Spa Valley Railway - Latest News

Thanks to everyone who is helping to put that out - it's very interesting. And thanks for pointing it out!

Noel

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/19YxXfynFH/

Broom Lane Bridge News!

The new bridge is in and has been handed over to us to put the track back next week. Trains this weekend are only operating between Tunbridge Wells West and the bridge calling st High Rocks.

We plan to reopen to Groombridge and Eridge on Saturday, 18th April!

We’re going to need your support as we continue to pay for this essential piece of infrastructure over the next two years. If we hadn’t replaced the bridge when we did the likelihood is we’d have had to stop crossing it by now!

www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk

 

A bridge with a built-in platform on? Is that as per the original bridge, although it looks from the parapets as if it was originally dual track?

 

Was double track but now only single. I believe @Jonnie said there's no need for double track, and that they couldn't afford it anyway.

 

It’s a walkway not a platform. It’s now a requirement for new bridges to have one.

We couldn’t afford a double track bridge like the original, nor would there be an operational need for one.

 

The walkway can often be arranged to contain the cable routes to avoid damage.

Cheers, Neil

 

We're quite lucky in that we haven't any cables between High Rocks and Groombridge that need to go over the bridge. It is rather a plain structure that'll now be gradually paid off over two years and fade into memory as a significant project that, without it, we'd have no Spa Valley Railway. I suspect 99.9% of our passengers won't even know it is there when trains start going at 25mph over it again (hopefully from this weekend).

The speed restriction was originally implemented in 2017. I've been a Driver since 2013, so I remember many trips over the bridge before the speed restriction was applied. You could, if you had the right weight of train, with something like the Class 25 or Class 33, slow down at Poke Hill Farm Crossing, give it the bigg'n, and leave it there for the whole journey back to Tunbridge Wells, and only just about hit 25mph going through High Rocks.

Oh, the memories, the good times when coal was cheap, diesel was pence and running a heritage railway wasn't as expensive as it is now... I think I can say that and sound as though I've been there forever, as I turned 34 today and celebrated 12 years as the General Manager late last month! Although, for personal reasons, I've had a 3-month period when I've worked remotely and not been physically at the Spa Valley much. Mental health, anxiety and depression are real things, and they hit me hard at the end of January and on the face of it, I'm a tough cookie, so don't be afraid to speak out and talk to anyone close to you, especially in the heritage railway sector, as it is tough. If anyone else has responsibilities, such as a GM, heritage railway manager, or director, and wants an ear to vent to, drop me a message. I know how tough it can be.

I'm in a much better place now, I've got the help I needed, and I'm back to driving this Saturday for the line reopening to Eridge, with 34053 as my rostered engine.