Spa Valley Railway, West Station, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5QY
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Eridge Extension News

There is a lot of work going into the extension to Eridge, both at the railway and behind the scenes with detailed negotiations between us and the other parties involved, namely Network Rail and Westinghouse Signalling Systems. Here is where you will find out detailed information regarding the extension and the work involved to return regular passenger services between Tunbridge Wells West and Eridge after a period of 23 years!!!

29th September - EXTENSION UPDATES

Another week and more progress has been seen on the extension. GRAMM have continued their work on preparing all the trackwork for training runs and the opening day. Work has also been carried out on the former Crossing Keeper's hut at Forge Farm crossing in preparation for returning it to its former use. 

The trackwork at Eridge has focused on completing the bay platform road, including the buffer stop, changing some sleepers in the main platform road and slewing the track straight at the country end of the station ready for the installation of friction buffer stops, which will be carried out in a few weeks time. The slewing has been carried out 100 metres to the South of Eridge. 

Above Left:- The former crossing keeper's hut at Forge Farm crossing at the start of it's renovation, on the 24th September, after it had received a new roof covering - Photo B. Halford
Above Right:- A view of the renovation work in full swing on 26th September, showing the new door being fitted - Photo B. Halford
Below:- Another view showing the new door and a fresh coat of paint. The windows have been re-glazed too - Photo B. Halford

 Above Left:- Work underway on slewing the track at the country end of Eridge station on the 24th September - Photo B. Halford
Above Right:- A couple of days later, work is complete on 26th September. The new buffer stops will be erected where the bridge casts a shadow - Photo B. Halford
Below Left:- Some sleepers have been changed in the main platform at Eridge. One of these can be seen in the foreground of the photo - Photo B. Halford
Below Right:- Work has been completed in the bay platform with the refurbishment of the bufferstops - Photo B. Halford

AND FINALLY...

The Eridge refurbishment continues apace and signs have been produced to give the station that special look for passengers on opening day. Replica running in boards have been made and these will be erected just before opening day. These have been produced through kind donations from members of the railway and it is hoped to follow these up with the target style signs (similar to that of Tunbridge Wells West in the photo) to really give Eridge that Southern Railway feel. 

Above:- One of the new Eridge station signs - Photo M. Dives

17th September - MORE TRACKWORK

Our contractors GRAMM have been back at Eridge over the last couple of weeks to implement a second phase of work on the extension. Phase 2 has entailed bringing the former bay platform up to a standard where rolling stock can be stored in it and preparing the track beyond the station in readiness for installing a set of buffers. The initial idea is that the bay will initially store a water tanker for replenishing the steam engines, and act as somewhere to stand a spare engine if we operate a shunt-release operation. The work carried out will also help for the time when we reinstate the run round loop at Eridge. 

Above Left:- The bay platform after some initial vegetation clearance on 8th September- Photo B. Halford
Above Right:- Work on the point gets underway on 8th September. Compare these pictures on the main Eridge page to see the progress that has been made in just over a year - Photo B. Halford
Below:- A gang clear some of the vegetation on the country side of Eridge station in preparation for the installation of some bufferstops - Photo B. Halford

The work has composed of a number of elements. These are as follows:

• Clearance of vegetation from the bay platform.

• Spot re-sleepering in the former bay platform

• Replacement of point timbers under the points at the London end of the station

• Slewing the track on the country side of the station in readiness for the installation of buffer stops.

What has resulted in around two weeks is the transformation of a jungle into a working siding once again. Compare the pictures below with those above.

Above Left:- The bay road cleared of all foliage and new sleepers installed on 17th September - Photo B. Halford
Above Right:- Another view of the pointwork at the London end of the station shows all the cleared trackbed, now brought up to operational standard - Photo B. Halford

ROUND UP FROM AROUND THE RAILWAY

As well as the trackwork on the Eridge section underway, the rest of the railway has been busy on various aspects of the Eridge extension. The S&T have been busy fitting and installing the pulley runs for the wires to operate the signals. This has involved burying posts in the ground and then attaching pulleys to them. Elsewhere, a group have been finishing off the construction of the bracket signal that will positioned at Groombridge. The foundations have been dug for this signal and it's hoped that there maybe a chance to cast the concrete base for this before Christmas.

The Permanent Way gang have also been busy, having resumed building the new point for Groombridge, at Tunbridge Wells West. There are still a lot of components yet to be sourced but it's hoped that construction will continue to progress towards Christmas.

30th July - ERIDGE UPDATE

Work on the station buildings is progressing well with some plumbing underway and plans for some re-wiring being put together. The Gents toilet is receiving some attention, as is the Ladies toilets and waiting room now that they have been vacated. Signage is beginning to be produced for the station too. We hope to bring you more on this soon, which will also reveal the era that we hope to reproduce the buildings on our side of the station in.

24th July - TRACK UPDATE

GRAMM have now completed their work and have left. There are a few items that remain to be completed, but they will return nearer the opening day to complete these. One of these includes the fitting of buffer stops at the country end of Eridge platform. Away from the track, work continues on a number of fronts. The buildings at Eridge are now being restored and having all the utilities installed. 

Right:- The view at Birchden Junction on 23rd July, showing the newly laid track. Compare this view with the one taken below which was just over a week ago - Photo B. Halford

The signal box base has now been completed and the floor joists are installed. An inner skin wall will now be built up which will then be timber clad to give the appearance of a Southern signal box. The signal which will form the Down Starter at Groombridge, is now progressing well at Tunbridge Wells, with the rail posts being drilled and bolted together. The base for this signal has now been dug at Groombridge.

Derek Hayward has been taking his own photographic record of the progress being made on the Eridge extension. These can be viewed on his website - http://train.fotopic.net/svreridge. There are also other photo galleries on his site, showing other progress around the railway, including the new canopy at Groombridge.

Above:- The view at Birchden Junction on the 9th July, showing the track renewal in full swing. The new sleepers are in place with the rails to roll back in - Photo B. Halford

8th July - GRAMM UPDATE

The last 4 weeks has seen a frenzy of work on the extension between Birchden and Eridge. Gramm started by clearing all the vegetation back to clear the trackbed. This was followed up by renewing pads and nylons under the rails, greasing fishplates and setting the gaps in the running rails. In mid-June, the point that formed part of the crossover to what is now the mainline, was removed and plain lined. In late June, work had commenced on relaying the curve from our boundary at Birchden, round the corner to the mainline, to form a better curve. Work was also concentrated around the platform at Eridge too. Below are a series of photos showing the progress made over the past 4-5 weeks. All photos are copyright Brian Halford.

Above Left:- This photo shows Birchden Junction on 17th June, showing just how much foliage was needed to be cleared to enable trains to pass, and the same view (above right) just 3 days later after the vegetation team had cleared the trackbed.
Below Left:- On 17th June, Gramm were also busy renewing the insulating pads and nylons that form part of the rail fixings to the sleepers. Other work concentrated on fishplate greasing and setting the gaps between the rails. 
Below Right:- On 20th June a wagon load of new sleepers had arrived to be used on the extension.

Above Left:- On 23rd June, work had turned to removing the remaining part of the former crossover point to the North of Eridge. Two days later the point was gone and most of the replacement track was in place (Above Right)
Below Left& Right:- On 2nd July, work had commenced on the curve away from the mainline towards our boundary at Birchden. A lot of this track is being relaid and improved.

Above:- The photo shows the shear amount of tree clearance that has been undertaken at Eridge, which has revealed the old down siding and the associated pointwork. In the distance is the former down home signal for Eridge - Photo M. Dives

SIGNAL BOX AND SIGNALLING PROGRESS

Away from the extension, Groombridge signal box continues to make good progress too. The first parts of the former Birchden Junction lever frame have now been fitted to the main beam inside the new signal box base. At the same time, the floor timbers have been fitted around the lever frame and the brickwork brought up to this level. An inner blockwork skin will now be built up further which will then be clad in wood to give a traditional Southern Railway appearance.

Left:- The signal box on 18th June shows the lever frame installed and the first of the floor timbers installed. The remaining timbers have already been fitted - Photo M. Dives

Away from the signal box, the bracket signal that will be erected at the Eridge end of Groombridge station continues to make good progress and is now erected in the yard at Tunbridge Wells West. When complete, this will then be dismantled and transported to Groombridge for final assembly. The actual post for the bracket is now under construction and the base is due to be started shortly.

AND FINALLY...

A couple of photos of Eridge itself showing exactly what visitors will be greeted with when the come down the stairs onto the Spa Valley platform with the booking office straight ahead in the former Porter's Office. Trains will arrive and depart from the former down main platform (Platform 3 - Below Left). Work is continuing on bringing the station up to the standards that our passengers expect and this is now concentrated on the former Waiting Room and Ladies Waiting Room and toilet.

Above Left:- The view that will greet our passengers when we return trains to Eridge, with the booking office straight ahead - Photo M. Dives
Above Right:- Platform 3 will be the place where our trains will hopefully arrive and depart. Running into this platform will allow us to run our full length trains - Photo M. Dives

10th June - WORK STARTS ON EXTENSION

June 9th was the day that physical work began on bringing the track between Birchden Junction and Eridge, up to passenger carrying standard. The rails were replaced at Birchden on Sunday 1st June, joining the railway up to Eridge once again for the first time in 3 years. The Spa Valley ’s appointed contractors – Gramm Interlink Rail Ltd – will be working to a 5-week programme of lineside clearance and track renewals.

Thus, by mid-July, the line will be physically capable of carrying Spa Valley passenger  trains into Eridge for the first time since 1985. However, trains won’t start immediately – the remaining issue of Forge Farm level crossing will take most of the summer to resolve, with project sponsors Westinghouse/Invensys carrying out the alterations needed to bring the crossing back into two-line operation. This all means that subject to final HMRI approval and formal handover, crew training and route familiarisation are envisaged to commence in the late summer and continue through the autumn. The Grand Gala Opening is scheduled for the beginning of the 2009 season.

Spa Valley director Paul McKinnell said, “The start of Gramm’s work is the first physical result of the years of negotiation between Spa Valley , Network Rail and her predecessors. Now we can seriously look at delivering the project in 2008, and the sight of our contractors shovelling away on the new section will be a massive boost to not only the working membership, but those generous supporters who have dug deep to raise the money needed to take the extension off the drawing board and into reality”.

Gramm’s scope of works includes principally:

• Relaying 100yds of 113lb/yd flat-bottom rail and sleepers at Birchden Junction

• Removal of the old Birchden trailing point and plain-lining

• Removal of lineside vegetation to allow the safe passage of trains

• Renewal of fishplates and rail gap spacings along the length

• Clearance of the “Long Siding” at Eridge – currently submerged in trees

• Removal of “our” half of the old down-up crossover at Eridge, and plain-lining.

• Establishing a set of buffer stops at the end of the Spa Valley leased line under the new A26 bridge at Eridge

Negotiations between the railway and Network Rail are still continuing with regards to the operational side of the extension, although we hope this will be completed soon. 

There is currently one stumbling block, in the form of Forge Farm crossing. Discussions are ongoing with regards to how modifications can be made to the crossing to allow trains to operate on both lines. Railway representatives hope to visit signalling engineers Westinghouse, to explore solutions soon.

GROOMBRIDGE SIGNAL BOX UPDATE

The new signal box at Groombridge continues to make progress on a weekly basis. In fact by the time these words and pictures appear here, this news will be out of date and the building will have advanced further. The first of the lever frame stands were fitted to the main beam within the walls on the 15th May, with more of the frame being installed on Wednesday 4th June. During this time the walls have continued to grow higher and are now up to a level ready for the floor timbers. The timber that will form the floor has now arrived and two of the timbers have been installed, giving an impression of the floor height.  

The new platform wall has now been completed and just awaits the fitting of the copping stones and final surfacing. 

Left:- A general view of Groombridge station on 17th May. The signal box base can be seen in the foreground and the lever frame stanchion can be seen fixed to the main beam. Already the walls are higher than this photo shows - Photo R. Sharpe

ERIDGE TICKETS ALREADY PRINTED

Tickets for the Eridge opening are already in production, with the first few already in use as member's privilege tickets. Obviously they are currently only valid to the end of the line, whether its Groombridge or Birchden. 

Above:- The first ticket to be produced for Eridge. This is just one of the many jobs that are going on behind the scenes, in preparation for opening the extension - Photo B. Halford

6th April - SIGNALBOX UPDATE

As the good weather comes, the signal box seems to change on a week-by-week basis. In late March, the outer wall brickwork was rising from ground level along with the inner walls. The damp proof course has been installed too. Outside the box itself, the rodding tunnel has now been covered over using redundant concrete sleepers and filled in with concrete. The platform extension wall has also been built back up to its original level and it is hoped that this will be back-filled shortly. 

Above Left:- Mid-March saw the outer walls begin to rise up from the foundations - Photo M. Dives
Above Right:- A few weeks later, the sheets had been removed to give visitors an idea of what it will begin to look like. The rodding tunnel can be seen below the platform wall - Photo S. Pay

Away from the signalbox, the signalling components at Tunbridge Wells continue to make progress with the construction of the new bases for the posts. After the April Thomas event, work will start on reassembling the bracket signal and constructing the remaining signal posts for Groombridge. 

11th March - PHOTO UPDATE

The photos below were taken by Derek Hayward in late January and show some of the progress that is being made along the route of the extension, as well as at Groombridge station itself. Most of the work is yet to start as the railway still needs to sign a lease agreement with Network Rail. Discussions currently centre around the modifications required to Forge Farm crossing and the clearance of vegetation along the entire route of the extension.

Above Left:- Some initial replanking has taken place on the former Gentleman's toilet - Photo Derek Hayward
Above Right:- The former Porter's office has been converted into a ticket office for when services begin. Work will start soon on the former Waiting Room and Ladies toilets, once the model railway club that occupy this area, has moved to a new location - Photo Derek Hayward
Below Left:- A view of the Groombridge signal box base in late January - Photo Derek Hayward
Below Right:- A general view of the works at Groombridge, showing the location of the new signal box, in relation to the rest of the station - Photo Derek Hayward 

Considering the winter weather, since the picture (above left) was taken, the exterior walls have started to go up too. And in early March, both walls were up to the height of the wooden beam and this had been encased within building for the first time. Out of interest, the beam which the lever frame will stand on, also came from Birchden Junction signal box, so these two items will once again be reunited after a period of 23 years. The new platform wall continues to be built up with a view to completing the platform extension at the earliest opportunity.

7th January - ERIDGE EXTENSION PROGRESS - Copied from the Main News Page

Work is steadily proceeding on the Spa Valley’s £1/2M ‘Return to Eridge’ extension project. In order to provide a train service of adequate frequency over the extended length of line the current run round loop at Groombridge is being converted into a fully signalled passing place. This is the first occasion that a signalling scheme has been progressed on the line in preservation.  

Right:- The Jinty approaches the Down Distant signal during December - Photo D. Staines

A new signal box controlling the loop is under construction on the platform end at Groombridge station. Blockwork is already at a height for the beam upon which the lever frame (formerly in use a mile away at Birchden Junction) will be set. Work is nearly complete on building the passage for the wires and rodding at the front of the box. The first of seven new signals required for the scheme, a distant on the eastern approach to Groombridge has been completed and awaits commissioning.  

Also at Groombridge the right hand point leading into the loop is being replaced with a left hand version. Together with slight slewing of track this will permit the use of an extended length of platform. The new point has been manufactured off site at Tunbridge Wells.  

Above:- The main beam, that the lever frame will stand on, was lifted into position on 5th January. This just requires final adjustments before the frame can start to be installed. The walls of the box will be built up around it now - Photo V. Skinner

Meanwhile at Eridge part of the old down side buildings have been converted into the new Spa Valley booking office complete with traditional window for the sale of tickets. Despite considerable physical and financial progress (including significant corporate sponsorship) the project is still very much in need of ongoing assistance to reach its £1/2M funding goal. Donations, either monetary or of physical equipment – especially signalling – are welcome. The railway is also eager to obtain the services of a professional fundraiser to assist in the task. 

This is possibly one of the most exciting times to get involved with volunteering at the railway. For more details on how to join the railway, click here.

'Return to Eridge' Project Home Page
Eridge Project Requirements
Read the Steam Railway Magazine Article "Great Eridge-pectations" outlining the project

Last Updated 29th September 2008. ©M. Dives