Discover more about our steam locomotive from the old Fry’s chocolate factory in Keynsham.  Join us for a ride behind this special engine and see displays on its history and the factory it served.

Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate (or Tea/Coffee) plus a slice of chocolate brownie whilst you travel the line.

Under expert tuition you’ll be given an introduction to our Class 31 diesel locomotive and safety briefing before taking to the loco to learn the skills involved.  Then, you’ll take the controls and drive the locomotive yourself, hauling a rake of passenger coaches.  You’ll also act as secondman on one of the journeys.

Light refreshments will be provided.

At the end of your time with us you’ll receive a commemorative certificate and gift pack of information about the railway.  You’ll also receive a year’s membership to the Avon Valley Railway.

Please note, this is a half day experience.

To keep our customers safe, each family group will be seated in separate compartments.

Please select a carriage and then click on an available compartment.

Choose your first seat and you'll then notice that all the remaining seats in that compartment become highlighted, so that no one else can book them.

Then, just choose the different tickets you need for each of your group from the drop down lists.

For any spare seats simply choose the option 'seat not required'

Please note that we operate our heritage diesel trains on Saturdays and Steam on Sundays.

This is a Murder Mystery event suitable for people aged 15 or over 

Guests gather on the platform for the first part of the performance before boarding the train.  During the main course the actors will divulge clues and aid in your deliberations.  The second part of the performance will either take place on the train or the platform (depending on weather conditions) and dessert will be served.  Finally you will dis-embark and reveal who you think did the crime.

This is a Dining Train event onboard one of our heritage steam trains.  Seats are in carriages around tables of two or four people

Our onboard bar will be open serving a range of wine, beer, cider and soft drinks.

Guests to arrive 6.30pm for prompt 6.45pm departure.

2 course meal followed by tea & coffee

Santa Specials
PLEASE READ BEFORE BOOKING!

Thank you for considering booking tickets for our Santa Specials, we’d love to welcome you onboard!

As you’ll appreciate, we’re having to release tickets for sale before we know what the situation looks like in December and what, if any, restrictions may come back into force at that time.  We very much hope that Christmas will look much more normal, but we hope you understand if last minute changes are necessary.

We’ll continue with doing a few things differently to help stop the spread of the virus.  There’ll be hand sanitiser available throughout your visit and we’ll be managing social distancing by seating family groups and support bubbles in separate compartments or areas, away from other passengers.  However, we still really want you to have a great time and enjoy that festive feeling.  Christmas comes just once a year after all!

If you’ve visited us recently you’ll know that we’ve changed the way we’re selling tickets with each family group being seated in their own compartment or area with table seating of up to eight people, separate from other passengers.  To book, simply choose the date and time you wish to travel and select one of the available compartments.  Then, select the different ticket types for the people travelling with you and ‘seat not required’ for any you don’t need.  That just stops anyone else from being able to sit with you on the day to help maintain social distancing. 

Once onboard, you’ll enjoy a mince pie or festive biscuit as you travel the line and when you return to Bitton Station you’ll meet Santa and have the chance to take family photographs with him.  All good boys and girls will receive a present from him too!  But, like last year, he’s going to have to make some changes to the gifts he gives out as the virus (and now supply issues caused by Brexit) is causing no end of problems for his elves in Lapland.  They’re having real problems getting hold of the things they need to make presents for all the little boys and girls.  Therefore, specifically for this year, he’ll be giving a gift suitable for all ages 1 – 7 which will be in the form of a high quality Avon Valley Railway ‘Station Master’ plush teddy bear with a couple of presents suitable for our youngest infant visitors as well as older boys and girls aged 8+.

The most important thing is that we’ll do our best to provide all of the usual elements of our Santa experience; the train ride, the chance to meet Santa and a present for all children.  But, as you’ll appreciate, this year may remain very different and restrictions may be re-imposed at the last minute meaning some of these may just not be possible on the day, but we’ll do our absolute best to make it happen where we can.

Finally, you’ll be pleased to know that the festive Christmas donkeys will be returning once again and you’ll be able to see these on the lawn at Bitton Station, either before or after you’ve travelled on the train.  Once you’ve left our elves will then be working hard cleaning and sanitising the train before the next passengers arrive.

We very much look forward to welcoming you to our Santa Specials!