[Sep 4, 2016] Spa Valley Railway Summer Steam Festival - Saturday 2nd &... (Spa Valley Railway)

SUMMER STEAM FESTIVAL – SATURDAY 2ND & SUNDAY 3RD JULY

This year the Spa Valley Railway is introducing a new event into the calendar which the organisers hope will become a permanent fixture for a long time, complimenting other special events like the Autumn Beer Festival and Summer Diesel Gala.

The Summer Steam Festival is going to be based at all main stations along line, which we hope will encourage people to ride the trains to see the attractions. However the main focus of the event will be at Eridge station in the car park. Already we have confirmed the following attractions, we hope there is going to be something for everyone’s taste.

Eridge

• 9 Road Steam Engines including a fine line-up of Aveling & Porter steam rollers
  
• Miniature Railway offering rides
  
  
• Vintage vehicle display
  
  
• It is hoped to supplement this with our popular BBQ, a small Beer & Cider festival and the ice cream machine (all subject to volunteers)
  

Groombridge

• A fine display of stationery engines provided by the Sussex & Kent Weald Stationery Engine Group
  
• Signal box in operation with an intensive train service running
  
  
• On the Sunday only, there will be a display in the local event field titled the ‘Land Rover Show’
  

Tunbridge Wells West

• Model railways featuring a host of model and live steam exhibits.

We are still working at attracting other attractions and exhibits so if you have a vintage car or vehicle you wish to display, please do drop me a line.

We are also very hopeful that the event will mark the return to service of our resident steam loco RSH No. 62 ‘Ugly’ after nearly 18 months out of traffic for a re-tube. Works are progressing well and she is getting closer with every passing week. This will offer the chance for you to see her working alongside Vulcan Austerity No.72, offering the first time in over a year we have operated two steam locos (Thomas events aside). We had hoped to operate three locos with ‘Walkden’ but sadly she won’t be available.

We are planning to operate an intensive service throughout the weekend and the timetable is currently in development. However in order to operate this, it will be supplemented with the Class 10 ‘Colonel Tomline’. All locos are subject to the usual caveats.

On the Saturday night there will be a Fish & Chip train running to Eridge, where we hope passengers can alight and enjoy the sight and smell of the road engines simmering alongside a beer or two from the Beer Tent.

Publicity for the event is now well underway. The leaflets arrived last week and the posters have been produced this week.

We hope to see as many of you there as possible.

Matt