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Avon Valley Railway Updates and Videos

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Corbs, May 15, 2013.

  1. MAPLE CHRIS

    MAPLE CHRIS Member

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    called in at Bitton this morning dosent look as if the DE is running as no sign of activity and station was full of carriages.
     
  2. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

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    It is running Chris. The course will consist of four round trips with L.150 and the maroon stock. <BJ>
     
  3. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    A very big thank you to everyone involved in last nights 30742 Charters Evening shoot . Fantastic crew , warm welcome and nothing too much trouble attitude
     
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  4. cg

    cg Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for organising the event, and I can only reiterate your points re hospitality from AVR.

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/16582147@N07/sets/72157648659282649/
     
  5. mcjlf1

    mcjlf1 New Member

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    Glad you enjoyed it!
     
  6. theonlyadsrulz

    theonlyadsrulz Member

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    I headed down to the line again yesterday with just my DSLR this time (no tripod to weigh me down!) and had a little ride behind both 47406 and L150. Here's a few of the shots that I got during the day.

    [​IMG]
    L150 departing Bitton with the first train of the day.

    [​IMG]
    47406 heads towards Oldland Common with it's first train of the day.

    [​IMG]
    L150 stands at Oldland Common prior to running round its train.

    [​IMG]
    I was trying to be a bit arty farty here, not really sure it worked.

    [​IMG]
    A rainbow lands right in L150's funnel as she runs round at Avon Riverside.

    [​IMG]
    47406 arrives at Oldland Common from Bitton.

    [​IMG]
    Trying to be arty farty again.
     
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  7. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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    'evening all, with Santa Specials just around the corner, here's a selection of clips harking back to when 47406 was at the railway's 2014 End of Season Gala, featuring passenger and goods workings.
    Hope you enjoy!
     
  8. simon

    simon Resident of Nat Pres

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    Nice to see your article in the latest addition of Semaphore.
     
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  9. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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  10. Devonbelle

    Devonbelle New Member

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    Corbs - I like your video footage - I'm in it (as the signalman at Bitton North), I'd like to have met you after I sent you the archive photos of mine off the Western Thunder - perhaps at the next gala.

    Lovely photos too of 'our line' we always try to make people welcome at Bitton - and gently relieve people of money to keep making the facilities better :eek:)

    Rgds Paul
     
  11. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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    Really? I think we met each other then! I had an orange jacket and have matching orange hair.
    I posted up some of your father's pics on the BHR blog too :)

    Would be good to meet up 'officially' :)
     
  12. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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    Failure of the DMU today meant new arrival 31 101 was pressed into service!
    (Photo by George Aldridge)
    [​IMG]
     
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  13. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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  14. nick813

    nick813 Well-Known Member Loco Owner

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    Hello, as there on Sunday.
    Had a fun run with the GoodsTrain!
    A rather shakey vid of the run can be found at



    Great fun!

    Nick
     
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  15. SpudUk

    SpudUk Well-Known Member

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    Visited Bitton on Saturday after walking up from Bath. Was very impressed, especially with the cafe which had a great vegetarian selection and even soya milk! Mighty tempted to volunteer
     
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  16. SpudUk

    SpudUk Well-Known Member

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    Are there still plans to extend?
     
  17. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the kind comments, yes the buffet is most excellent and is a massive boost to the railway, it gets lots of good feedback.
    I believe so, but at the moment the railway is trying to consolidate its position, for example building a locomotive pit that has been a long time coming, and overhauling more of the home fleet to rely less on hired in motive power.
    I believe that an assessment is being made on whether to overhaul Littleton No.5 or RSH 7151 (both owned by the society). The Avonside 0-6-0st 'Edwin Hulse' is in the midst of an extensive restoration, and the Fry's Chocolate Factory Sentinel is tantalisingly close to being completed.
    A concerted effort is also being made to churn through the Mk1 coaches one at a time, whilst maintaining the ability to put on special trains like the buffet/curry/pie and a pint runs.
    The yard at Bitton has also been cleaned up a lot in recent years, for example a while back the rusting ex-Barry hulks were removed, and this year the tatty black corrugated iron shed was demolished.
    Any and all help with volunteering is much appreciated, it's amazing how many jobs on the railway are done by a small but dedicated group of people!
     
  18. 61624

    61624 Part of the furniture

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    I hope the choice between Littleton No 5 and 7151 falls on Littleton No. 5 - a superb machine!
     
  19. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

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    It may have been tatty but the amount of engineering work carried out there was very impressive. There were just two chaps working in the cramped shed but achieved much more IMHO than at other parts of the site. Many parts were fabricated at the shed for Southern Locomotives Ltd. I remember being shown a brand new dragbox being fabricated for 34028 'Eddystone'. On another occasion a chassis for a Bulleid tender was under construction. I was sad when the shed disappeared as I appreciated the fine work carried out there .....but that's progress. :mad: <BJ>
     
  20. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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    Are there any plans to replace it?

    George Aldridge posted this pic on facebook, I rather liked it. Something about a 2 coach train that just looks nice.
    [​IMG]
     

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