Spa Valley Railway

The Spa Valley Railway (SVR) is a standard gauge heritage railway in the United Kingdom that runs from Tunbridge Wells West railway station in Royal Tunbridge Wells to High Rocks, Groombridge, and Eridge, where it links with the Oxted Line.

Spa Valley Railway
British Railways 0-6-0 Class A No. 52322 at Eridge
Commercial operations
Original gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Preserved operations
Stations	4
Length	5.5 mi (8.9 km)
Preserved gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Commercial history
Closed	1985
Preservation history
December 1996	Re-open first 0.8 mi (1.3 km) from Tunbridge Wells West to near High Rocks
August 1997	Open to Groombridge
2005	line to Birchden Jn open for special services
25 March 2011	Open to Eridge
Headquarters	Tunbridge Wells West railway station

v t e Spa Valley Railway
Legend
Hastings line to Tonbridge Wells Tunnel ( 823 yd 753 m ) Tunbridge Wells Grove Hill Tunnel ( 287 yd 262 m ) Grove Junction Grove Tunnel ( 183 yd 167 m ) (closed 1985) Hastings line to Hastings Tunbridge Wells West (original site) Car Park Road Tunbridge Wells West A26 High Rocks (original site) Tea Garden Lane High Rocks Broom Lane Groombridge (original site) Station Road Groombridge Oxted line to London Victoria Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells Central Line to Three Bridges Ashurst Junction Birchden Junction Eridge Redgate Mill Junction Cuckoo Line to Polegate Oxted line to Uckfield

It crosses the Kent and East Sussex border, covering a distance of 5 miles (8 km), along the former Wealden Line between Tunbridge Wells Central and Lewes. The railway headquarters is also at Tunbridge Wells West railway station.

History

The original Tunbridge Wells West station building

The railway was engineered by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) Chief Engineer Frederick Banister, as part of the East Grinstead, Groombridge and Tunbridge Wells Railway (EGGTWR). This being an extension to the Three Bridges–Tunbridge Wells line which had been completed in 1855.

The EGGTWR was part of a regional race between the LB&SCR and the SER, and a specific race to access the town of Royal Tunbridge Wells:^[1]

The LB&SCR opened Tunbridge Wells West in 1866 as the eastern terminus of the EGGTW; there was also an extension to Tunbridge Wells Central. From Tunbridge Wells West railway station. There were direct services to the South Coast at Brighton and Eastbourne and to London Victoria. The Victoria services ran via Groombridge and Ashurst. A sign outside the station proudly proclaimed, "New Route to London: Shortest, Quickest and Most Direct. Frequent Express Trains".^[2]

Closure

Derelict locomotive shed, c. 1986

As the popularity of the motor car increased, train services were severely cut back due to the lack of patronage, and the number of services passing through Tunbridge Wells West railway station declined as one line after another was closed from the 1950s onwards. First, the East Grinstead to Lewes line closed in 1958, then the Cuckoo Line in 1965, the Three Bridges to Groombridge in 1967, and finally the Wealden Line south of Uckfield in 1969. The line between Tunbridge Wells and Eridge was itself listed for closure in 1966, only to be subsequently reprieved. The line remained open, although in its latter years passenger services were mainly confined to a shuttle service between Tonbridge (via the single line connection to Tunbridge Wells Central – now plain Tunbridge Wells) and Eridge with a few through trains to Uckfield. However, there was a depot at Tunbridge Wells West which housed rolling stock for services on the Uckfield– and East Grinstead–London (via East Croydon) lines, and there were several empty stock moves early and late in the day.

By the early 1980s, the track and signalling needed to be replaced and British Rail were planning an upgrade of the Tonbridge to Hastings Line. British Rail therefore, announced the proposed closure of the line (including Groombridge and Tunbridge Wells West stations) from 16 May 1983 which was later deferred after public objections. It was announced in February 1985 that the Secretary of State for Transport agreed to the withdrawal of passenger services deciding that the cost of keeping the line open from Birchden Jn to Grove Jn and undertaking renewing Grove Junction did not justify the outlay. The passenger service was withdrawn from 8 July 1985 although the section between Tunbridge Wells West and Birchden Jn remained open for rolling stock movements until 10 August, when the depot at Tunbridge Wells West station was shut.^[3] At the time of closure, Tunbridge Wells West station had gas lighting, which was in operation in the ticket office and under the canopy.

Preservation

Restoration

The SVR has its origins in a charitable society formed on 13 September 1985, to purchase and reopen the Tunbridge Wells West to Eridge line. Named the Tunbridge Wells and Eridge Railway Preservation Society (TWERPS), it began a long struggle to reopen the line. The campaign received a setback in the late 1980s when Tunbridge Wells Borough Council gave planning permission for the construction of a large Sainsbury's supermarket complex on the site of the derelict station site of Tunbridge Wells West. While the 1891 locomotive shed and station building were protected as listed buildings, the remaining area of the site was obliterated, including the goods shed and signal boxes. However, planning permission was subject to the condition that the developer pay for construction of a new station platform and restoration of the engine shed.^[4]

The North Downs Steam Railway relocated from Dartford in 1996, where it was experiencing vandalism problems, and merged with TWERPS. It transferred its assets and helped establish a base in the former LB&SCR locomotive shed. The group had also acquired the line as far as Birchden Junction during that year. Alongside the loco shed, a new platform was built, from where services began running to Cold Bath Bridge (about 0.8 miles (1.3 km) away) in December 1996. Services were extended to Groombridge in August 1997 and to Birchden Junction in 2005.

In 2007, SVR marked the 10th anniversary of the opening of the line by transforming Groombridge into a busy interchange station, with trains arriving or departing every 15 minutes.^[5] The funds raised from this event went towards the "Return to Eridge" appeal to raise £500,000 for the extension to the Uckfield main line at Eridge. On 25 March 2011 the SVR extended passenger services to Eridge, where there is a footbridge interchange with Southern services on the London Bridge to Uckfield line.

In August 2017, a special event (20th Birthday Bash) was held to celebrate 20 years since the reopening of the line to Groombridge, starring a variety of home and visiting locomotives, including BR Standard 4 Tank 80078.

Rolling stock

Steam

Operational

Identity	Former operator	Class	Builder	Works Number	Built	Wheel Arrangement	Notes	Image
34053 303 Squadron	BR	Battle of Britain	Brighton Works		1947	4-6-2	The locomotive arrived in September 2020 and is now permanently based at the Spa Valley Railway following an agreement between the line and its owners. Returned to the railway in July 2024 following completion of overhaul.[6]
34072 257 Squadron	BR	Battle of Britain Class	Brighton Works		1948	4-6-2	Moved to Spa Valley Railway in late 2022 and will be based there for the foreseeable future.[7] Currently on hire to the Watercress Line until January 2025.
80078	BR	Standard Class 4MT	Brighton works		1954	2-6-4T	Regular visitor, based at the Mid-Norfolk Railway. Owned by Stewart Robinson.
2315 Lady Ingrid	South of Scotland Electricity Board		Andrew Barclay	2315	1951	0-4-0ST	Underwent overhaul in 2009.[8] Returned to service in 2024. Has been sold.
828	Caledonian Railway	812 Class	St Rollox		1899	0-6-0	On long term hire since 2022.[9]

Non-operational

Identity	Former operator	Class	Builder	Works Number	Built	Wheel Arrangement	Notes	Image
50 Sutton	LB&SCR	A1X 'Terrier'	Brighton Works		1876	0-6-0T	Undergoing overhaul since 2011.[10]
47493	LMS	3F 'Jinty'	Vulcan Foundry	4195	1927	0-6-0T	Underwent overhaul 2014.[11] Originally numbered 16576, later 7493. Expected to return to steam by 2025.
68077	LNER	J94	Andrew Barclay	2215	1947	0-6-0ST	Stored.[12]
1589 Newstead	NCB		Hunslet	1589	1929	0-6-0ST	Undergoing overhaul.[13]
No.57 Samson	Stewarts & Lloyds Ltd, Corby	'Ugly'	RSH	7668	1950	0-6-0ST	Stored.[14]
No. 62 Ugly	Stewarts & Lloyds Ltd, Corby	'Ugly'	RSH	7673	1950	0-6-0ST	On display since 2021 awaiting overhaul.[15]

Diesel

Operational

Identity	Class	Builder	Built	Livery	Notes	Image
08922	Class 08		1962	BR Railfreight Grey	The locomotive arrived in September 2023 on hire from the Great Central Railway (Nottingham).[16]
31430 Sister Dora	British Rail Class 31	Brush Traction	1961	BR Blue	Owned by Martin Staniforth.[17]
73140	Class 73/1	English Electric Vulcan Foundry	1966	BR Blue	Owned by the Class 73 Locomotive Group.
2591 Southerham		Drewry		Unlined Black
189C	Vanguard	Thomas Hill		Blue

Non-operational

Identity	Class	Builder	Built	Livery	Notes	Image
09026 Cedric Wares	Class 09		1962	BR Green	Currently undergoing overhaul. Was previously named William Pearson during its career at Brighton Lovers Walk TMD.
15224	Class 12	Ashford Works	1949	BR Green	Stored.
33063 R. J. Mitchell[18]	Class 33/0	BRCW	January 1962	Railfreight Triple Grey	Owned by the South East Locomotive Group. Undergoing repaint.
33065 Sealion[19]	Class 33/0	BRCW	January 1962	BR Blue	Owned by the South East Locomotive Group. Undergoing overhaul.

Multiple Units

DMU s are diesel multiple units. EMUs are electric multiple units but these are only being used as static or hauled stock on this line.

Type	Identity	Origin	Class	Code	Notes	Photograph
EMU	69306	BR	Class 421 (4-BIG)	TRB	Used as a static cafe as Tunbridge Wells West station until 2019, now for sale.[20]
EMU	12275	BR	6-PAN	TFK	Underframe only, converted to crane wagon.[21]
DEMU	1317	BR	Class 207	3D (currently operating as 2D)	In service. Formed of DMBSO 60142, TC 60616, DTSO 60909/60916. TC 60616, the unique centre car, is currently being internally restored.
DEMU	No. 1302	BR	Class 207	N/A	Built in 1962. In service until destroyed in a fire on 20 May 2016. Arrived from Swindon and Cricklade Railway in February 2024.