Spa Valley Railway - Westerham Gala

The Spa Valley Railway is pleased to announce its Autumn Gala will be based around the Westerham Branch Line, which this year marks 50 years since it was closed.

Star of the show will be the Swanage Railway's M7 No. 30053 which will be making a homecoming to 75F where it was based in the early 1960s. The M7s although not regular performers on the Westerham Branch itself, were to be seen along the Tunbridge Wells West line on Push-Pull services.

The M7 which appears courtesy of the Swanage Railway and Drummond Locomotives, will haul trains over the weekend of the 29th and 30th October and other dates yet to be confirmed.

The main gala weekend feature an intensive timetable which will see it haul mainline services betweenTunbridge Wells West and Eridge as well as a branch service titled the "Westerham Flyer" between Groombridge and Eridge. The loco will feature alongside the home fleet of Jinty 47493 and RSH "Ugly".

On the Friday and Saturday nights there are Fish and Chip specials of which the Friday only has seats remaining. Westerham Brewry have also commissioned a special ale for the event.

More details including a timetable will follow shortly.

Matt

 

Sounds a superb event to look forward to, any chance we can have the M7 back in it's BR identity for the w/e please?

 

Will there be opportunity for a night shoot of the M7 at her old home at 75F?

 

I don't think there are any plans at the moment for a photoshoot but I'm sure if there is sufficient interest then one could possibly be arranged if the railway are approached. The loco is only on the railway for around 2 weeks and will not be arriving until after the 17th October.

As for it's livery, it will be appearing in its Southern livery.

Matt

 

53 currently in service at Swanage (and has it's Annual Insurance inspection around 17/18 Oct I think) so no time for re-paint.
Also the end of 2012 will see 'tubes out' so consideration of any livery changes will have to await completion of it's boiler overhaul.

 

Timetable now avaliable @ http://www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk/SpaWesterhamGala.htm

Daz

 

The M7 was in service at the Spa Valley yesterday seen here arriving at Groombridge during the beer festival. Its due to run Friday 28th (TW to Groombridge only) then the gala weekend 29th & 30th October, before returning to Swanage.

 

Are there any times for tomorrow the 30th Oct, as i plan to go out and photogragh the M7. Also does anybody know which other locos are running tomorrow?

 

The timetable is available here: http://www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk/Westerham timetable 2011 FINAL - Public.pdf

Loco 1 is 'Ugly'
Loco 2 is the Jinty
Loco 3 is the M7

 

Evening chaps,

Went today, shame about the weather but good to see the loop at Groombridge being put to use and some intensive timetabling at Eridge. Some photographs from there now up, video to follow.

http://railwaygalleries.smugmug.com/SpaValleyRailwayphotosets/Autumn-Steam-Gala-October-2011/19815268_P7Vdk7

Cheers

 

I visited what is now my 'local' railway yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed myself. An intensive timetable which was stuck to almost like glue throughout the day, even with the complexity of shunting the Westerham Flyer at Groombridge. Any misgivings I may have had about industrials were blown into the weeds after my run behind Ugly on the flyer, she was going like the clappers out of Eridge! It was a bit of a shame that the weather deteriorated through the day, but I had a good day nonetheless.

A set of photos is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spinner673/sets/72157627893509319/

And a video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTY1hTfp8sU&feature=feedu

 

Here's three shots I managed to get of 30053 in yesterday's gloomy weather.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9VV5DYJyUZfsK9-3PNp_kw?feat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9uuCOp8MKrPnX6hx1kEAWg?feat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7fjpcdTbcfkQ7L-DaYlzvA?feat=directlink

Cheers

 

Evening chaps,

As promised, video is now live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbnQPrJv9_s

Cheers

 

I couldnt make the Gala but I did pay a short visit to Groombridge after work on the friday of the autumn tints trains in awful weather! A video and photos below...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptAFQtkYTsM

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/6305420191/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/6305947644/in/photostream