GB Railfreight has agreed that one of their Class 73/1s will attend the Spa Valley Railway's Summer Diesel Gala and 25th Anniversary Gala.
At the Summer Diesel Gala, set to be held from Friday, 12th to Sunday, 14th August, the GBRf Class 73/1 will join the railway's resident Class 73/1 73140 which is currently undergoing a repaint at Tunbridge Wells West.
Also in operation will be Sulzer Type 2 D7535 on loan from the South Devon Railway. GBRf previously supported a Spa Valley Diesel Gala in 2017 when Class 73/1 73136 paid a visit. Full details of this year's visiting GBRf Class 73/1 will be announced in due course.
The full complement of locomotives to be seen at the gala include:
- Drewry 2591 Southerham;
- Class 10 D3489 Colonel Tomlin;;
- Class 25 D7537 – Courtesy of South Devon Diesel Traction
- Class 31/4 31430 Sister Dora;
- Class 33/0 33063 R.J.Mitchell;
- Class 73/1 73XXX – Courtesy of GBRf (Number TBC);
- Class 73/1 73140;
- Class 207 DEMU 1317;
- Class 421 3CIG 1497.
On Friday, 12th and Saturday, 13th August there will be three of the popular Real Ale and Fish & Chip Supper trains between Tunbridge Wells West and Eridge. Throughout the weekend, trains will depart every 55 minutes from both Tunbridge Wells West and Eridge. The intensive train service will feature the separate running of the DEMU and 3CIG alongside locomotive-hauled coaching stock.
Tunbridge Wells West
- The station shop will be open with a large variety of diesel traction products.
- Trains will cross here throughout the weekend.
Eridge
- Eridge provides mainline connections with Southern services to Central London, East Croydon, Oxted, and Uckfield.
- Great photo opportunities of trains climbing Birchden Bank can be had from the adjacent field by walking back towards Groombridge via Harrisons Rocks.
- Refreshments are available from The Huntsman public house
Over the August Bank Holiday weekend between Friday, 26th and Monday 29th August, the railway will be holding its 25th Anniversary Gala, which will celebrate 25 years of running trains from Tunbridge Wells West back through the High Weald.
Full details of locomotives in operation at the 25th Anniversary Gala will be announced at a later date.
