Diesel and ale variety

THE Avon Valley held a littlepublicised diesel event on June 10-12. Advertised as the ‘Bitton Beer Bash’, in operation were Class 31 No. 31130 (D5548) in Railfreight grey; Class 08s

No. 08202 (D3272) BR blue, D4118 (08888) BR green, and an ex-War Department 0-4-0DM nicknamed ‘Grumpy’.

Trains only ran between Bitton and Oldland Common stations as the section from Bitton to Avon Riverside was closed for permanent way work – a task which has since been completed by a contractor.

Varying combinations of locos were used – top-and-tailed or double-headed – there being no run-round facility at present at the main station of Bitton.

PETER NICHOLSON Departing Oldland Common with the 16.25 last train of the day to Bitton, newly repainted ‘Grumpy’ 0-4-0DM (Barclay 358 of 1941) double-heads Class 08 No. 08202 on June 12.