Spa Valley Railway - Latest News

Caledonian Railway No. 828 is operating this weekend 19th and 20th August plus over the Bank Holiday, the loco is presently on hire until October.

Douglas is operating the Wednesday and Thursday trains.

 

Forgive me for asking an ignorant question, but...are there any good lineside spots on the SVR which are easily walkable from the stations? Thanks in advance!

 

Lealands which is walkable from Groombridge. Take the public footpath south of the line, and it is just past where there is footpath under the line.

 

Many thanks!

 

The orange arrow marks the spot for Lealands.
https://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?x=5...p&searchp=ids&dn=665&ax=553808&ay=137358&lm=0

 

The two footbridges south of Groombridge Station are a short walk away as well, go out station and immediately up some steps on your left, cross over road and down a footpath, follow road to end and first bridge is on your left, or keep walking on and up Corseley Road and second one is a footpath on your left next to the school.

 

I'm surprised no one said anything but according to the Spa's unofficial Facetube page, the Barclay 'Lady Ingrid' made her first moves after overhaul last Wednesday.

 

CALEDONIAN RAILWAY NO. 828 NEWS

Last Saturday No. 828's right hand big end bearing started to show signs of failing and therefore as a precautionary measure the locomotive was withdrawn from traffic for inspection.

The connecting rod was taken down on Monday to inspect the bearing which revealed it would require repairs which have started Tuesday.

Once the bearing has been attended to it will be scraped in, proven/tested and the locomotive returned to service as soon as possible. In the meantime Hunslet Austerity No. 2890 'Douglas' will operate our steam services.

 

Where's the dislike button.

Shame that I was hoping to see her on the 23rd.

 

Don't think I've seen this mentioned but this weekend is the real ale and cider festival with trains shared between the Thumper (with assistance from the 08 on Sunday) , D7535, 33063, 828 and 80078 which is covering for 2890 until next year.

Steam will be on the TWW end of most trains throughout the day.

Andrew

 

828 really does stand out amid the Autumnal hues of the High Weald. Such a striking livery- there's a reason it's (one of) my favourite(s).

 

There really aren’t enough blue engines (without a #1 on the side!)

 

Hopefully they’ll be one with a 323 on the side reasonably soon

Tom

 

My mum was really likes ‘that little blue engine’
As she called it when it visited the other SVR.

 

We have a few over here...

 

They have some big traffic cones down there.

 

I have to say I attended the Beer Festival and from what I remember it was a very well run event. Very enjoyable too. Hopefully they made some money from it.

 

I did all three days of the Beer Festival, despite being teetotal! A timetable that looked to be a bit ambitous - two top and tailed trains running all day, plus the Oxted DEMU shuttling back and forth between Eridge and Groombridge. But, proving how useless I am at judging timetables and operational matters, the event ran very smoothly indeed and was an absolute joy to attend - all for the price of a three day rover ticket plus lots of coffee and snacks from the refershment hut at the lovely Groombridge station.

I did have to speak to a few beer drinkers at one point on the Saturday - a warning not to put their beer mugs down in the open or they would get a very diluted version of whichever real ale they were enjoying - as there was one torrential downpour that I got caught in at the Groombridge Junction footbridge! My main focus was 80078, but I did manage a photo or two of 57566 - would the real 828 (30828) - please hang on in there for another return to service one day. . . .

A few photos attached, some taken to fit as closely as possible with a few I took at/near Groombridge in April 1962.

 

Glad to see 828 out and about, I thought it was just going to be one of those visitors that ran for two months then be broken for the other 10.

 

A few photos from a visit on Sunday morning last weekend, good to see 828 in action again.




Lealands


Lady Ingrid at Tunbridge Wells West.