The recent visit of LMS Black 5 No. 45379 was a great success for the Avon Valley Railway.
The locomotive had been a long-term resident at Bitton during the 1970s-1990s and although excellent progress had been made on the restoration it was felt that the only way for it to be completed was to hand over the project to another group. That task eventually fell to the Mid Hants Railway Preservation Society who - afer a large injection of cash - completed the work in 2010.
Our request for the locomotive to visit its 'home' was accepted and in October this year No. 45379 came to us for a three week stay. This was greeted with real enthusiasm from our members who supported the financial appeal to cover the transport costs most generously.
The two day gala on the 15th and 16th October was our best ever and we would like to thank everyone involved for making it such a success. Our special thanks must go to the Mid Hants Railway for allowing this to happen.
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