Spa Valley Railway

The Spa Valley Railway (SVR) is a standard gauge heritage railway that runs between Tunbridge Wells, High Rocks, Groombridge, and Birchden; crossing the Kent and East Sussex border, a distance of 4 miles, along the former Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells Central Line / Cuckoo Line. Its headquarters is at Tunbridge Wells West railway station. The line is currently being extended to Eridge railway station to link with the Oxted Line.

The railway holds a number of special event days, including a Day out with Thomas (the tank engine) on 4 weekends of the year, Santa Specials, and both steam and heritage diesel weekends.

Future

In the near term, the SVR is hoping to extend services to Eridge mainline station, where there is a disused bay platform [ [http://www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk/SpaEridgeAppeal07.htm www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk] Eridge Appeal] and also to Tunbridge Wells West railway station. A special opening event will take place over the Easter weekend in 2009, between April 11 and 13, signalling completion of the first stage of the £500,000 Return to Eridge project. Trains will carry passengers between Tunbridge Wells and Eridge for the first time since 6th July 1985. Once the connection to Eridge is completed, the SVR hope to replace the track between Tunbridge Wells and Birchden and to implement signalling throughout the line. This will be carried out over a period of five to seven years, ensuring a long-term future for the SVR and enabling it to tap into the London-commuter market. [ [http://www.thisiscourier.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=142759&command=displayContent&sourceNode=142742&contentPK=21009808&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch Kent & Sussex Courier, "Return of steam to Eridge", 4 July 2008.] ]

Locomotives

Steam Locomotives

**LB&SCR 0-6-0T Class A1X "Terrier" no. 50 'Sutton' (formerly Whitechapel) (Under Overhaul)
**GWR 5700 Class 0-6-0PT (Pannier Tank) no. 7715
**LMS 0-6-0T Class 3F "Jinty" no. 47493
**London and North Eastern Railway LNER Class J94 0-6-0ST no. 68077 (Under Overhaul)
**Peckett and Sons 0-6-0ST works no. 1636 “Fonmon”
**Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. 0-4-0ST works no. 2315 “Lady Ingrid”
**Fablok, Chrzanow (Poland) TKh 0-6-0T works no. 3135 “Spartan” (Under Overhaul, returns shortly)
**Fablok, Chrzanow (Poland) TKh 0-6-0T works no. 2944 “Hotspur” (Awaiting Overhaul)
**Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns (RSH) 0-6-0T works no. 7846 “North Downs” (Under Overhaul)
**W. G. Bagnall works 0-6-0ST No. 2193 “Topham” (Awaiting Overhaul)
**Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns (RSH) 'Ugly' 0-6-0ST Works No. 7668 “Samson” (Awaiting Overhaul)
**Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns (RSH) 'Ugly' 0-6-0ST Works No. 7673 “Ugly” (Under Overhaul, returns shortly)

Diesel Locomotives

**BR 0-6-0 Class 09 no. 09004.
**BR 0-6-0 Class 10 no. D3489 "Colonel Tomline".
**BR 0-6-0 Class 12 no. 15224 (Only surviving member of a class of 26 to be built).
**BR Bo-Bo Class 33 nos. 33063 "RJ Mitchell" and 33065 "Sealion" (Owned by SELG)
**BR Bo-Bo Class 37 no 37254.
**BR Bo-Bo Class 73 no. E6047 (Can work with GLV vehicle).

Diesel Multiple Units

**BR Class 101 DTC no. 54408
**BR Class 115 unit 51669+51849
**BR Class 207 unit 207017 (Only three car in preservation)

Electrical Multiple Units

**BR Class 489 unit 9104
**London Underground T Stock unit 2749+2758

References

External links

* [http://www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk Spa Valley Railway website.]