it should be snapped up; the link with your traction inspector makes it very special indeed. Preserved railways are all about people; and getting him back on an N7 would no doubt be a satisfying end to his footplate career. These sorts of opportunities aren't ten-a-penny...go for it!

For future years though, I admit a Midland 4F would look pretty good at Bitton though....

 

Update!

Firstly thank you all for your comments, they have all been taken on board.

After confirming the hire of the N7 for the gala, we learnt 4 weeks later that she had broken an axle box at the NNR. We are still hopeful that, subject to completion of the repair work at the South Devon, the loco will make its planned visit to Bitton in late October. As a back up though we are seeking an affordable alternative and i will try to keep everybody informed.

Currently donations are slowly comming in to cover the transport and hire costs, all gratefully received. The planning of the events during the half-term week is progressing as well as the timetable for gala, which should see the guest loco, RSH 7151, Polish TKH 4015, Ruston LSSH 429 and the class 107 DMU all in operation, subject to availability.

The gala should see the first passenger trains use the loop at Bitton, after platform work, relaying the loop and the alteration to the locking of the ground frames.

If you wish to donate towards the gala, then please send a cheque made payable to the "Avon Valley Railway Heritage Trust", to:

Avon Valley Railway Gala Fund
Bitton Station
Bath Road
Bristol
BS30 6HD

All thats left to say is.... see you there!

 

RSH 7151 for a minute there I thought it was a typo and you'd booked 71515

http://www.aligrieve.fotopic.net/p65149538.html

Definitely NOT a boring Austerity

Should've gone to spec savers!

regards
Alistair

 

I'll second that re 71515 - was up at Blaenavon recently taking the kids to see Ivor - certainly makes some noise coming back up from High Level. Should also say (slightly OT) that we had a very pleasant afternoon there, with everyone seeming to go the extra distance to be friendly and helpful. If it wasn't for the distance the offer of joining the society and getting stuck in made by the guard on our train would have been a done deal!

 

Sorry to continue OT but just have to say I'm glad you enjoyed your visit, especially if it was the Sunny Sunday. You could still join and get the Magazine Top Line every 4 months to keep you updated on the goings on on the railways - full colour and superb (shameless plug as I am the editor).

Any way back to the AVR, I don't mind a dose of the N7, 'bout time I went for a spin behind her.

 

The Gala is this Sunday 24th October.

 

Looking forward to this event.

The AVR always put on a 'good show' at their Galas - a heady mix of non-stops, long goods workings, double-headers, DMU shuttles etc - the welcome and general 'atmosphere' is exceptionally friendly too. I'd reccomend it to anyone currently 'sitting on the fence' about whether to go or not.

Crossing my fingers for dry, bright weather...

Cheers,

Phil.

 

I should be there. Enjoyed last year, despite the strong winds. This year there are fewer DMU workings (hurray!). Ruston shunter 429 is working solo. 4015 "Karel" and 7151 are both quite loud, and I haven't sampled the N2 since NYMR in 1995ish. £7.50 is good value for a rover, and photographers can access virtually all the lineside from the cyclepath, which was the other track when it was previously double track.

 

GNR N2 0-6-2T No.1744 (BR 69523) has arrived at the Avon Valley Railway. <BJ>

 

I've purchased a few tickets and timetable for this gala. The first train is off Bitton at 09:00 and the last working leaves Avon Riverside at 18:20. The vast majority of the freights run straight through Bitton, some are banked and some are double headed.

Although the cycle track provides good access for lineside photo's, some of the best photo's, in my opinion, can be obtained from slightly further away!!