Scottish Steam Up – Celebrating 828's 125th Birthday!

Join us to celebrate the 125^th Birthday of Caledonian Railway N^o. 828 where she'll be joined by fellow CR engine 439 Class N^o. 419 on Friday 30^th and Saturday 31^st August and Saturday 7^th and Sunday 8^th September!
N^o.828 was built by the Caledonian Railway Company at their St. Rollox engineering workshops in the Springburn district of Glasgow. She is one of 20 of her class which were built at St. Rollox between May and November 1899.N^o. 828 herself was delivered from the works at the end of August 1899 so Friday 30^th and Saturday 31^st August 2024 is the perfect date to celebrate her turning 125! Not only that, we've arranged with thanks to the Scottish Railway Preservation Society that fellow Caledonian Railway 439 Class N^o. 419 aka 55189 can visit us for this event too!

We also have a range of dining trains taking place over the the two weekends of Scottish Steam with full details shown found below.

Owned by the CR828 Trust N^o. 828 was built by the Caledonian Railway at in 1899. The locomotive was designed by J. F. Mcintosh to handle a variety of stopping passenger and express goods workings and is usually based at the Strathspey Railway. N^o. 828 has been on long-term loan to the Spa Valley Railway since March 2022 and has undergone some routine and heavy repairs during this time but the locomotive can regularly been seen operating along the line between Tunbridge Wells West and Eridge.

Based at the Bo’ness & Kinnell Railway N^o. 419 was built by the Caledonian Railway at St Rollox Works, Glasgow, in 1907. The locomotive was designed by J. F. Mcintosh for branch line work, fast suburban and banking duties and is now the flagship of the Scottish Railway Preservation Society. The locomotive last visited the Spa Valley Railway in April 2022 and was at the time painted in Caledonian Railway blue, the locomotive is now in pristine British Railways lined black so will make a significant change from her last visit.

Timetable
An intensive one train service will be in operation using both 419 and 828 which will swap at Eridge throughout the day. The 08:40 from Tunbridge Wells West and the 17:10 from Eridge will be double headed.

• Trains will depart Tunbridge Wells West at 08:40, 10:00, 11:15, 12:30, 13:45, 15:00, 16:15, 17:45, 19:05 and 20:10.
• Trains will depart Eridge at 09:20, 10:35, 11:50, 13:05, 14:20, 15:35, 17:10, 18:20, 19:40 and 20:50.

Please note, the 08:40, 17:45, 19:05 and 20:10 from Tunbridge Wells West and the 09:20, 18:20, 19:40 and 20:50 do not operate on Sunday 8^th September.

Dining Trains:

• Friday 30^th August and Sunday 8^th September – The Kent Cream Tea Train
  A Friday afternoon treat, why not sit back and relax to enjoy Scottish Steam with a Cream Tea too! Departing from Eridge at 14:20 on Friday 30^th August and Sunday 8^th September, details can be found here.
• Friday 30^th August – Fish & Chip Supper
  A firm favourite for a Friday night is Fish & Chips so why not come and enjoy them on a Scottish steam hauled train through the High Weald! Departing Tunbridge Wells West at 19:00 it is just £25 per adult and £20 per child, details can be found here.
• Saturday 31^st August – The Kent Whisky Train
  What better way to sit back and enjoy a Scottish steam locomotive than by enjoying a tiple of whisky during the journey too! Full details for our Kent Whisky Train which departs from Eridge at 14:20 on Saturday 31^st August can be found here.
• Saturday 31^st August and Sunday 7^th September Murder Mystery or Evening Train Travel
  We are running some of our popular Murder Mystery evenings on Saturday 31^st August and Sunday 7^th September, you can book on this and find full details here. Alternatively as tickets are valid for travel all day, you can just travel if you wish on any of the evening services in the non-dining carriages but we also over an evening travel ticket valid from 17:00 at the bottom of this page. 
• Friday 30^th August and Saturday 7th September – Fish & Chip Lunch Train
  Join us for a Fish & Chip Lunch on board a Scottish steam hauled train, departing Tunbridge Wells West at 12:30. Click here for full details.
• Saturday 7^th September – The Kent Gin Train
  Enjoy some popular gin on board the steam hauled train, the popular Kent Gin train is departing Tunbridge Wells West at 15:00 on Saturday 7th September. Click here for full details.
• Sunday 8^th September – The Kent Cheese Train
  Join us on an afternoon on the Kent Cheese train for a return trip on our railway, along the way you get the chance to enjoy a selection of local cheeses. Click here for full details. 

*HIGH ROCKS HALT
Trains do not stop at High Rocks unless we have been informed they are open to the public. Please check HERE before you visit to ensure you can alight at the station. 

What to see and do along the line?

• Tunbridge Wells – The famous Spa town, including many pubs and restaurants and the world famous Pantiles. 
• High Rocks – High Rocks Inn and the High Rocks themselves, under 18s must be accompanied on the rocks.
• Groombridge – Junction Inn or Crown Inn for a bite to eat.
• Eridge – The Huntsman Pub for a bite to eat, and the Wildwood Vineyard just off the A26.

Fares (Tickets are valid for travel ALL day!):

• Adult – £20.00
• Senior (60+) – £19.00
• Child (2-15yrs) – £10.00
• Family (2 Adults + 2 Children) – £50.00

Tickets can be bought online in advance or are available on the day from our ticket offices at Tunbridge Wells West, Groombridge or Eridge. If you wish to start your journey at High Rocks you will need to purchase a ticket on the train. There is no reserved seating for tickets purchased online or on the day. 

If you book online, on the day of your visit you MUST have your eTickets available to show either in a print out or on a mobile device, either will be checked visually by a member of staff.