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

Mixed Traction Gala - September 2004

The annual mixed traction gala was held this year over the weekend of the 18th and 19th September, and despite some poor weather, was highly successful. The main star of the event was a visiting engine from the Swanage Railway, Dorset. The engine was Standard Class 4 Tank 80078, courtesy of owning group Southern Locomotives Ltd. The locomotive which returned to service in 1999, made a three week visit to Kent to feature in the gala and revived plenty of memories, when this type of engine once worked over the line.

Other attractions of the weekend were ex-LMS Jinty 47493, Class 33s 33063 and 33065 'Sealion' and Class 73 73140. The Class 10 and 09 also hauled one service on each day.

Unfortunately, the arrival of the Thumper (207017) in the week previous, was too late for the unit to be included in the weekend, but it could be seen in the sidings at Tunbridge Wells West.

Photos of the event appear below. 

80078 & 47493 at Groombridge - Photo M. Dives    47493 & 80078 at Groombridge - Photo M. Dives    47493 & 80078 at Tunbridge Wells West - Photo M. Dives    80078 rests at Tunbridge Wells West - Photo M. Dives    47493 takes water at Tunbridge Wells West, with Fonmon in the background - Photo M. Dives

80078 and 47493 at Tunbridge Wells West - Photo M. Dives    47493 on shed at Tunbridge Wells - Photo M. Dives    47493 on shed at Tunbridge Wells - Photo M. Dives    33065 and 33065 pass new resident Thumper 207017 - Photo M. Dives    New arrival Oxted unit 207017 at Tunbridge Wells - Photo M. Dives

80078 on Ramslye Bank - Photo M. Dives    80078 rests on shed, stirring memories when the class once worked out from the shed - Photo M. Dives    47493 pulls its' train into Tunbridge Wells West - Photo M. Dives    80078 rests on shed, stirring memories when the class once worked out from the shed - Photo M. Dives    Fonmon and 47493 at Groombridge - Photo M. Dives

Fonmon and 47493 at Groombridge - Photo M. Dives    Fonmon and 47493 at Groombridge - Photo M. Dives    Fonmon and 47493 depart Groombridge - Photo M. Dives    Fonmon departs Groombridge - Photo M. Dives    09004 and Colonel Tomline rest at Groombridge in between trains - Photo M. Dives

80078 and 47493 approach Tunbridge Wells West - Photo M. Dives    47493 and 80078 rest at Tunbridge Wells West - Photo M. Dives    80078 hauls the train and 33065 out of the loop into the station - Photo J. Nye    47493 and 80078 approach the A26 bridge on return to Tunbridge Wells - Photo J. Nye    80078 rests by the water tower in between duties - Photo J. Nye

80078 crosses the A26 bridge with its' first revenue passenger train on the railway - Photo J. Nye    80078 runs round its' train at Tunbridge Wells - Photo J. Nye


 

Last Updated 21 March 2005. İM. Dives