The Bristol Railway Archive

Avon Valley Railway.

GER J15 0-6-0 No. 7564 will be hauling passenger trains over the half-term holidays from Sunday 28th October to Friday 2nd November and also on Sunday 4th November. <BJ>

Thanks free2grice for posting, just to add further details, we plan to use the J15 on the following dates:

- Half term holiday - 28 October to 2 November and 4 November - children who visit in fancy dress will travel free. More info

- Driver Experience Course - 11 November - this proves to be unique experience, driving and firing the 100 year old engine on a number of express freight trips. More info

- Photo charter - 11 November (evening) - this ticketed event will see the J15 in steam posed with a demonstration freight and appropiate lighting - ideal for taking that extra special photograph. Please contact Bitton Station to register your interest - details are currently being finalised.

- Santa Specials - 8 to 10 December and 22 to 24 December - More info

- Pie & Pint - 10 December (evening). A repeat of our popular Pie & Pint evening train, this time hauled by J15 No. 7564. Ticket price includes a pie, your first pint of your choice and two round trips behing the J15. Book fast as ticket will go quickly. [/b] - More info

Some more details on the evening photo charter, to be held on Sunday 11 November can be found at http://www.avonvalleyrailway.org/events ... to-charter.

The event is being organised by Martin Creese of 30742 Charters on the AVR's behalf - should you wish to reserve a place please complete a booking form and return, along with payment (ú20), to Martin Creese directly.

A booking form can be found here: http://www.avonvalleyrailway.org/files/ ... harter.pdf

We had a very successful day filming the J15 today. The heavy showers kept the number of cyclists to a minimum and so 7564 crossed the river bridge at Riverside three times without anyone in the view .....and the sun was out on each occasion. We were very lucky.

What a wonderful sight the loco looks, especially with four maroon coaches in tow.

The HDV footage is available to the AVR for their commercial use, obviously free of any fees. <BJ>

I had a ride behind the J15 today at Bitton and was very impressed with the loco, the skill of the crew and the railway in general. Well done to the AVR.

Any chance of keeping the J15? ....wink, wink. <BJ>

free2grice - glad you had a good day filming, any offer of footage would be warmly welcomed. I'd like to get this on our website if possible? How's best to get the footage to us?

We have a small number of places available on this coming Sunday's driver experience course with the J15 and as a limited time offer* Bristol Rail Archive memberÆs can take advantage of a very special offer:

ò Bristol Rail Archive offer - ú250 (44% off)

The original price for this event was ú450. For full details of the course please download a brochure from our website at: http://www.avonvalleyrailway.org/files/ ... form_0.pdf

To book û please call Bitton Station on 0117 932 5538 and speak to John Lanchester before Wednesday 7th November*

* This offer is valid until Wednesday 7th November at 5pm, after which it is issued at the ManagementÆs discretion. To receive the offer please quote your forum username when booking.

john2006 wrote:free2grice - glad you had a good day filming, any offer of footage would be warmly welcomed. I'd like to get this on our website if possible? How's best to get the footage to us?

I can let you have the footage as a blu-ray disc and then you can use the film as you wish. <BJ>

Thanks are due to all AVR staff, the J15 and Martin Creese for this night shoot at the AVR.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16582147@N ... 985330516/

Added a few more shots from Sunday night.

Excellent shots Michael.

I had hoped to do this photo charter, but had something else on earlier the same day.

Thanks for the comment.

It was a very well organised event. The weather was good, and the buffet stayed open. If the AVR want to do this again, I'm sure that there will be plenty of takers.

Thanks to all of the AVR staff for their time and help.

The roster for the Santa Specials on 22nd-24th Dec has changed. The trains are now to be hauled by the RSH.
Is there any chance of the J15 hauling the Mince Pie specials before the loco finally leaves Bitton .....pleeeease? <BJ>

free2grice wrote:Is there any chance of the J15 hauling the Mince Pie specials before the loco finally leaves Bitton .....pleeeease? <BJ>

My wish has been granted (sorry, I've just been to the pantomime). The J15 is now rostered for the 29th-30th December plus 1st January. <BJ>