Spa Valley Railway - Latest News

So I am guessing Jonnie that since Wells is at the railway that Douglas will be sent back to East Lancs to cover it's roster?

 

ELR has 5643, 80097 (now back in traffic) and 51456 available with possibly 47298 and 32 available as well. They only tend to have two steam (1 passenger 1 diner) most of the time.

 

So I take that as a "NO" then?

 

i would......

 

Some pictures attached from a great day on Saturday. Looking forward to coming multiple days for the 25th Anniversary

 

Unconvinced suicidal tendencies are predicated on mode of traction. Superb range of liveries on display there. Why does something which used to be as unremarkable and workaday as a 4TC now mean so much to me? Funny old world.

 

Douglas is too busy doing a lovely old job on the Island of Spa to go back north. He's been sunbathing recently whilst Donald did a couple of days and is now looking forward to catching up with Wells after a good old gossip with the 24 last night.

 

It is probably also worthy to note as per our Facebook posting announcing the visit of Wells that Community Care Boiler Services did the re-tube on 80097 returning it to service which has enabled Wells to be released for this visit.

Timetable for the 25th Anniversary event is to follow shortly now we've proven it worked during the Diesel Gala last weekend.

 

Putting the 'Wells' into Tunbridge Wells

 

Ashamed to say I've no clue as to whether light pacifics were cleared for the Wealden group of lines back in the day. Plenty of evidence for I1x class 4-4-2T, J class 4-6-2T, plus Fairburn and Riddles class 4 2-6-4T

 

I seen a photo of a light pacific on a special from Tunbridge Wells West to Pevensey via the Cuckoo line.

75069 at Tunbridge Wells 1/6/62 taken by the late Tony Butcher

 

The 1.50 Brighton-Victoria via Uckfield was often a Bulleid duty in the 1960s. Of the engines which have survived, I have seen a picture of 34101 at Eridge on this duty. Light Pacifics were also cleared for the Cuckoo Line,, including 34073 which worked an Eastbourne-Romford over the line special in 1957. There was also a filling-in turn from Eastbourne to Hailsham and back hauled by the loco which worked the overnight newspaper train. 34027 Taw Valley was recorded on this working and I think 34016 may also have hauled it. Light Pacifics also worked over the Bluebell Line but I've never seen a picture of any on the Three Bridges- East Grinstead- Groombridge line.

When I heard that 34101 was being overhauled, I had hopes that when it was back in working order, the Spa Valley would bring it down south to try to recreate Sid Nash's picture of it at Eridge, but now 34053 has made 75F its home, there has already been an opportunity to do this - sort of. Spa Valley trains don't use the same platform as that used by 34101 in Sid's picture and sadly, the semaphore signals are gone, but Eridge station still has bags of atmosphere and most photographers, myself included, aren't too worried by the differences between now and the 1960s.

 

So here's a question, is Eridge the best mainline / heritage line interchange going around in terms of atmosphere? Kidderminster SVR is a very nice station but obviously isn't sharing the same station as NR trains, Alton is OK but it's still quite separated from the SWR side.

 

This is Eastbourne - Hailshsm. Tender first and on a two-coach train as well …

As @John Petley says, they were reasonably common on what is now the Bluebell.




Tom

 

I quite like Smallbrook. It's a pity loads more potential punters don't, if the passenger counts are accurate. The IWSR side always puts me in mind of the FYN station at Newport, active between 1913 and 1923.

I do wish Blaenau Ffestiniog were a significant source of revenue, for it's own residents as much as TfW or the FfR!

 

Keighley, Grosmont and Bodmin Parkway aren't bad, but what is so endearing about Eridge is the "junction in the middle of nowhere" atmosphere. There's usually only one train per hour on the Uckfield line and in between trains, it's delightfully quiet. There are only a couple of cottages and a pub nearby and the A26, which used to run right past the station, now takes a different route. Perhaps I should add, however, that as an occasional volunteer at the station, my opinion may be a little biased!

 

What's the pub like?