Avon Valley Railway End of Season Gala 2&3 November

Smokebox number / shed code plates are on the front though?

 

Yeah

 

You will have to wait until Spring next year to see the completed livery change!

 

It was good to see 1450 and the autotrailer on test today at the AVR. It ran several runs between Bitton and Oldland Common.

The loco looked and sounded very good as it blasted through the cutting

I and many others I'm sure, are looking forward to the AVR steam gala on 2nd & 3rd November. [BJ]

 

Well those that can go, have fun!

 

1450 was hauling service trains yesterday. It hauled 4 coaches top 'n tailed with NCB no.7. The sound was wonderful. The final train of the day was double-headed between Riverside and Bitton. [BJ]

 

Replies to comments asking that same question on their Facebook page have garnered the response effectively in the words "we will post it when it is ready". They have added first trains are expected to be 9.30am on Saturday, and 9.50am on Sunday.

 

Unfortunately, the AVR volunteers are not kept up to date with news of the railway. If you ask a volunteer a particular question inevitably the answer will be "we're the last to find out". Why should the public be treated in any other way. [BJ]

 

WTT has just gone out for the weekend to staff/crews. Due to staffing issues there's a slower start to Sunday than Saturday, which unfortunately can't be helped. My understanding is that a public timetable with passenger services and no loco allocations will be published prior to the weekend (admittedly getting rather tight now but should be some time today). Full WTT will be available with a ticket or purchased separately without a ticket on the day.

 

Passenger timetable now online. As stated earlier, full WTT available on the day with a ticket, or purchased separately for £1. For information, first movement is at 09:10.

 

Don't take any notice of this timetable. The WTT is correct and is completely different. [BJ]

 

A few snaps of the Avon valley auto today. Was surprised to also find HC Jennifer in steam following work on it at the Flour Mill, although it didn’t leave the shed when I was there.

 

I don't suppose anyone knows what the timetable is for tomorrow?

I have tried contacting the railway but to no avail so last resort.......

Thanks

Andrew

 

Just had a message from a passenger hoping to travel behind 1450 this evening. "Still not left after 1 hour, 20 mins". Not good. [BJ]

 

This afternoon's timings fell apart. I don't what caused the delays, but it has been a suboptimal evening.

 

There were some workings missing from the WTT (obvious when a loco annd set disappears to Avon Riverside and it’s next timetabled move is from Bitton) and the crews seemed to have little clue about their next movement at times.

As for whoever thought shunt releasing a goods train that didn’t seem to need shunt releasing… (unless there was an issue with the headshunt points that meant they couldn’t be trailed through in the normal position)… well obviously if you start shunting during a gala it always takes longer than you think. Surely a simple version would have been to swap the locos at Avon Riverside instead.

 

As theorised by KatieLouLou, I can confirm that due to an issue with the north end point at Oldland Common, it meant we were unable to run round trains from the loop via the platform road, run rounds from the platform via the loop were still possible. Unfortunately a decision to not allow run rounds from the loop via the platform wasn't made until quite late on, and as a result a whole new timetable had to be written at the last minute. Of course hindsight is a wonderful thing, and as has been said, these things often take longer than you think they will!

With regards to timings missing from the WTT today, that was a human error when inputting the timetable into the document, and wasn't spotted until it had been printed a few dozen times! These things happen but of course it's not ideal for people planning their day.

We hope those in attendance today still enjoyed their day despite the late running, for which we can only apologise. As stated previously, due to staffing issues on Sunday morning, a different timetable will be in force tomorrow, which will be available from the booking office on the day. First movement is at 0910 once again, with first passenger train at 0925.

 

So basically, anyone attending the gala tomorrow will not have a clue what will happen. Please AVR, put the WTT on Facebook and Nat-Pres ASAP. [BJ]

 

Passenger Timetable for Sunday.