THE Spa Valley Railway celebrated its 25th anniversary over the bank holiday weekend August 26-29 (RM August p79).
The railway opened between Tunbridge Wells West (TWW) and Groombridge on August 23, 1997, previously having only operated push-pull trains from TWW to Cold Bath Bridge from December 1996. It opened through to Eridge in 2011.
Two visiting steam locos, SR Bulleid Pacific No. 34092 and BR ‘4MT’ 4-6-0 No. 75069 were joined from the East Lancashire Railway, and Class 25 No. D7612 (25262) from the South Devon Railway. This was originally going to be No. D7535 (25185), but that was not available in time for the August 12-14 diesel gala.
