The Bristol Railway Archive

No. 73101 The Royal Alex running on Thursday 21st August instead of the usual steam-hauled service. More...
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1940s Day - Saturday 23rd August - steam service with diesel hauled freight. In conjunction with the Military Vehicle Trust and Oldland Show. More...
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For AVRHT members there is a "Members Weekend" coming up in September; allowing you behind the scenes access - and a chance to have a go at a few things too. More...

I will be at av on sunday doing firemans exams make yorself known if you like

Mr Forse, is that you? I'm one of AVR's guards (in common with John, who beat me to it making this posting!). I'm on duty Saturday (in my occasional capacity as a ticket examiner so watch out...) and then RO on Monday, but sadly not Sunday.

On the subject of events coming up at the AVR, does anyone have any news on what might be appearing at this years AVR ôEnd of Seasonö Gala? The article on the events page of the AVR website suggests that it is likely to have a southern theme, although if the date is correct that was in January, have plans changed or been confirmed since then?

Thanks.

Im at the Raiwlay tomorrow and over the weekend, so will see what info I can get about the gala

Hot off the press - more info about the 1940s day at http://www.avonvalleyrailway.org/events/nfd.html

So, i dont get to see you Mr Webb now your on the passenger train. i will wave when speeding past on the freight in the van

The 1940s day sounds great! I may very well come along and get some photos after I've finished work. I'l see if my ma and pa want to come too, they'll love the wartime nostalgia.

Mr Webb? Who's Mr Webb...?

I will have to re write it then :-

So, i dont get to see you get_that_bus_out now your on the passenger train. i will wave when speeding past on the freight.

john2006 wrote:Im at the Raiwlay tomorrow and over the weekend, so will see what info I can get about the gala

Sorry for the delay, information on this year's Gala can be found at: http://www.avonvalleyrailway.org/cgi-bi ... cle_id=166

Thanks john2006.

Looking forward to that gala...sounds like fun. By my calculation, "anything goes" could theoretically involve three steamers, D2994, 73101 and Kingswood (the little green Barclay DM) dragging passenger/goods trains plus a DMU. I'm getting a headache already. Good job we've got a professional train planner on side!

As an update on the AVR gala, preparation of the timetable is under way, on a (quite literally) "anything goes" basis. At the moment this is planned to involve the following...

Diesel:
73101 The Royal Alex
D2994
The red Ruston LSSH (diesel-hydraulic version of the 07)
446 Kingswood (Barclay 0-4-0DM)
Class 107 DMU (expected to arrive towards the end of w/b 22 Sep)

Steam:
RSH 7151
MSC 70
TKh-4015

Due to operating constraints (we don't have two platforms in use at Bitton at the moment, so all passenger services have to operate from the former down platform - work is in progress to restore the up platform to passenger use but this will not be complete by November) the passenger service is likely to be a Bitton - Oldland loco-hauled shuttle service and a Bitton - Avon Riverside DMU shuttle: through passenger trains are tricky because we can't currently pass them at Bitton. Goods trains will operate. Double- and triple-heading is also planned.

So, no visiting locos unfortunately but it's shaping up to be a good day out!

Any thoughts on signalling the railway yet?

Alex