Spa Valley Railway - Latest News

Nice photo, and nice to see an 0-4-4t back on the line.

Bryan B

 

A fun day on the lineside capturing the two Caledonian locos in action along the line, although only one shot of 419 was captured with it needing repairs in the morning. Also includes the Cake Cutting Ceremony, with speeches from @Jonnie and Jack Morgan (Marketing & Content Manager of Rails Of Sheffield).
A true stunner 828 is, still going strong at 125 years young!

 

A very well filmed and edited record of the birthday events. Even for a pure BR SR and BR Standards man like me, it was well worth watching all the way through. Thank you.

Bryan B

 

That might just be because after 2 years with 828 crews are more familiar with how Caley locos like to be driven and fired. We 55189 (or 419 as she was then) at the Battlefield for the summer season following her visit to TW and we never had issues with her performance, other than when the fireman misjudged what he was doing slightly and pressure began to drop. They are not the most forgiving of locos if you don't get it right

 

34053's renaming to "303 Squadron" for 12 months apparently.
https://www.facebook.com/SpaValleyRailway/?locale=en_GB

 

An excellent day today as the formal re-naming of 34053 from Sir Keith Park to 303 Squadron took place at Eridge. Done in recognition of the role of that mainly Polish Squadron in the Battle of Britain that was fought in the skies over SE England in summer/early Autumn of 1940.

In weather that was some way above my normal heat tolerance I positioned myself at lineside locations where I had quick access to my car for air conditioning breaks! But the link in buzby 2's #1505 post has Spa Valley Railway's FB page giving excellent coverage of the ceremony held at Eridge.

A selection of photos below of an event that must have taken a great deal of planning and organisation, that, so far as I could see, ran well all day with just one delay at Groombridge this evening that looked to be dealt with very quickly.

4144 assisted at times, as did 73140, mainly to provide the usual top and tail operations on some trains due to there being no run round facility at Eridge. Plus 4144 double heading 34053 down to Eridge on the first train from Tunbridge Wells West, so the pacific was in the correct location for the ceremony held later on - the tank loco then returning with the 7 car train on a normal service.

Many thanks to all those who were involved in all aspects of running this event.

Bryan B

 

A trip behind 828 along the full length of the line, captured from the front window:

 

34053 and 50021 are running this weekend.

Sorry there hasn't been many postings, the general limited number of people we have has resulted in any free time I've had wanting to be spent away from the MacBook just doing something else.

 

Another wonderful day at the Spa Valley Railway today. For me that meant Forge Farm Crossing and then Groombridge with the usual warm welcome, followed by a couple of visits to the station snack/hot drink kiosk!

Very grateful thanks to @Jonnie who was driving 34053 today, who responded to my request to add Bournemouth-Waterloo 1960s white headcode discs for the last train of the day, the 16.10 from Eridge to 75F. So I could use a photo of that to go with a log of that loco I timed on 30 March 1964. My usual, modest response already made for such a very helpful gesture.

Photos are below, with two variations of 34053 at Forge Farm Crossing and then the Bournemouth headcoded pacific passing Groombridge Junction, and then heading on towards Groombridge station. In amongst those photos is a slightly enlarged jpg copy of the Word version of that timing log.

As always @Jonnie if you want larger versions of any photos and even the timing log, for any Spa Valley Railway purpose please ask. Not sure if I can provide a much larger version of the Word timing log - it's not designed to become a jpg or tiff! But seems to look reasonable here - I hope!

Bryan B

 

34053 is out again this Saturday and Sunday at Spa Valley, along with 31430 this time. The services after this weekend until the Beer Festival (18th to 20th October) will be with 828 and another diesel, then during the Beer Fest we should see 34053 and 80078 operating. Post Beer Fest and pre-Polar is 828 to keep 34053 and 80078 ready for 150 Polar Express services, the plan is to split them 50:50 so half and half, 828 might do a turn at the beginning but will then be stopped for its Winter maintenance.

828 isn't rushing off so if you like the Caley you'll get to enjoy her in Kent in 2025.

 

Can’t wait for the beerfest. Steam and ale is a winning combo.

 

Particularly good news if you like the idea of the Caley and have enjoyed videos but haven't managed to make it across to Kent yet on any day when it's been running (like me)!

 

Another great day at the Spa Valley Railway. I hope the four coach train becoming five coaches after the second trip to Eridge, and then a six coach train after the third return trip was because of what looked like very good loadings.

It is the model railway weekend, but I didn't manage to get to 75F to view them.

34053 was on the 75F end of the train and a 31 class diesel on the Eridge end - the usual top and tailed operation when just one train is running.

It was a very tiring day as I walked up to Lealands and then to several locations in the Groombridge area in weather that started cloudy but became very warm (hot to me!) and sunny.

Some very low res, quickly edited photos.

Bryan B

 

So when DOES it return to Strathspey?
I think the guys up there might be missing it by now.

 

Love the lighting on the last shot.

 

I wondered this, although on the flip side clearly SpVR are looking after it well for it to be entrusted to them for another year.

 

Given that 'the guys up there' have 2 Ivatt 2MTs and a Black 5 to play with at the moment it may be that for the time being Strathspey can't justify having 4 locos at Aviemore and it's in their interest to have one as a roving ambassador elsewhere bringing in hire fee income.

 

The owners of 828, the CR828 Trust are more than happy with how we are looking after the engine, hence the locomotive is staying in 2025 too. 828 is earning money, at 125yrs old the more money the locomotive can earn for a future overhaul the better and if we can support the Trust in that way then we're doing our bit for the preservation of this lovely engine.

Strathspey have a number of other engines as per the post above available to them for their services so all the while we can operate 828 and help contribute towards its future in an operational condition in the form of steaming fees then I'm happy.

 

I couldn't resist going back to the event yesterday, but only from late morning after sitting in front of my pc at home wondering why I wasn't out photting 34053. Bad weather never usually bothers me, it shuts some doors but opens others for me. And I was hopeful that the six car operation would continue, as it did. Re the third photo, taken at Fairview Lane Bridge from the verge by the roadside, and still outside the railway fence. It is only just possible to get a clear view of the loco blasting under the bridge, and now only from one precise location, where the telephoto used tends to suggest the vegetation is growing out of the trackbed a lot more than it actually is!

Bryan B