Avon Valley Railway

Infobox rail
railroad_name=Avon Valley Railway
gauge=Standard gauge
start_year=1977
end_year=Present
length=2 miles
hq_city=Bitton
locale=England
successor=Location map
Gloucestershire
lat=51.436962
long=-2.482723
width=180
float=right
caption="Avon Valley Railway shown within Gloucestershire"
(gbmapping|ST664710)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.

History

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. The western terminus is Oldland Common station.

Building of a new buffet and toilets facility at Bitton station began in 2007 to replace the current buffet and toilets and to increase space for the railway's gift shop. [ [http://avonvalleyrailway.org/cgi-bin/index.pl?page_tid=nag&action=view&article_id=62 Avon Valley Railway - Railway News Article ] ]

Motive power

For further details see this website [ [http://www.avonvalleyrailway.org/gallery/rollingstock.html Avon Valley Railway - Rolling Stock ] ]

team Locomotives in service

*Chrzanow 0-6-0T No 4015 "Karel"
*Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T No 70
*RSH 0-6-0T No 7151.

team 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 goods shed.

tored Steam Locomotives

*Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST No 2018 "Littleton No.5". Stored in yard.

Diesel locomotives in service

*British Rail Class 07 No. D2994. In service
*British Rail Class 73 No. 73101 'Royal Alex'. In service

pecial events

The railway regularly hosts special events. These include [ [http://www.avonvalleyrailway.org/events/smp.html Avon Valley Railway - Sherry & Mince Pie Specials ] ]
*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

References

External links

* [http://www.avonvalleyrailway.org/ Avon Valley Railway - Official site]
* [http://www.34058.co.uk/ 34058 Restoration Group Website]
* [http://www.4123.co.uk/ London Midland Society] - restoring LMS 4F No. 4123.