Spa Valley Railway - Latest News

Never tried it personally, but several times while I have been volunteering, I have directed a few people there who have been looking for somewhere to go for a meal and/or a drink between trains. They seem to have come back pretty happy, so I guess it must be a reasonable place! It is called the Huntsman, by the way.

 

It's pretty good nosh. Friend had one of their cheffy burgers and (unusually for him) was very complimentary about it and the chips. I had haddock new pots and seasonal veg. Very nice.

It's a much better prospect for a quiet meal since they moved the A26 a short way south, beyond a soundproofing row of trees. The narrow road outside the pub formerly was the A26.

If you're really lucky, you'll see one of the kingfishers who hunt the stream between the station and the beer garden. You'll easily catch the train whistle from there, as it pulls away from Eridge!

 

'City of Wells' has now been unloaded and is parked up with 'Sir Keith Park' so if you're visiting the railway tomorrow or Sunday you'll get to see the two Bulleid's next to each other (SKP behind Wells) in the loop at Tunbridge Wells West.

828 is running the service with 33063 this Saturday (No Eridge services due to the strikes) and then with D5054 on Sunday (with services to Eridge).

75069 is due to arrive in the middle of next week for its very brief visit back to the Southern region.

 

Not to detract from the fantastic rebuilding work achieved so far at Eridge, but I would say Keighley has the edge for atmosphere, just because it feels more complete that Eridge at present. The latter is crying out for the island platform to go back in as a second SVR platform and run round! Perhaps then it could be regarded as fully fledged?

Sent from my moto g(8) power using Tapatalk

 

25TH ANNIVERSARY GALA LOCOMOTIVE PARADE!

We strongly recommend photographers, videographers and anyone that wants to see this gets Sunday 28th August between 18:00 and 19:30 in their calendar now! Departing Tunbridge Wells West at 18:00 on will be a locomotive parade as part of our 25th Anniversary Gala!

The parade will feature 75069, 34092, 828, 2890, D5054, D7612, 31430, 33063, 73140, 73141 and 1317 all as one formation from Tunbridge Wells West to Eridge. 75069 will lead to Eridge and 34092 lead to Tunbridge Wells West.

This is NOT a passenger working but the general public can view it from Tunbridge Wells West, Groombridge or Eridge Station plus the many other publicly accessible places along the line!
The parade will depart Tunbridge Wells West at 18:00 on Sunday 28th August!

Note, this is all subject to availability etc.

 

I would attend but it seems the line between Portsmouth and Victoria gave up the ghost today, so I'm not dealing with that noise and kerfuffle.
So anyone attending, have a great time!

 

SKP makes it safely to the Dorset Steam Fair:

 

I saw a report from NR this morning of problems with the formation around Billingshurst. It reckoned disruptions until 13:00 (today). Live departure boards currently suggest services are now no more than fashionably late!

Doing better than the Uckfield line this evening. Train 1 : Deer 0

 

As reported by a local paper ...
Are they aiming for the most inaccurate report of the year award? The train involved was a Network Rail test train which started from Tonbridge West Yard.

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/207...locked-train-hits-group-deer/#comments-anchor

Cheers, Neil

 

So UP are running freights in Sussex now? That'll rearrange the infrastructure.

 

Some rather pleasent southern steam scenes, at a proper southern shed

 

The SpVR have announced on Insta that 828 and 2890 won’t now take part in the loco parade at the gala. Have they failed or is it just logistics preventing their involvement?

 

828 has failed the other day and was replaced by D7612 this weekend. As for 2890 - unsure

 

Maybe because 2890 didn't take part?

 

828 has failed.

2890 we didn't have a chance to complete some planned works on the loco, the latter having been our main steam locomotive recently needed a bit of downtime. Whilst 'Douglas' didn't take part the cleaners have polished the locomotive up and he's been on display in 75F all weekend.

 

I am wondering how they justify their claim "the biggest toursit attraction in Royal Tunbridge Wells". On my one visit there recently I saw far more punters in The Pantiles for the restaurants and market stalls than at the station for the railway.

 

Number of visitors in a year? I doubt the restaurants/market are counting numbers of visitors, so it would be hard for them to challenge the claim.

 

Because we have the greatest number of visitors within the town to a singular tourist attraction over the course of the year.