Spa Valley Railway - Latest News

"turnover is vanity, profit is sanity but cash is king".

 

If my maths is right that is a loss of 0.013%. In a year when coal prices have been through the roof, it’s been difficult to source guest steam locos for galas (and for example they had to hire a loco from Embsay for a week to cover a traction shortage) and there have been various other factors at play, I’d say that that is not bad going. Continue the excellent hard work that’s going on, get a bit of luck that they haven’t had last year and that will easily hit a profit.

 

I mean the post is right, a loss is a loss. As harsh as it may sound the point is valid.

Some of the decisions do seem a bit odd. I mean why go to all the expense of getting 34072 back from Swanage for one weekend?
Thats got to be nearly £10k of lorry and hire fee and you will not make that back.
That is unless of course it’s appearance is being sponsored by a supporter or organisation.

 

That weekend is in fact the 3 day Summer Steam Gala.

 

The point still stands, you won’t get £10k extra spend off that vistor, especially as it’s supposedly home based and there for one weekend.
Like I say, if it’s externally sponsored then that’s different and I see the logic.

 

As 34072 is based at Tunbridge Wells West, we're not paying for it to come and go. The same if for example the Class 33 goes away on hire or when the Jinty last operated.

 

I'm no fool, I've done this for nearly 10yrs and I'm well aware that £14k loss is a loss but when you read constantly in the press about losses equating to hundreds of thousands I thought (wrongly) that some might like to hear that it isn't all like that.

 

I don’t think anyone was suggesting you were.
I was obviously wrong about 34072.

I think no matter what the loss, all heritage railways are struggling, some with huge losses may be having that caused by having to undertake expensive infrastructure repairs or maintenance.
The Spa doesn’t have that immediate issue but you have said before you have major infrastructure projects ahead so we can collectively hope that the small loss turns into a decent profit going forward.

 

Keep up the good work Jonnie. Your attitude towards communication is refreshing!

 

You think that Jonnie doesn't know that?
He doesn't have to publish the figures here for you to (somewhat bizarrely) send to the directors of your railway.
Cut the guy some slack, he's doing a great job in very challenging times.

 

@Jonnie as well as you not being a fool, you and your small team of volunteers run a medium length, wonderful heritage railway that attracts a lot of visitors and gives a very great deal of pleasure.

I've not been there for a fairly short while (chasing Bulleids elsewhere!), but I certainly plan to have a three day ticket for the 12-14th July Summer steam gala. And the Goodwill that event should generate will very likely see another modest donation made on top of the ticket price. And I'm always keeping an eye out for whatever visiting loco you do decide to pay for transporting in/out. Maybe one day 31806 facing up the hill towards Tunbridge Wells West. . . . . . That will bring back some memories for me of SR moguls working there in 1962.

Bryan B

 

That is really a debate not about a loco returning to its home base after a loan, before it goes off on another, but the whole "value" for the want of a better word of visiting locos.
Using your number and say an average £40 gala ticket that means you have to sell 250 tickets just to cover the movement costs of that loco.
May be worth a thread of its own but where do diminishing returns set in? Did not the NYMR have recent gala with 14 locos (so I guess many were visitors) and not everyone worked every day.

 

Absolutely right. In its last year (1999) my company had £1m turnover and made a profit but ran out of cash!

 

I don't know about fourteen locos. Last years gala manged 11 as far as I can remember. Lucie, 29, 926, 5428, 55189, 60007, 65894, 75069, 80136, 92134 and 92214 of which 55189, 60007, 75069 and 92214 were visitors. As you suggested, not every one worked every day, 10 or elven being the norm. Whether due to visiting locos, I don't know but it was judged to be a great success financially. £300K+ runs in my mind but I could be way out there and I don't know whether that was tickets only or gross income.

 

I think the year when 92134 was released back into traffic, the S160 Omaha had just been overhauled and a few guests were brought in may have been 14 locos but that was a couple of years ago.

 

I think thats what already happens, we have loco crew that come and go to the NYMR, Bluebell, Swanage, IOWSR, NNR, YDR off the top of my head , theres bound to be somebody offended that Ive forgotten.

 

I've got friends visiting the gala from Exeter and Worcester. They were to visit the Spa Valley on the Friday but that has been withdrawn so they've advised me that they will be swapping their days around and visiting the Bluebell on the Friday and the Spa Valley on the Saturday. However, they've just told me that the timetables have been withdrawn and have asked me if, through NP, anyone can advise me of the situation. I'm with one of the party tomorrow going to Scarborough with a Castle so I can let him know any news. Thank you.

 

If possible @Jonnie an update on what has happened to what was the 12-14 July steam gala would be much appreciated please.

Bryan B

 

Steam Gala Update
We are sorry to announce that due to a number of factors outside of our control we have been left with no choice but to cancel the previously advertised Steam Gala and change our operations to a Summer Steam Weekend on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th July.

This will be a far more intensive one train service using the visiting Great Western Railway Large Prairie 4144 and Caledonian Railway No. 828 with evening trains on the Saturday too.

This decision has not been taken lightly. Our Directors met on Thursday 4th July to discuss our options and further details are below.

34072
This locomotive is currently operating at the Mid Norfolk Railway, sadly due to the failure of a tractor unit, it is now due to leave Mid Norfolk on Wednesday afternoon and arrive on Thursday, this is a day later than planned.

It is our policy to water change a locomotive on arrival and this task can take a few hours to complete. By the time '257 Squadron' gets to us the water will have been a right mix from different parts of the county and whilst the boiler is ‘blown down’ each day and water treatment is added to give the correct Ph levels, to reduce the risk of priming it is our practice to change the water for fresh.

A Bulleid Pacific is a much larger engine than 828 for example and requires careful warming through to prevent unnecessary stress to the plate work, usually we would light the fire on a Thursday to ensure the engine was in steam for the Saturday. As 34072 isn’t due to land until Thursday and requires the above to take place before we can light the fire, it is highly unlikely we can get it hot enough in a sensible period to ensure the welfare of the engine is maintained.

34053
Originally this locomotive was due to arrive on Thursday 4th July. Sadly, due to the failure of the lorry that is not the case. Reid Freight were contacted on Tuesday 2nd July evening to see if they could help move 34053 and a ‘movement order’ was applied for straight away.

These movements need 5 clear working days to process which means the earliest 34053 can leave the Norden is Wednesday morning.

Reid Freight will be there with two lorries to bring both parts of the engine to Tunbridge Wells West and will set off first thing Wednesday morning. However, due to the various weight limits on road bridges on what many would perceive to be the quickest route this means a straightforward journey isn’t possible, therefore the engine is not likely to arrive until late on Thursday evening.

Whilst this is all a bit negative, we are delighted to bring you the news that once 34053 ‘Sir Keith Park’ does land the locomotive will be take up residence again at the Spa Valley Railway until the end of its boiler inspection cycle which is a good 9-10yrs away, providing everything goes well with the locomotive. So, for everyone who loves these magnificent Southern Locomotives Limited machines, both 34053 and 34072 are resident with us!

As 34053 is coming on a long-term hire agreement, we must put the engine through an in-depth inspection, in line with our Safety Management System, this is so we have a base line on which to work from for future maintenance and repairs.

34053 must be warmed up and treated in the same way as 34072 and as it requires a comprehensive inspection in line with our SMS it is, therefore, not likely to be available for the weekend.

4144
If all goes to plan the locomotive should leave the Mid Norfolk Railway on Tuesday morning and be with us on later the same day, it will go through the same process as 34072 and providing that is successful it will operate on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th July as planned.

828
The main SpaValley Railway engine returned to service on Saturday 6th July following repairs. We could not speed this up, the locomotive is unique and needed a component manufacturing.

Other factors:
The hauliers are going above and beyond to help us, they have moved things around to get the locomotives to us, but we are reliant on nothing going wrong. We all know what the M25 is like, and lorry drivers’ hours are limited, it can only take one traffic jam before they’re stuck in a service station for the night!

There is of course every chance that it could all go to plan but equally there is a risk that come Friday 12th July it's all gone very wrong. We'd rather be upfront and honest with you now about the situation rather than waiting until the 11th hour and disappointing everyone. We apologise wholeheartedly that we are faced with these issues.

What next?
We have two events planned and we hope you'll still be able join us over the next two weekends in July - 13th, 14th 20th & 21st.

Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th July – 4144 and 828 Steam Service
Both Caledonian Railway No. 828 & Didcots Great Western Railway Large Prairie 4144 will be in use on a far more intensive one train service.

Trains will depart Tunbridge Wells West at 08:50, 10:05, 11:20, 12:35, 13:50, 15:10 & 16:30 then on Saturday only at 17:50, 19:05 & 20:20.

Trains will depart Eridge at 09:25, 10:40, 11:55, 13:10, 14:30, 15:50, 17:10 then then on Saturday only at 18:25, 19:40 & 21:00.

Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st July – Bulleid Pacific Weekend!
We couldn't pass up on an opportunity to run both 34053 and 34072 together so on 20th & 21st July both Pacific's will operate a further intensive train service alongside 4144.

What if I have booked?
All pre-booked Rover train ticket holders will be contacted and offered a full refund if you cannot or do not wish to attend or partial refund for the now changed ticket prices if you wish to travel on 13th, 14th, 20th or 21st July.

We will contact you, please don't worry about contacting us unless you haven't received an email from us by 18:00 Wednesday 10th July. All refunds take 7-14 days according to our payment gateway (Stripe) to return to you.

If you are a dining train customer you do not need to do anything. There might be a slight change of times for your dining experience but we will contact you with further information.

An apology
On behalf of the Spa Valley Railway, I am sincerely sorry that this situation has arisen.

Circumstances outside of our control have sadly come together and as I’m sure many of you have seen over the years, a place I enjoy most is on the footplate, so this has not made for easy or enjoyable writing.

Whilst it wasn’t as planned, we are not giving up entirely and we extend a thank you to everyone for bearing with us and for all you do to support the Spa Valley Railway.

Our website will be updated this evening and on Sunday 7th July to reflect this changes.

Best wishes,

Jonnie Pay
Director
Wealden Railway Co. Ltd.