Avon Valley Railway
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Avon Valley Railway | |
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| Locale | England |
| Dates of operation | 1977–Present |
| Track gauge | Standard gauge |
| Length | 2 miles |
| Headquarters | Bitton |
The Avon Valley Railway is a two mile long heritage railway between Oldland Common and Bitton in South Gloucestershire, England. The railway is run by a local group, the Avon Valley Railway Company Ltd, based in Bitton station. The railway shares its route with the Sustrans cycleway and footpath, the Bristol & Bath Railway Path.
Contents |
[edit] History
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The railway is part of the otherwise dismantled Midland Railway Mangotsfield and Bath Branch Line, which was closed during the Beeching Axe of the 1960s due to the Great Western Railway being just a few miles to the south, and also connecting Bristol and Bath.
Bitton station was acquired by the Avon Valley Railway Company in 1972.
Until 2004 the railway's eastern terminus was the station at Bitton, but an extension of 1.25 miles to a new station at Avon Riverside was opened during that year.
Building of a new buffet and toilets facility at Bitton station begun in 2007 to replace the current buffet and toilets and to increase space for the railway's gift shop.[1]
[edit] Stations
[edit] Motive power[2]
[edit] Steam Locomotives in service
- Chrzanow 0-6-0T No 4015 "Karel"
- Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T No 70
- RSH 0-6-0T No 7151.
[edit] Steam Locomotives undergoing overhaul/restoration
- SR Battle of Britain class 4-6-2 No 34058 "Sir Frederick Pile". Currently undergoing major restoration from Barry Scrapyard condition.
- LMS 4F 0-6-0 No 4123. Currently undergoing major restoration from Barry Scrapyard condition.
- RSH 0-6-0T No 1 "Meteor". Undergoing restoration.
- Avonside 0-6-0ST No 1798 "Edwin Hulse". Currently undergoing restoration, being worked on in the engine shed.
[edit] Stored Steam Locomotives
- Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST No 2018 "Littleton No.5". Under restoration.
[edit] Diesel locomotives in service
- British Rail Class 07 No. D2994. In service
[edit] Special Events
The railway regularly hosts special events. These include [3]
- Learn to drive courses
- Santa Specials
- "Steam 'n' Cuisine" Sunday lunches
- Thomas days
- Boat trips
- Murder Mysteries
- A real ale festival
- Vintage bus rally
- Children's birthday parties
- Christmas lunches
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Avon Valley Railway - Official site
- [1] 34058 Restoration Group Website
- [2] London Midland Society - restoring LMS 4F No. 4123.
