Vale Of Berkeley Railway

Although Dean Forest coal was the main economic reason for the first bridge over the Severn, gold was also mined in the area.
Over the last 7 years, a group of volunteers have made amazing progress reopening the Lea Bailey Gold Mine, restoring numerous items of narrow gauge mining equipment, relaying track and creating a visitor attraction.
Well worth a visit, on open days you can even 'pan' for gold yourself!
... https://www.facebook.com/LeaBaileyLightRa ilway/
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This is the reason that the VoBR will put secure fencing round Oldminster sidings soon as we have permission from Network Rail. Then we will make sure our precious carriages and steam engines will be kept every night in a secure shed.
The other thing we have to do is try to get local young people interested in being involved in the railway. That way they won’t want to smash it up.
I think that’s the only way to tackle this growing vandalism problem.
... Anyone got any other ideas?
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Any woman who thinks they would like to come and find out more about railway engineering could start by volunteering with us. Let us know...

Is there anyone who would like to take over responsibility for developing our website? Paul Richardson has done a great job getting it all set up but he is now working on other things that need more of his attention right now.

Our scrap metal collection scheme has now raised over £2300 and seems to be going from strength to strength. Big, big thanks to Dick Dimmock for being the force behind this. Let us know if you have any metal you'd like collected.

Great talk by Alan Price about the South Wales coal industry and Barry scrapyard last night at the BA.
It was our last talk until the autumn so I’d like to thank everyone who has come along to any of them. You have all been very generous indeed towards the railway through the raffles.
We collected £125 last night and I’ve asked Frank to work out how much we collected over the year. It’s been an excellent contribution to our fund raising efforts and we now have over £85,000... in the bank. We are spending as little as we can so that the pot is as big as possible when we get the lease. That’s when it will get expensive!
We meet again for talks in October and I shall be looking for some new talks from February onwards. Please let me know if you think of anyone who would be interesting and I will make the arrangements.
Have a great summer!
Regards, Howard
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Steam tours in our area this weekend: Flying Scotsman is coming our way this Saturday from Paddington to Worcester via Kemble (around 10.00) and it should be 70000 Britannia (if it’s ready!) on English Riviera Express from Bristol to Dartmouth on Sunday.

Meticulous guarding skills demonstrated by Mr Robin Payne!

Much better day today at the DFR, weather wise. Lots of interest in the VoBR at our stand and some very imaginative ideas discussed for how both railways can work together for the future. Together we are stronger, as they say.
PS love 5199! Fabulous engine, owned by a great bunch of people at Llangollen.

Come over the other side of the water tomorrow and see us at Norchard tomorrow. It’ll be nice to have a chat .

1959 and one of 2 resident British Waterways shunters simmers in sunny Sharpness between duties.
Typical for the Sharpness locomotives, it is well maintained and being kept spotlessly clean.
Built in Bristol's Avonside works in 1924, as works no 1906, its short wheelbase enabled it to navigate the very tight curves on the dock lines.
... Sadly, it was scrapped just 3 years later following the arrival of diesels in 1961.
We're not 100% sure of the number (on the buffer). Possibly No 6, can anyone confirm this?
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Nice to see this beautifully repainted carriage back in traffic on the DFR.

The DFR gala in going to be great and we need a few people to help out on our stall on Saturday and Sunday 8th and 9th. Please let us know if you can spare a couple of hours.

Network Rail at work this morning ultrasound testing the bolts of rail joints. They had worked down the line from Berkeley Road and had got as far as Berkeley. I’m told our track is in great condition.

Just had a nice email from new member No 585 who lives in Wolverhampton. The word is getting out there!

Did anyone catch Clun Castle yesterday?

Could you help us out on the VoBR stall at the Dean Forest gala 7-9 June? We will need people for all 3 days. Even a couple of hours between riding the trains would be great. Please let us know ASAP.