Spa Valley Railway - Latest News

Thanks chaps, my memory is obviously getting worse. Were it possible I would have made a journey south to see it both at the Spa Valley where I was last on a train in 1973. In those pre car days getting home from the Bluebell on a Sunday evening involved blagging a lift from Sheffield Park to Uckfield, thence a train to Tonbridge, one of the few not to terminate at TWW and a change to another train home to arrive 10 mins or so before the pub shut. Also I would like to see the West Somerset Rly again, I think I have visited twice in preservation but my earliest memory is walking around Watchet Harbour holding tightly onto my grandfather's hand and watching a train pass by, it must have been 1957 0r 8 but seems like yesterday. I do hope 419 acquits herself well at both railways and Battlefield as well, we let her out too soon the last time and it bit us.
Regards
Martin

 

No. 419 arrived earlier this evening. The Caley pair are now the closest they’ve ever been outside of Scotland.

Both 419 & 828 will be in action alongside 34053 and 2890 this weekend!

 

The Caley engines together at Tunbridge Wells West!

 

Are you feeling like a kid on Christmas morning @Jonnie?

 

Here they are then! The Caley pair together, in steam in the glorious High Weald and the two with a Bulleid on loan to the Scottish region…

 

Nice. Presume they’re facing Tunbridge Wells.

 

Yes

 

Thanks. Looking forward to some photography and some Caley haulage.

 

Been a fantastic day today. Busy but absolutely deserved for Spa.

 

Had lovely time yesterday thank you. Great job.

 

My compilation of yesterdays events, a cracking day out filming on the lineside:

 

The photos I've seen from yesterday look great and it looks very well attended. The Scottish Region detail on SKP is a nice touch.

 

My video and some photos from yesterday at the Scottish Steam Up. The cloud seemed to have it out for us for a chunk of the day whenever one of the Scottish engines appeared! But oh well, still an enjoyable day was had!

 

Looks like a great event, the Scottish touches to 34053 are quite nice. I'm hoping to visit the line next Sunday, to my shame despite it being local, I've yet to visit the railway so looking forward to it.

 

I only clocked the smokebox number plate after reading that.

 

Yesterday the sun disappeared behind cloud appeared just before the arrival of both 419 and 828 and there was a large gallery, today it didn't but a much smaller gallery. I didn't wait for 34053 since I have plenty of photos from the charter. A very enjoyable morning. I will be back next week for haulage.
419 at Lealands 1 by Paul Simpson, on Flickr
419 at Lealands 2 by Paul Simpson, on Flickr
828 at Lealands by Paul Simpson, on Flickr
2890 at Lealands by Paul Simpson, on Flickr

 

A most enjoyable day today. A morning’s photography when for once the sun played ball and an afternoon riding behind the two guest locos. The run with 828 was quite spirited. Some fine Scottish beer was the icing on the cake. Well done to all concerned for organising a cracking event.

 

Fantastic to be back at the Spa Valley after several years, great to see the event well attended too. Some photos below, more at https://railwaygalleries.smugmug.com/SpaValleyRailwayphotosets/Scottish-Steam-Up-April-2022



Also a video at