The Avon Valley Railway Heritage Trust is gearing up to commemorate the first of two important anniversaries during 2011.
45 years ago, on the 6th March 1966, British Railways ran its last passenger trains between Bath and Bristol using part of the former Midland Railway line now run by the volunteers based at Bitton Station.
To mark the event a limited edition Commemorative Stamp Cover is being produced by Buckingham Covers Limited. To add to the occasion the covers will be carried on the steam engine depicted on the cover, RSH No. 7151, on the 6th March and will then be available to purchase from the station from noon onwards.
Development Manager David Cole said ‘Whilst we are all sad that the railway closed all those years ago, we’re delighted that exactly 45 years later we are able to celebrate the continued development of our local railway heritage for the benefit of the community. We’d like to thank Buckingham Covers for agreeing to produce our first stamp cover which we are sure will be in great demand.’
Ellie Hopkins, sales Director for Buckingham Covers, added ‘Railway stamps are one of our most popular products and we’re delighted to have been given the opportunity to support the Avon Valley Railway in this way during their anniversary year.’
The stamp covers are priced at £9.95 and are limited to only 400. They will be available from Bitton Station on the 6th March or can be purchased by following the link at the bottom of this article.
Later in the month a new DVD about the Avon Valley Railway will also be on sale. Filmed during 2010 and including archive film and photographs of the development of the railway, it offers an insight into the trials and tribulations encountered by the railway over the last 40 years.
The Avon Valley Railway now operates trains between Oldland, Bitton and Avon Riverside stations. David Cole said ‘The Railway provides an opportunity for our visitors to experience the days of steam just as those first travellers did exactly 140 years ago. The emphasis may be on leisure activities as opposed to commuter trains but we’re delighted to be preserving an important part of our local heritage for future generations’.
You can order your limited edition Commemorative Stamp Cover by clicking here.
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