Spa Valley Railway - Latest News

You mean you didn’t pull it just to see what it does?

 

No, the golden rule is don’t do things you aren’t trained for

Tom

 

Enthusiasts are the only people who'd pay extra to travel in what is effectively the outside rather than inside a warm carriage at this time of year.

Mad? Us? Surely not...

 

We’re not mad, we just look at things a little bit differently
Have to say when we did the brakevan rides round Bewdley last year even the missus really enjoyed it, she even asked ‘is this the same coach as in that film you like?’ She meant The Titfield Thunderbolt.
I could also be wrong but don’t the South Devon have a bar in one of their Toads? That sounds like my sort of Brakevan

 

And you did not have to be mad to ride a brake van of any kind from Eastleigh to Banbury either, but it helped a lot if you were and that was inside!

 

It’s either a small bar or there’s not a lot of room for customers. Like the idea though.

 

QV The Legless Toad, Parkend's pop-up pub on the Dean Forest

 

If anyone is in the area this weekend and fancies visiting us both 828 and 34072 are running this Saturday and then on Sunday 1317, 31430 and 34072.

828 is hauling passenger trains from Tunbridge Wells West at 10:30, 12:00, 13:30 and 15:00.
34072 is hauling driver experience trains from Tunbridge Wells West at 10:05, 11:35, 13:05 and 14:35. I'm running the driver ex so give us a wave!

The trains cross at Groombridge where both sets run round as the Eridge section is closed due to engineering works.

There are then further evening trains on Saturday for Burns Night with departures at 19:00 and 20:30.

On Sunday 34072 is top and tailed with the Class 31 between Tunbridge Wells West and Groombridge, 1317 is working two driver experience trips.

 

Many thanks Jonnie, very helpful information as usual.

 

I have to say I find @Jonnie does seem to go above and beyond with his sharing of what’s going on at the kingdom he’s in charge of, who’d have thought trying to engage with the public might lead to people wanting to part with their cash and time with you?

Certain Commercial Managers should take note.

 

Less draught than a Pacer and that sold out on the mainline

 

What happens between Groombridge Loop and Birchden Junction - are you having to propel the stock one way?

 

The Bulleid runs down to Birchden Junction for the Driver Ex participants as part of the run round, so it's just a bit longer of them driving. We're going light engine between GBR and BDN, we leave the stock in the Up Loop.

828 is using the Down Loop and unless given the GBR to ERD token will only go clear of shunt signal (19) to run round.

If you stand on School Lane Bridge you probably can't see it as 19 is more or less hidden under it but most of us drop back when running round so we're well clear of it.

 

Thanks to the very helpful flow of information here from @Jonnie (great to meet you and briefly chat today) I had yet another excellent day at the Spa Valley Railway. I was trying to focus totally on 34072, but couldn't help but admire 828 and what seemed to be its rather busy trains, complete with a crew member wearing a Top Hat. The only other time I can remember seeing such attire on the footplate was on 30120 (120 at the time), on a railtour as it headed back to London through Honor Oak Park on 24 June 1962.

Anyway, I based myself at Groombridge for most of the day and rather wallowed in nostalgia geting close to and taking photographs of an original condition Bulleid Pacific - 34072. Many memories of some great runs behind a class that, in the 1960s, showed that in the right hands they could punch above their weight.

I took a number of photos, not so much lineside action today, but more putting the loco into the context of the Spa Valley Railway infrastructure and the varied operational pattern at Groombridge. That attached is of 257 Squadron running round the coaching stock of the 10.05 ex TWW Bulleid steam loco driver experience train.

Bryan

 

Reliterate: Your all still crazy riding on a QM IN THE COLD!!!!

I adore a good old brakevan ride every now and again, but I do prefer when the weather is alot warmer and I can actually enjoy it.

Maybe inside there is a toasty fire, but standing on the verandas, it's bloomin nippy!

 

Why the hell are you banging on and on about that?!?!? If you don't want to do it that's fine but having a pop at people who do is just stupid.

 

Pah! You've not done cold until you've ridden up the Brocken on the Harz narrow gauge whilst stood on the open balcony in the depths of winter.

 

We're getting into Monty Python territory here....

 

I appreciate I'm going to risk sounding like a parent / teacher here but oh well. I worry that if I don't say this it might get said by someone else here on NP or elsewhere in a less gracious way

It is clear, WRH, that you have opinions. There is nothing wrong with that. In fact, it's perfectly normal to have opinions and preferences. However, you need to remember that not everybody views the world from exactly the same lens as you do. This means other people may have differing opinions and preferences, and sometimes those opinions and preferences may be the opposite to yours. I'm telling you this because many of your posts seem to come from a place of thinking your opinion is the objective, cold-hard-fact only correct way of viewing the world. Therefore your posts can come across as blunt, insensitive, and at times rude and disrespectful. You need to find a way of expressing your opinions that isn't this way, both here on NatPres and in the world in general. Contrary to what is sometimes portrayed in TV shows and sitcoms, pontificating and postulating your opinions as fact and intentionally or unintentionally implying or actively suggesting that people who hold a different opinion to you are wrong is a very good way to put people's backs up against you. Especially if you don't have a pre-existing relationship with them where the recipients can know to take what you say in good taste or to give you grace when you come across a bit strong.

You may not want to go on a brake van ride in February. That doesn't mean other people can't.
You may not be a big fan of Bulleid Pacifics. That doesn't mean other people aren't.
You may prefer Great Western engines. That doesn't mean other people do.

I appreciate it's sometimes difficult to know exactly how what you say will come across on the internet where there isn't the benefit of tone of voice and sometimes you can make a joke or a sweeping statement which doesn't land in the way you hoped. People can take one or two of those. It gets a bit difficult if it's quite regular.

It's clear you are passionate about railway preservation in the UK. That's good. Our industry needs people with passion. But your passion needs to be diluted a bit with being able to understand that people can view the world in a way and have preferences that are different from yours, and that's OK.

I see some of myself from about 20 years ago in the way you express your opinions so I have sympathy for where your head is at. But I can tell you I was difficult to be around at times 20 years ago and I am grateful to people who were patient with me but also called me out and steered me to behave in a less confrontational way when expressing my opinions for helping mould me into the less difficult person I am today.

In short, please keep your passion for preservation. But please find a way to express that passion in a way that is less blunt, less dividing and allows other people to also feel passionate about preservation, but in a different way to you.

 

I apologise for coming on too strong, however, I just thought I would make the point of I do like brakevan rides, but just not in cold weather.

If you wish to be more adventurous than little old me, go ahead, it's your choice and I hope you have tonnes of fun doing it.

Me? I would much prefer to sit inside a warm carriage with a cup of coffee, a slice of cake and reading my timetable.

That was pure poetry my friend, made me well up abit.
I know I come across strong, sometimes, it is because I just have enough of one rule for one, one rule for another.
For an advanced race, human beings have really dreadful listening skills or taking one side of the fact and simply bugging said person with it.