History

Spa Valley Railway, West Station, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5QY
Telephone: 01892 537715
enquiries@spavalleyrailway.co.uk

History

The railways grew up fast across Great Britain during the 19th and early 20th century. The train was a popular mode of transport and allowed many, for the first time, to explore other towns and cities. Tunbridge Wells had two stations built by rival companies; Tunbridge Wells Central, opened in 1845 by the South Eastern Railway, which is now the sole mainline station, and Tunbridge Wells West, which was opened by the London Brighton & South Coast Railway in 1866. This latter is the headquarters of today's Spa Valley Railway. Around1876, these two stations were linked by a tunnel enabling connections between the London to Brighton and the London to Hastings lines. From Tunbridge Wells West there were direct services to the South coast at Brighton and Eastbourne and north-bound to London Victoria.

Left:- The former LB&SCR engine shed at Tunbridge Wells West - 6/7/1985. - Photo - P. G. Barnes

Passing into the ownership of the Southern railway in 1923, the route became a very popular cross country link with over 100 trains passing a day. Following nationalisation of the railways in 1948, Groombridge station was re-signalled a decade later, and steam finally gave way to diesel multiple units in the mid 1960s. Gradually lines began to close all around with the Eridge to Hailsham branch (the Cuckoo Line) in 1965, East Grinstead to Groombridge in 1967, and then Uckfield to Lewes in 1969. Unfortunately as the popularity of the motor-car increased, train services were severely cut back due to the lack of patronage and the Tunbridge Wells to Eridge section closed on 6th July 1985. The story of this latter-day closure (the first in the area since the "Beeching Cuts" of the 1960s) can be found in our Line Closure section.

Right:- One of the last trains is seen at Groombridge on the last day - 6/7/1985 - Photo - P. G. Barnes

Following closure and a hastily-convened meeting in Groombridge village hall, a charitable society was quickly established to fight for the reopening of the Tunbridge Wells to Eridge line. The group, blissfully unaware of the fact that anyone would use such an acronym to poke fun at them, named itself the "Tunbridge Wells and Eridge Railway Preservation Society" (TWERPS). The next few years were a long, hard struggle against the ravages of vegetation, disinterest and outright hostility from some quarters, but in 1994, with a generous loan from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, the society acquired the line and by winter 1996 they were running trains 1/2 a mile of track towards Groombridge, hauled by RSH 0-6-0T "North Downs". This was helped by a merger between TWERPS and the North Downs Steam Railway at Dartford, whose own long story is told elsewhere. Suffice to say the TWERPS had both the railway and the people who didn't have the first idea about how to run it, and the NDSR had the trains and people who pretended to know how they worked. It was an arranged marriage made in Heaven, and the Spa Valley Railway was born.

Left:- Tunbridge Wells West station and yard 3 months after closure - 28/9/1985. - Photo - P. G. Barnes

After an amazing effort by members, the line was again opened through to Groombridge in August 1997, which took the total length up to three and a half miles. News spread about the route and passenger numbers rose. The owner of the High Rocks Inn built a station at High Rocks, half way between Tunbridge Wells and Groombridge which opened in August 1998.

Many improvements have been made since then including the introduction of new steam locomotives, rolling stock and the building of a signal box, which came from Buckden (Cambridgeshire). This will eventually operate all the signalling at Tunbridge Wells West. Meanwhile, developments at Groombridge have seen a brand new station building, a signal box, refreshment kiosk and two canopies recovered from Gravesend West Street station all being erected to a fine standard by a small group of volunteers since 1997.

Right:- An early open day held at Tunbridge Wells West, prior to the re-opening of the line in the 1990s. The date is 25/8/1996 - Photo - P. G. Barnes

2004 saw the railway's first resident ex-mainline steam engine return to service. Jinty 47493 returned to steam after a 5 year overhaul in the railway's workshops. Also Oxted unit 1317 returned home to the Spa Valley, where it worked for a large part of its working life until the line closed in 1985.

In 2005, the railway opened an extension just short of the former Birchden Junction, a further mile from Groombridge, on our boundary with the main line. This was only operated on special event days as it necessitated the use of an engine on each end of the train. But the railway's main intention had always been to extend back to Eridge, a further mile down the line.

Also in 2005, the railway celebrated the 20 years since the closure of the railway by British Railways. Oxted Unit 1317, which played a significant part in the closure, had a starring role in the celebrations. Surely a great example of the wheel coming full circle.

In mid 2007, after a lot of discussions with Network Rail and other parties, physical work began on the Eridge extension, with the commencement in construction of a signal box at Groombridge. This will control the passing of trains at the station and enable the railway to operate a two train service. Contractors were hired to restore the running line between Birchden Junction and Eridge, and after seemingly interminable delays and complications, the extension opened to the public in March 2011.

This success story would not have happened with out the determination and selflessness from members, so why not join us and be a part of it all? To find out more go to our Membership page.