Avon Valley Railway Gala, October 15th and 16th

Not a good start to the weekend. The 'Black 5' had a mishap over the level crossing point at Bitton station whilst working the early morning goods train.
The loco did not sustain any damage and continued to run in service after the points had been clamped. The incident caused confusion with services still
running up to an hour late in the afternoon.

Better luck tomorrow. <BJ>

 

Thanks. Didn't quite mange to get there today...perhaps tomorrow!

 

Well that was fun! I got there at 2pm after chasing 5043 earlier in the day. Bought a ticket and a timetable, and saw there was train due in 10 minutes. Quick look round the shop and sale stands before Jessie rolled in. Turns out it wasn't the 14.10 running 10 minutes late, it was the previous train running an hour late! Still, managed a few trips, before photting 45379 leaving Avon Riverside with the 15.30 goods just before 5pm.

 

Very nice shot. The railway is not one of the easiest railways to obtain good images. <BJ>

 

TKH 4015 Karel has not been in service so far today. RSH 7151 and Jessie were due to double-head today but RSH 7151 is running on it's own and Jessie
is replacing the movements of TKH Karel. No other problems at present. The Black 5 has been hauling the goods train up and down until 10:30. <BJ>

 

There aren't really any other spots on the line that don't include the cycle path. A spot of gardening alongside the river wouldn't go amiss. I did a little but was in danger of falling in!

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/64433281@N07/6251465150/in/photostream

Popped in this afternoon. Good show, well done all but more importanly thanks to the crews on the above. Normally I would have to do go to Foxfield or Tanfield for noise like that!

 

I concur with the above.

Some of my OK and not so OK shots from today:

 

a few more..

 

Nice Ian. Glad to see the three arch bridge is still on and there was enough light left for the last one.

 

Some stunning shots from Hunslet's Finest and BristleGWR. I particularly liked the night/late afternoon photos with the river.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/64433281@N07/6251465120/in/photostream/

Thanks mcgo, the gala always seems to comes good at the end of the day. Less bikes and the crews seem to get into the spirit of things. One of the Black Five above.

Request for next year...a 4F and a Jinty please!

 

Thanks Hunslets Finest and Michael (mcgo). The AVR is not the easiest of lines for photography, but as Hunslets Finest said it does get better towards the end.

 

Yes that would be nice, but remember the locos were brought to the line by members of the railway putting their hands in their pockets to pay for transport costs this was also helped by donations from an appeal. So I suggest for those of us that would like to see this happen then we send donations in to help cover the costs.

 

Only made it to the final hour or so on Sunday but I wanted to be there to see the Black 5 go through, as I had bren there 37 odd years before when it arrived from Barry.

A few photos here:

http://simonwhittinghamphotography.zenfolio.com/p908236489

 

The Black 5 is running in tomorrow in the day and evening.

"The Black 5 No. 45379, a long-term resident of Bitton in the 1970s and 1980s, has finally returned to Bitton. The picture above shows the gleaming locomotive on shed with our other guest locomotive, GWR Pannier No. 1369, on the morning of Wednesday 5th October.

The Black 5's next official duty will be during the day on Wednesday 19th October when it will run to Timetable A (first train at 11am and then every hour and a quarter until 4pm).

It will also be running on the evening of the 19th with two trips at 7.15pm and 8.30pm. These evening trips are in memory of Trevor Poole, a volunteer who spent a considerable amount of time helping to restore the Black 5, who died earlier this year. Normal fares apply to both daytime and evening fares."

 

Some lovely shots, good to see as I was on duty on Sunday and could not get away from Bitton.

Blunder is spot on about guest locos. A group of us on the AVR, spearheaded by Marcus in the loco department, got together and sponsored the guest locos. So if you fancy a 4f, Jinty or Mickey Mouse tank, it can be done but pledges needed!
Regards Devonbelle

 

A photo of last night's memorial train, others can be seen here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/16582147@N07/sets/72157627936264046/