Bitton

<googlemap lat="51.432447" lon="-2.476301" zoom="15"> 51.430789, -2.476516, Bitton </googlemap>

To Bristol or the North: Cherry Garden Lane
To Bath: A431 Bath Road

1970s

• 
  An advert for the fledgeling Bristol Suburban Railway from the August 1972 Railway Magazine.
• 
  The station buildings as viewed from the road through the village. © Simon Whittingham
• 
  After coal trains for Bath Gasworks had finished, but before the removal of the track. © Simon Whittingham
• 
  Black 5 45379 arrives at Bitton in 1974. This loco is currently (2006) being restored at the Mid Hants Railway. © Simon Whittingham
• 
  Glendower arrives at the Avon Valley Railway. This loco moved to the South Devon Railway in 1978. © Simon Whittingham
• 
  Hydro testing the boiler of an Avonside loco. © Simon Whittingham

1980

• 
  © John Rawlings
• 
  © John Rawlings
• 
  © John Rawlings
• 
  © John Rawlings
• 
  © John Rawlings
• 
  © John Rawlings
• 
  © John Rawlings
• 
  © John Rawlings
• 
  © John Rawlings
• 
  © John Rawlings
• 
  © John Rawlings
• 
  © John Rawlings
• 
  © John Rawlings
• 
  © John Rawlings
• 
  © John Rawlings
• 
  © John Rawlings
• 
  © John Rawlings

2003-2005

• 
  Approaching Bitton from the Bristol direction. The cycle path switches from the right-hand side of the trackbed to the left-hand side via this crossing.
• 
  The view back towards Bristol.
• 
  In places the yard area resembles a scrap yard, but is all the more exciting because of it! This is 4F 44123.
• 
  Looking along the yard.
• 
  A couple of dismantled cranes await restoration.
• 
  As does coach number AD3305. (This coach was destroyed in an arson attack during the night of 6.7.07).
• 
  Piles of rail.
• 
  The yard viewed from a passing train.
• 
  No 70 passes by.
• 
  We catch up with her in the station.
• 
  Bitton's version of a Pullman coach!
• 
  No 70 passes by once again.
• 
  The yard as viewed from the Bristol end of the platform. Two 07s and 7151 stand in a smokey atmosphere.
• 
  Various ex-WD shunters stand in the yard.
• 
  An ex-Army 0-8-0 Sentinel.
• 
  No 70 stands outside the goods shed.
• 
  A sign at the end of the platform.
• 
  A general view along the platform.
• 
  Some more stock sits rusting in a siding.
• 
  This Thomas Webs of Caerphilly water tanker (no 48331) is ex N.C.B.
• 
  On my second visit to Bitton the 07 had moved from the yard to the siding with the coaches.
• 
  A water tank is opposite the workshop/yard area.
• 
  The station building viewed from the car park.
• 
  In the yard is this rather impressive inspection coach. This was built as an escort vehicle for nuclear flask trains, but was never actually used in that role.
• 
  A general view of the yard and goods shed.
• 
  A closer look at the goods shed. It seems the Avon Valley Railway are planning on changing the name of Bitton Station to Birkenhead North...
• 
  Out in the yard 34058 is slowly being brought back to life.
• 
  An LMS engine sits in the yard.
• 
  And next to it sits a chimney.
• 
  A Cowan Shields rail-mounted crane.
• 
  A beast of a digger menacingly guards the rest of the yard.
• 
  A Paxman engine sits in the yard.
• 
  An ex-Army class 07 hides behind a bunker full of coal.
• 
  Bits and pieces in Bitton yard.
• 
  This siding leads out into the car park and is used for items travelling to or from Bitton via road haulage.
• 
  Under repair.
• 
  Wheels and chimney.
• 
  A wagon. One careful owner..
• 
  More cranes.
• 
  At the Bath end of Bitton is a crossing that takes the cycle path back across the railway. Bitton South Ground Frame box protects the crossing.
• 
  All aboard for a round trip to Riverside and Oldland Common. Me and my little 'un are arguing over which is best... steam or diesel? I'm losing...
• 
  Our loco for todays trip is 7151 driven by a friendly driver who gave me this great shot :)

2006

• 
  Some photos taken on 1.5.06.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
  Thomas makes a storming exit from Bitton on 8.5.06.

2007

8.7.07

• 
  Two views of coach AD3305 which was destroyed in an arson attack during the night of 6.7.07. © Ian Tiley
• 
  © Ian Tiley

2008

• 
  A new cafe and toilet block under construction. 26.2.08
• 
  Viewed from the car park.
• 
  A month later and the cafe has started to be clad in Bath Stone. 24.3.08

2009

Some photos of the completed cafe taken on 4.1.09.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Special Events

Polish Day at the Avon Valley Railway 26.6.05
Avon Valley Railway End of Season Gala 2007
GWR 0-6-2T 5619 visits the Avon Valley Railway (February/March 2008)

External Links

www.avonvalleyrailway.org
http://simon71.fotopic.net/
www.34058.co.uk