Spa Valley Railway - Latest News

It is a private road with no parking so driving to the crossing isn't something we can recommend, the owners wouldn't be too impressed blocked their drive.

 

For anyone wondering, having driven and fired 51456 today I can thoroughly recommend it, an absolutely awesome bit of kit. Steams very easily and pulled 4 with ease up to Tunbridge Wells with main valve just cracked. The three of us had a lovely day steaming up and down.

 

Thanks. Wasn't thinking of driving right up to the crossing but somewhere close enough from where my mate could walk.

 

Was rather wet yesterday, so I sheltered around TWW Yard and Box. Had planned to be back today for the sunny weather but family matters have taken priority.

 

An enjoyable day yesterday despite the weather! Short video that I managed of a couple of departures from Eridge during the day.

 

Really superb day yesterday despite the weather, we visted and met up with my parents - we decided against travelling so put the equivelent in the donation tin at Eridge and watched the trains instead, my first visit since 2012! Video from Groombridge, High Rocks and Eridge below, photos to follow. Many thanks to all involved in organising the event!

 

A very enjoyable day at the Spa Valley on Sunday. Beautiful weather. Plan to return for some more Lanky action in February.
2022-01-09 51456 SPA VALLEY by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

2022-01-09 2890 SPA VALLEY by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

2022-01-09 34053 SPA VALLEY by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

 

Some nice images and video of what looked a good event and great value (far too cheap really?) at £15. Special admiration for those out in the rain on Saturday.
I did notice from the video clips and the webcam although the odd droplight was open on Saturday there appear to be no toplights open. I thought advice was to keep airflow, easier to do in a Mk1 to help with Covid issues. Those steamed up MK1's looked like a Covid incubator, but maybe it felt better if you were there.

 

Can’t speak for all the time but I do remember noticing on one occasion almost every toplight was open as the train passed.

 

A very good weekend for us, thank you to all those that came along and supported it.

The L&Y tank is next in use on 12th & 13th February before returning to the East Lancs Railway so you've got one last weekend of L&Y action in the South East!

With regards to COVID, we have opening windows and they're opened as required but people do then like closing them, which on Saturday with the rain joining them on the tables I suspect they did as fast as our TTI could go back through opening them again.

 

Will have to try and get back again that weekend, the L&Y Tank is a delight - thanks to Jonnie and all the Spa Valley volunteers for a fantastic weekend!

 

Photos from Saturday. Once again thanks to everyone involved for a great day! https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/albums/72177720295915496

 

Thank you for sharing all these great photos with us. Makes the event worthwhile when you get to see such great images! If you're happy with any being used in publicity then please drop them over to photographs@spavalleyrailway.co.uk, credits given where possible on social media etc.

On another matter, non-train related but supporting a local business, yesterday with my Commercial Managers hat on I visited at the Copper Rivet Distillery in Chatham Dockyard which produces Kent's very own whisky. At the Spa we're launching The Kent Whisky Train on 19th February which will exclusively use whisky created here in Kent and this follows on from our incredibly popular Kent Gin Train which has operated for a couple of years now.

Copper Rivet is a fascinating place and located in an old pump house in the Dockyard, once upon a time it could pump out the dry dock in 45 minutes, the modern day replacement took 3 days... Progress... I was taken through the process of how they produce whisky, gin and vodka at their distillery and provided with very detailed notes on the products we're going to stock, this means our team of dining train staff can get a fairly good understanding of what the customers are sampling and provide some further information to them as required. A further couple of hours discussing pricing and other opportunities we had in place everything that will be needed for 19th February.

Why am I typing this? Because it really isn't all about running trains or restorations etc and so many people don't realise the little things that go on behind the scenes to ensure heritage railways can continue to thrive. This is a bit more of the glamorous side of the role I am fortunate enough to sit in but other elements can be rather tame in comparison but essential, such as accounting!

 

Amen to that. (Deserved more than a simple like )

 

It seems like the Spa Valley Railway is really maturing as a heritage line. Just out of interest, what is their relationship with Andy Booth/the ELR? They seem to hire locos from there quite often. Is it just a case of suitable locos being available or does AB also have an existing relationship with the SpVR?

 

Does anyone know if this "graffiti" - Sold Mr. Woodham - is still present on the slide bar of 34053 ‘Sir Keith Park’ after all theses years?

 

Is that the correct link or should it be spavalleyrailway rather than sapvalleyrailway?