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

Steam Gala 2004

The Steam Gala returned over the weekend of the 3rd and 4th July, with the railway running four engines from its' own fleet for the first time. Recently restored 'Jinty' 47493 played a major part in the event, and lined up alongside TKh 'Spartan', itself returning to steam following a re-tube, for the first time.

The weekend featured an intensive hourly timetable with an early morning goods train each day. Later evening trains were run on the Saturday night which were hauled by the Jinty. The Sunday heralded rain but still failed to dampen spirits. It also featured what was possibly the loco line-up of the event, with Spartan and the Jinty double heading the 16:35 from Groombridge and both engines putting on particularly good displays.

All locomotives during the weekend carried former duty numbers from Tunbridge Wells West (75F) shed and ran headcodes associated with the line.

Here are some pictures from the weekend.

Saturday July 3rd

08:30 goods train seen from the cab of the Jinty passing High Rocks - Photo M. Dives        Jinty 47493 stands in Groombridge run round loop prior to departure - Photo M. Dives        Jinty 47493 stands in Groombridge run round loop prior to departure - Photo M. Dives        Jinty 47493 waits in Groombridge platform with the 09:20 goods for Tunbridge Wells - Photo M. Dives

Jinty 47493 waits in Groombridge platform with the 09:20 goods for Tunbridge Wells - Photo M. Dives        Jinty 47493 waits in Groombridge platform with the 09:20 goods for Tunbridge Wells - Photo M. Dives        09:20 goods train seen from the cab of the Jinty approaching High Rocks - Photo M. Dives        Jinty 47493 stands at Groombridge in between duties - Photo M. Dives

Fonmon and Spartan rest in the yard at the end of the day - Photo M. Dives        Jinty 47493 runs round its train on one of the Saturday night evening trains - Photo M. Dives

 

Sunday July 4th

The Sunday featured rain but also some engines running on the miniature railway at Tunbridge Wells. One, Grandpa Jo, was a vertical boilered chain drive locomotive courtesy of Laurie Maunder and can be seen in the second picture below. The other engine was a model of A4 'Mallard' from the Swanley New Barn railway.

Fonmon stands in Groombridge run round loop with the 09:20 goods train - Photo A. Cottenham        Fonmon stands in Groombridge run round loop with the 09:20 goods train - Photo A. Cottenham        Grandpa Jo on the miniature railway - Photo M. Dives        Spartan arriving at Tunbridge Wells West from Groombridge - Photo M. Dives        Fonmon and Jinty (behind) rest at Tunbridge Wells after a trip - Photo M. Dives

A4 'Mallard' - Photo M. Dives        Jinty inbetween duties at Tunbridge Wells - Photo M. Dives        Fonmon inbetween duties at Tunbridge Wells - Photo M. Dives        The Jinty stands by the water tower at Tunbridge Wells - Photo S. Gorsuch        The Jinty waits to haul the 17:00 goods out of the siding - Photo T. Hurdle

Fonmon passes the Jinty as it returns with the last passenger train of the weekend - Photo T. Hurdle 

 

 

Last Updated 21 March 2005. İM. Dives