Spa Valley Railway, West
Station, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5QY
Telephone: 01892 537715
Email: enquiriesatspavalleyrailway.co.uk
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Eridge Extension News 2008
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!!!
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Eridge Extension News
BV Point Installation - Winter 2009
2008
Eridge News
'Return to Eridge' Project Home Page
Eridge Project Requirements
Read
the Steam Railway Magazine Article "Great Eridge-pectations" outlining
the project
21st December - EXTENSION UPDATES
Vegetation Clearance - The vegetation clearance on the Eridge section has continued apace towards Eridge station itself. This has resulted in the trees surrounding the former signal box being completely cleared, leaving the building completely isolated.
Above Left:- A view of
the signal box, not seen for over 10 years due to the amount of vegetation that
used to surround it. This is the view on 14th November - Photo S. Pay
Above
Right:- The interior of the
station building is making some great progress. The picture of the interior, taken
in mid November, shows the waiting room area - Photo S. Pay
BV Point - Preparation for the BV point installation is progressing on a number of fronts. In early December, the new point for Groombridge was stripped down into its component parts. It has now all been transported to the site at Groombridge ready for the job to commence in January. On the 19th December, the Wetherill coal loader had a day out at High Rocks and was put to hard work loading four wagons with freshly delivered ballast that will be used on the job.
Above Left and Right:- The Wetherill
tractor loading the two Dogfish hopper wagons, which will be used to top off the
new trackwork at Groombridge when the new point has been laid. It had already
loaded two other wagons earlier in the day - Photos M.Dives
Below:- The Class 12
is seen with the engineers train in the platform at High Rocks prior to
returning the wagons to Groombridge for storage - Photo M. Dives
Groombridge Signal Box - The signal box continues to make progress with the last week seeing the beginnings of the timber frame being erected. This will form the signal box cabin. Although it will be wooden clad, the building will be brick lined. Work will now continue on fitting the remaining timber and building up the brick walls. Parts of the signal lever frame will be installed as and when the construction of the building itself allows.
Above Left and Right:- Two views of
the signal box showing the stages of installation of the new building timbers -
Photo R. Sharpe
Below Left:- A view that will soon be a distant memory. The
current point at the Tunbridge Wells end of Groombridge platform is due for
replacement in January, to bring the new platform extension into use and improve
the alignment into the passing loop, in readiness for the commencement of two
train running. The new point can be seen on the left of the picture - Photo R.
Sharpe
Below Right:- A general view of Groombridge station showing the signal
box and the new BV point in the foreground - Photo R. Sharpe
5th December - EXTENSION UPDATES
The biggest piece of news this month is that Network Rail are currently undertaking vegetation clearance between Eridge and Birchden Junction on both sides of the running line. This has covered the removal of over 20 years growth on the Spa Valley side, whilst opening up the line for sighting purposes which will be most advantageous around Forge Farm Crossing. The clearance has also opened up a well known location along the line - Eridge signal box. The former LB&SCR building has been hidden amongst the trees for a number of years and has now had all the vegetation removed from around it.
Above Left:- Birchden Junction on 2nd December following tree and vegetation clearance. Compare this view with the one on the right, taken June 17th, even before the initial work undertaken by GRAMM Interlink - Both Photos B. Halford
Above: -
Another view of Birchden Junction on 3rd December shows a Turbostar passing the
former junction, clearly showing the amount of tree clearance that has been
undertaken over the past few weeks - Photo B. Halford
Below Left:- The view at
Eridge on 2nd December clearly shows Eridge signal box after the vegetation
clearance, whilst in the view on 17th September the box was completely hidden by
the trees - Both Photos B. Halford
Above:- Further clearance at Forge Farm Crossing looking towards Tunbridge Wells and London (Left) and Eridge (Right) - Photo (Left) B. Halford and (Right) M. Dives
Away from the vegetation clearance, other work has been progressing on a number of fronts. The GRAMM contract was completed with the installation of the friction bufferstop on the Uckfield side of Eridge in late October. Other works completed during the GRAMM contract was the refurbishment of the crossing keeper's hut at Forge Farm. Westinghouse' work on the level crossing is yet to start and it is unsure at the moment as to when this is going to happen.
Above Left:- The friction
bufferstops now in place beyond Eridge station - Photo M. Dives
Above Right:-
The newly refurbished Crossing Keeper's hut at Forge Farm - Photo M. Dives
Work on refurbishing the station is progressing well on the interior of the waiting room towards completion. Work has also restarted on restoring the former Gentleman's toilet, with a large amount of the boarding being removed for replacement. Meetings have taken place with Network Rail representatives with regards to some repairs to the station which are beyond our limits, and these are progressing well. The railway has also applied for funding to support the restoration of the station building. The fund will be significantly help the enhancement of the station, such as paint and signage. Construction is also underway for the backing boards for the running-in signs, with a planned completion in the early part of the new year.
Below Left and Right:- Refurbishment of the former Gentleman's toilet currently underway in late November - Photos M. Dives
Away from the Eridge to Birchden section, a number of projects have progressed. Firstly construction of the BV point has been completed and plans are afoot now to lay this down at Groombridge in January, during the railway's winter shutdown. The point will now be dismantled and transported to Groombridge in preparation for the work to commence on January 3rd. Also all the timber for the signal box top has now been ordered and should be delivered soon. Work on the box top will be commencing soon along with further installation of the lever frame components. Other signalling components are being cleaned up too, ready for installation at Eridge.
13th October - EXTENSION UPDATES
GRAMM's current contract of work has been completed apart from the final fitting of the buffer stops at the country end of Eridge station. These are scheduled to be fitted during a possession on the mainline over the next couple of weeks. GRAMM have also removed surplus signalling equipment that had laid in the undergrowth since the signalling system was decommissioned at Eridge in the early 90s. This has now been transferred to the railway.
BV Point - Over the summer period, attention from the P-Way gang has turned back to this point as the solution for the new point at Groombridge. At first it was thought there was not enough components available to make it viable, but these have now been sourced with the final missing bits being purchased from Eastleigh S&C. Over a number of days, the point has been built up which included half a day's work with a crane. At the time of writing, the main components of the point have been assembled and all that is left to do now is fit some baseplates and check rails. After this, it will be marked up and dismantled prior to transporting to Groombridge where it will hopefully be installed in the winter closure period, in time for next season.
Above Left and Right:- Two views of the partially completed BV point at Tunbridge Wells. Most of the components are now on site and it's hoped that the turnout will be completed over the next few weeks - Photos M. Dives
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
Thus,
by mid-July, the line will be physically capable of carrying
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
Work
is steadily proceeding on the
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
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Last Updated 3rd January 2009. ©M. Dives