A locomotive which was rediscovered in a garden shed a decade ago will make its heritage-era debut in steam at the Avon Valley Railway over the weekend of April 19-22.
Sentinel 0-4-0T No. 7492 of 1928 spent most of its working life on the internal railway at the Fry’s chocolate factory in Somerdale, near Keynsham, a mile away.
It was withdrawn from service in 1964, and over the years changed hands several times.
In 2009, railway volunteer Eric Miles tracked it down in 2009 to a garden shed in Essex, before bringing it to Bitton the following year.
Since then, a group of volunteers has worked tirelessly to restore the Sentinel to running order.
During the ‘Chocolate Train’ event from Good Friday to Easter Monday there will be displays of historic Fry’s memorabilia.
Read more in Issue 251 of HR – on sale now!
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