Spa Valley Railway, West Station, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5QY
Telephone: 01892 537715
Email spavalleyrailway@email.com

"Southern Diesels" Gala - 7th & 8th August

The Southern Diesels Gala returned following last year's success and featured locomotives from the former Southern Region. Like last year's event, this year was sunny and hot although temperatures never rose as high! 

The event's main features was the appearance of both of the South East Locomotive Group's BR Blue Class 33 Cromptons, working in multiple for the first time in a year. 33065 'Sealion' arrived at the railway in late July, following a brief but successful visit to the Kent and East Sussex Railway, whilst 33063 has been on the Spa Valley for almost a year. Another highlight of the event was Class 73 73140 making an appearance in undercoat blue as it featured in the railway's 'ED Sandwich', a 33/73/33 combination, which ran all engines in multiple. The 09 09004 and class 12 15224 both made appearances on trains, as did Class 10 'Colonel Tomline' on the Saturday, which was standing in for the 09 which had failed on that day, but was able to make an appearance on the Sunday. 

Here are a few photos of the weekend. 

Last Updated 12th July 2004. ©M. Dives