Spa Valley Railway - Latest News

Depends on the rules they are applying for revenue recognition. I am not an expert in the travel industry’s financial reporting, but I do know from my industrial and heritage rail experience that sales are generally reported when they are completed. Plays havoc with (for example) long term service contracts for industrial equipment where the sale is made in advance of the equipment even being delivered, and is maintained for many years. They will talk about “orders” as a result. Sales revenue is shown progressively over time. Jonnie has orders and cashflow. He will have sales next year which is when the revenue will be recognised I imagine.

 

"turnover is vanity, profit is reality but cash is king". A lot of heritage railways have forgotten this saying hence the deep mire many are in.

 

I probably confused it a bit in how I worded it. This probably isn't the place to go into detail.

The final Polar total standa at 40,862 passengers carried over 113 shows on a total of 23 days of running, not bad really!

4946 and 4949 are on long term hire to us, they were sold in 2021/22. 5035 and 5033 are on hire from West Coast, they're leaving in early January.

We don't operate on Xmas Eve, because even if we wanted to the reality is that the staff and actors that make this happen come from all over the UK and it wouldn't be fair to have them travelling home at gone 10pm on Xmas Eve. That's if they wanted to work it.

Instead, we have a team working overnight and during Xmas Eve daytime to dismantle as much as can be done so if you did visit us on 27th December you wouldn't even know the Polar Express had been here.

Seeing Christmas taken down before it's actually happened doesn't do much for feeling Christmassy I can tell you that for certain but in any event, Merry Christmas to all the Spa Valley followers out there!

 

Too right. When I check the latest accounts of the heritage railways that I am interested in (those within old BR SR boundaries), I try and find the 'operating company' accounts on the Gov website and, within working capital, I initially check just two numbers. Cash at bank and in hand, and then creditors due within one year. Just a starting point I know, but a building block for any more detailed look at the accounts. And, for those who check accounts in a different fashion, me doing this is "Just my way of getting through the day" as Basil Fawlty once said to Sybil!

 

So how long will 4946 and 4949 going to be with you guys?
Only, they do look good with your new buffet coach and [perhaps] a repaint for your mark one brake?

 

They're on long term hire, there isn't really any need for anyone to know how long that is for, one is due to go away for work in the not too distant future which should see the steam heat recommissioned on one of the pair. The coach will be repainted during that time too.

We aren't intending to paint the BCK into anything other than BR(S) Green which is the livery it carries now, we've now 4 MK1's in green on both sides.

TSO 4999 is still blue and grey on one side and hopefully that'll go green all over in the not too distant future. The only reason it has never been done before is the coach has seen regular use, we've not had anything suitable to replace it so other than regular maintenance and minor works it has been a regularly used carriage for many years. It did come to us having had a lot of work done at Canmore and we've since done a lot of work on the underside of the vehicle. It is planned to take 4999 out of service in the not too distant future once 5037 is available to replace it. 5037 entered service for Polar but still needs work to recommission the air brakes and it only ever had one coat of paint. When 4999 is withdrawn it'll enable works such as the ETH to be recommissioned and as it is also dual braked, if there is an opportunity, I'm sure the air brake side would be recommissioned too.

The RMB 1864 is planned to go into BR(S) Green when an opportunity arises. This coach has had a lot of work since arriving in 2020, we had to replace the wheel sets before it could enter service and it has since had one end completely rebuilt plus works inside. The coach is available for service but it'll enter the shed for other works when time and space allows.

Our MK1 SK 25845 is the next 'big' project for the C&W department, however, that had a major bodywork overhaul in 2007/8 and the main work for this carriage now is on the doors and door frames. The running gear is in good condition following the last period of works and limited use since. We've typically used open coaches on our regular service trains as they combine into the dining trains of an evening or a lunchtime.

The MK1 First Open 3131 is plodding along with a lot of work done inside the coach, it was the only carriage in the shed during Polar and was/is still being worked on regularly by a team of volunteers. This coach had a major bodywork overhaul at Canmore before coming to us in 2019. This coach should be Crimson and Cream when out shopped. SO 4828 will then follow suit as they become part of the dedicated dining train.

The old Balfour Beaty mess coach has spent December being stripped of its interior with a plan to create our own kitchen carriage, it'll initially be a static vehicle and then become mobile when time allows.

 

We'd like to wish all our followers, visitors, members and volunteers a Happy New Year!

Thank you for all you do to support the Spa Valley Railway be it by just visiting us, spreading the word or being one of many dedicated persons that volunteer hundreds of hours to ensure our railway continues to b operate.

We're delighted to say that as of tonight a total of 73,114 people have visited since 1st February 2023 making 2023 the most successful running season to date!

Thank you again to everyone for your support. Don't forget our Class 207 DEMU 1317 is running trains on New Years Day and on 6th & 7th January with steam services returning on the 13th & 14th January. Probably 34072 '257 Squadron'.

Happy New Year!

 

All the best to you and your staff for 2024 @Jonnie and thank you for your regular updates.

 

Don't forget we're open this Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th. Class 207 DMEU 1317 is operating, I'm it's driver on Saturday.

The following weekend steam returns, albeit it's only been off the calendar for two weeks really.

Trains every weekend from now until the end of October.

 

Thanks Jonnie, I plan to be making regular visits once steam gets going again so soon in the New Year. 34072 is still top of my list, and if that is running on 13 January I'll aim to get a run behind it, and then check back on my notes to 1960, and see when was the last time I had runs behind a rebuilt (34059 on 1 Jan this year) and an original Bulleid pacific by mid-January of a new year! But of course I accept that all sorts of reasons can influence what loco is available on any particular day, that is all part of the heritage railway scene that so many of us enjoy.

 

I went up to West last Saturday, and enjoyed my day. Frist ride on a Southern DEMU since 2019...

I did notice 1317 looks a little bit rough in places, is the Unit going to need to have bodywork done in the medium term?

 

It will do, the cabs are an area we know need attention and the paint work is now 12yrs old. The motor coach had a lot of work done to it before returning to service in 2012, the trailer car not as much (but the motor coach was worse as it'd had many years being rattled apart by the engine itself).

It has recently had all by one door refurbished and it is in good working order mechanically, coupling changes have taken place between the two cars, the engine has had a fair amount of work done to it and the turbo was overhauled a few years ago. Electrical machines like the generators and traction motors have been deep cleaned and protected and the fan drive has recently had work done to it.

The centre coach is coming in the yard next week for work to resume, we are keen as anything to get it put in the unit but like everything half the time something else crops up. There isn't a huge amount of work left to do on it and it'll likely be around the time the centre coach enters service the unit as a whole would receive a refresh, the livery is likely to remain be blue & grey as from a historic point of view this is what the DEMU carried on its last day in service on what is now the Spa Valley Railway back on Saturday 6th July 1985.

For those that don't know the Class 207 DEMUs were regulars out of Tunbridge Wells West and our one 1317 was paired with 1311 and together they operated the last day of shuttles from Tunbridge Wells Central to Eridge/Uckfield. They then formed the penultimate train on the day of closure, again Saturday 6th July 1985. The final train of the night was then formed of Class 205 DEMU 1125 and another DEMU that nobody can seem to remember. 1125 is of course now preserved on the Mid Hants Railway.

I'm not sure how many other railways could run an event to mark their lines respective closure anniversary with the exact locos/units but we're one of them.

 

Well the NYMR ran such an event in 2015 to mark the 50th anniversary of its closure using the same two locos that hauled the final day railtour


The Bluebell could also do something, if it was so minded, to mark the original closure in 1955. Some of the services on the last day were worked by 41313, one of the Ivatt tanks that is now in operation on the IOW railway.

I cannot think of any other railway that could do this though - sorry for the thread drift.

Peter

 

Llangollen could with 46521.

Bob.

 

East Lancs could do with the same class on the Bury-Rawtenstall section - Cravens Class 105 but not same numbers.

 

MHR can too as 1125 also ran on the last day of the Alton-Winchester services, though I believe the final train was 33 hauled.

 

If I’m remembering Challenge Anneka from the 90s correctly, wasn’t the last train on the KESR before closure worked by their P class?

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ady77014/albums/72157655428726376/ I put five photos of my Visit to Spa from back on the 30th if anyone is interested...

 

Yes and no. A class 03 worked the last BR train. The P class continued to shunt at Hodson's Mill, and move wagons to and from Robertsbridge station. The real "last" train was stock being rescued from Robertsbridge yard by the Ford diesel.