Spa Valley Railway - Latest News

Thank you for your support and kind words, that is much appreciated.

Coal
For anyone visiting and witnessing a display of parks, the coal we have at the moment is I think from Kazakhstan and crumbles very easily, also burns like paper and produces a lot of ash compared to the stuff we used to be able to get. You can watch each shovel go up the chimney and it does it even with the loco not working, I got a bit down the back of my neck on Thursday when the fireman was just building up the fire. Not the best stuff out there but we haven't really got much of a choice at present. It isn't cheap either!

Half Term
February half term has drawn to a close the following is the result of 7 days of successful operation.

A total of 1,953 visitors travelled with us, this is broken down as follows:
Standard Travel - 1,403
Fish & Chip Lunch - 65
Cream Tea - 43
High Weald Belle Lunch - 28
Afternoon Tea - 82
Murder Mystery - 182
Virgin Travel for Two - 150

Our total train operating income stood at £11,018.00 and our total dining train income at £18,480.00 with a total train income of £31,475.00.

Our operating costs have gone up this year and the current 5 trip Green timetable operating cost per day is £2,099.50. Whilst half term did ok finically I am watching our income and P&L account like a hawk right now to ensure we are always on the right side in the bank.

 

Thanks for this detailed accounting Jonnie. It really highlights the detail which needs to be understood when formulating running policies. It is good to see the Spa steadily growing.
Well Done to All involved.

 

Saw the steam fleet update on Facebook earlier. Really impressed at how you’ll have gone from almost entirely hired-in steam fleet to a healthy and varied home fleet with Bulleids, a terrier, a Jinty and more!

 

I spent today with my counterparts from other heritage railways at the Bluebell as we reformed the 'Southern Six Group'. This group used to meet regularly back in the 2010s but management changes at other lines saw it pause, then COVID blocked our last attempt and we've all been rather busy getting things back on track ever since.

It was an excellent day hosted by the Bluebell, very interesting and great to share ideas, discuss the positives, the negatives, the worries, the good, finances, commercial and general matters. Meetings are now planned for every 2 months, the next one will be at the Kent & East Sussex.

One thing we all got from today is we all share similar if not the same issues and there is no doubt we are all in this together and are better together.

The Southern Six consists of the Spa Valley, Bluebell, Kent & East Sussex, Isle of Wight, Swanage and Mid Hants.

 

Collaboration not Competion, rather important at the mo.

 

Group photo from yesterday at Sheffield Park.

 

I can put names to two of them. Are you able to identify those in the group for everyone?

 

Left to right:

Robert Patterson (Swanage Railway), Jonnie Pay (Spa Valley Railway), Steve Backhouse (Isle of Wight Steam Railway), Lisa Boyle (Bluebell Railway), Chris Knibbs (Bluebell Railway) and Robin Coombes (Kent & East Sussex Railway).

Amanda Squires (Mid Hants Railway) was unable to attend because of work commitments.

Tom

 

Thanks Tom.

 

It's just a shame that with the two boards of the MHR ltd and Watercress Line Heritage Railway Trust, comprising of 15 directors between them, they couldn't send someone to represent the MHR at this very important inaugural meeting.

 

Busy couple of weeks for 257 Squadron having operated 4-days of Driver Experience, all participants were very happy and also got to watch some steam shunting on one of the days at Groombridge. One more day of Driver Ex then we re-open to the public on 18th March, 257 Squadron is in service on 18th, 19th, 25th & 26th March before heading off on visits elsewhere throughout the year, the loco is back in June and part of July (I think) then is heading to Bury until September (I think)

 

Just seen on the socials: small prairie 5526 replacing class 25 D7535 at the Mixed Traction gala next weekend, so a little more steam presence.

Brake van rides behind a ballast regulator and tamper also on the cards so a bit of unusual traction on offer.

https://www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk/product.php/96/spring-mixed-traction-gala/

 

Prairie Tank 5526 is heading to Tunbridge Wells West and due to arrive tomorrow morning. The locomotive is facing Eridge so a different perspective to the usual way our engines are operating. Timetables are now on our website for the event too. https://www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk/...raction-gala/eaff29dea4e738a88ab452b81280a1f8

 

For those who haven’t seen, Hunslet 16” Beatrice is visiting the SpVR for a week to cover for unexpected traction shortages, whilst 257 Squadron is on hire to the K&ESR.

 

Announced on Facebook and Spa Valley website that SECR O1 no.65 from the Bluebell is visiting for the Summer Steam Up on 17th/18th June.

https://www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk/product.php/5541/summer-steam-up

 

And the following weekend for a Victorian Weekend with 828.

Sent from my SM-A137F using Tapatalk

 

Excellent, the 2 prettiest loco liveries in the country working together......any chance you can borrow the Y14 to complete the set?!

I'll be seeing if I can get down fo one of those weekends if I can plan work around it.

Chris

 

If they got the Y14, that would be one heck of a lineup; three six coupled tender locomotives from three different regions (plus Douglas) operating in the same place at the same time, all in pre-grouping colours. (I don't think there's a currently operational WR loco that fits that bill either?)

 

Douglas has often been mistaken for 52322 perhaps a makeover could be done for the weekend......