Spa Valley marks 25th anniversary with diesel galas

THE first of two Spa Valley Railway summer diesel events marking the railway’s 25 years of operation is due to take place on August 12-14. This is the annual summer diesel gala, followed by a mixed traction event on August 26-29.

Two visiting diesels have been announced for both events: Class 25 No. D7535 from the South Devon Railway and an ‘ED’ Class 73/1 courtesy of GB Railfreight. Which loco this will be is not yet known. A third loco for the diesel gala is to be confirmed.

Both events will see a number of home fleet locos in operation including Class 31/4 No. 31430 Sister Dora,

Class 33 No. 33063 R. J. Mitchell, Class 73/1 No. 73140 freshly repainted in BR blue, Class 207 DEMU No. 1317, and Class 421 3-CIG EMU No. 1497 as hauled stock.

During the diesel gala, trains will depart every 55 minutes from Tunbridge Wells West and Eridge throughout the weekend. This intensive service features separate running of the DEMU and 3-CIG alongside locohauled trains. The ever-popular real ale and fish and chip supper trains depart Tunbridge Wells West for three return trips to Eridge on the evenings of Friday 12 and Saturday 13.

DAVID STAINES Spa Valley Railway’s Class 73 No. 73140 has been repainted in BR blue, which had progressed as far as grey undercoat with full yellow ends at the end of June. With the undercoat almost identical in colour to BR departmental grey the ‘ED’ was released into traffic for one day only, on June 25. This was for one return passenger working only to give the opportunity to see a ‘what if’ livery variant, departmental grey with full yellow ends (as opposed to black window surrounds), had ever been adopted for this class. This unique occasion was captured for posterity as it approached High Rocks.