Wagons at AVR

Specials passing through, Timings and unusual sightings. Wandering off-topic about the events in question IS allowed :)

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BristolLMS
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Location: Bristol

Wagons at AVR

Post by BristolLMS »

Hi All

I went to the AVR last week, in one of the sidings next to the main line there was a nice selection of wagons looks like they have just been restored û do any of you know if they are going to be used on the gala Sunday on the 28th with the 7f, how many and types.

Ta
get_that_bus_out
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Location: Philadelphia, PA (on leave from FGW-land at the moment!)

Post by get_that_bus_out »

Sounds like the goods rake that you saw is the one that is being prepared for use with the 7F. The lowmac was given a thorough overhaul a couple of years ago and the Toad and GW 5-plank have also just been through a "Rolls Royce" restoration by the C&W gang. Some of the other wagons have also been recently repainted, and Ian Cryer has added the finishing touches of the signwriting and numbering in the last couple of weeks. We've also just swapped a couple of old wagons in need of restoration for a BR standard brake van (from memory the swap was with the Churnet Valley), although I don't know if this will be deemed fit to run in time.

Hope this helps!
BristolLMS
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Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 11:31 pm
Location: Bristol

Post by BristolLMS »

Thanks for the reply

I did have a little look around the yard last Sunday and did notice the new addition BR brake van û it looks in not to bad condition from what I could see. The Toad and GW open look superb, its nice to see the railway looking after and restoring wagons after a few years of storage, well done to those people involved. Will be nice seeing the 7f with a mixed freight on the gala. Do you know if the AVR offer brake van rides like the ESR did on some of their galas?
get_that_bus_out
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Posts: 96
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:30 pm
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Post by get_that_bus_out »

Not sure about brakevan rides: unfortunately they're a bit of a minefield with H&S and insurance, because our vans are piped only rather than fully vacuum fitted (so they have a through vacuum pipe that enables them to be coupled in a vacuum fitted train, as well as a guard's brake valve, but the vacuum system does not apply the brakes on the van itself). As a guard myself I would be slightly anxious about carrying paying punters in an unfitted vehicle without proper doors (the insurance situation is different for staff and members than it is for paying passengers).

7F is booked to be working in passenger service on Sunday, then Tue, Wed, Thu next week with the "grand finale" being the end of season gala on Sun 28 Oct with four loco diagrams (quite possibly including all of our serviceable resident locos in addition to 53809) are operating. Obviously all the usual disclaimers about locos being subject to availability apply, but hopefully it'll end up being a reasonable show! There are also a few evening charters booked over the next week or so using 53809 but to the best of my knowledge they are all now sold out.
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