Friday 19th April 2019 saw Fry's Sentinel No. 7492, haul public trains for the first time in over 5 decades!
Sentinel No. 7492 spent most of her working life at the Fry’s ‘Somerdale’ chocolate factory in Keynsham (just a mile from the Avon Valley Railway). After scraping in 1964, it was feared the locomotive was lost, however, thanks a number of private owners over the years, it was saved and was finally tracked down in 2009 to a garden shed in Essex before being return it to Bitton the following year. After nearly 10 years, No. 7492 moved for the first time in preservation in early April 2019.
To celebrate her return, the Avon Valley Railway hosted their special 'Chocolate Train' event, with No. 7492 hauling Brake Van Rides in Bitton Station, alongside resident TKh 0-6-0T No. 4015, "Karel", hauling passenger service up and down the line. Not only that, all passengers were treated to a free Fry's Chocolate!
In this video we see both locomotive in action, in and around Bitton.
Loco List;
Fry's 'Somerdale' Sentinel No. 7492
TKh 0-6-0T No. 4015, "Karel"
Hope you enjoy!