Spa Valley Railway - Latest News

Nicely detailed timetable, lots of useful information!

 

That is my understanding

 

Looks like it will be a great gala, I really should make it down to TW at some point!

Out of curiosity, I notice there is a note saying trains from Eridge will wait outside Groombridge for 10 minutes to allow trains from TWW to pass them. Is there a reason why the departure from Eridge couldn't be delayed a little to allow more time for loco changes, and to avoid having a prolonged pause not in a station?

 

I'm sure Jonnie will be able to give chapter and verse on it but I think it has something to do with the signalling and that it is a very slow approach to Groombridge from the TWW direction.

Andrew

 

It should be the first train is double headed out of TWW, with the lead loco detaching outside Eridge and going into the bay.

 

Groombridge Station is the Tunbridge Wells side of the passing loop, the section from Eridge to Groombridge is timed at 9 minutes (which is a bit relaxed as it is designed around the use of industrial locos and not Bulleid Pacific's). The distance is 2 miles and trains from Eridge arrive in the Up loop first to allow the Down train to subsequently enter, stop and then go again. Coming from Tunbridge Wells the section time is 14 minutes, the distance in 3 miles and again it is a relaxed section time to allow for industrial locos, we've not really re-timed the line since the days of Lady Ingrid, Fonmon, the Drewry or the 09/10 hauling trains regularly.

Geographically you can't do much else to make it better, if a Down train arrived first it'd sit in the station but be held back by a coach length due to the positioning of the points outside GBR box and the Down Inner Home. The signals are further out than you'd normally see at a station to stop locos waiting right outside housing developments, the Down Outer Home is further out than what it needs by signalling standards to be in relation to the Up Advance Starting because it'd bring locos to a stand right beside someones kitchen otherwise... All adds the odd minute here and there. We can bring a Down train into the station and depart it to the Down Starting with the Up train already at a stand but it doesn't help as the token exchange isn't then possible with the signal box on the station.

We've run like this since 2014 and it works well for us, the train is timed to be in GBR Up Loop for 8 minutes. One day I'd love to see another platform built in the cutting but the cutting itself isn't earth, it is sandstone, which digging through having had experience with the signals and the relaying of the points in 2009 is not fun.

That's how we work anyway and why we do it like we do, you can change from an Eridge bound train to a Tunbridge Wells bound train, just not the other way around.

 

All trains are single headed except the first one from TWW each day which is double headed to Eridge, stops outside the station, 51456 off and into Platform 3 then Douglas pulls the train in, 51456 out and back on ready to haul the train back to TWW. The last train of the day is 34053 with 31430 (not powering) on the rear.

 

We've had confirmation we can use both the Rivera hired in TSOs, these are ETH only so will be on the B set and heated by 31430. The RMB on this set is dual heat (subject to some work this week) and the BCK is steam only so please wrap up warm! 51456 doesn't have steam heating so will not be able to heat trains it hauls but the other locos will.

 

With respect to the platform numbering in the photo looking down the ramp is there any truth in the rumour that this is for a resurrected Freddy Laker "Skytrain" airline??

I'll get me coat...

 

Those are the Chocolate & Cream ones right?

 

51456 has arrived this morning.

 

Yes that’s it

 

New toy to play with @Jonnie?

 

I'm rostered on 51456 tomorrow and then the loco is with us until February before returning to the ELR.

 

All being well, I'll be helping where required in TWW Yard and Shed tomorrow, then chasing trains for pictures Sunday (when the weather looks drier.)

 

I'm due to be there both days.

 

Tucked up for the night in 75F ready to go tomorrow.

 

Plan to attend on Sunday for a morning of photography and an afternoon of riding. Is it ok to drive down for the Pokehill Crossing shot? I don't mind walking but my gricing mate has got knee problems and not able to walk far.