Locomotive Cavalcades | Spa Valley Railway - '25th Anniversary Gala' 28/08/2022

Whistles sounding, horns blaring, and detonators booming, as the Spa Valley Railway celebrated its 25th anniversary in style.

In August of 1997, the fledgling Spa Valley Railway brought the railway back to Groombridge, when it began running services out of Tunbridge Wells West. To celebrate the anniversary of the occasion, the railway held a four day gala over the weekend of August 26th-29th with a variety of visiting motive power.

As part of the four day event, one of the major highlights would be an 8 locomotive cavalcade (plus resident Class 207 DEMU) on the Sunday evening, being a good demonstration of ‘a works outing’. 4MT – 75069 would lead the consist out of Tunbridge Wells West to Eridge, where 73141 and the Class 207 would detach and return separately, while the two steam locomotives were shunted back onto the front of the remaining consist for 34092 “City of Wells” to lead them back to Tunbridge Wells West. Prior to the cavalcade, 2591 "Southerham" and D3489 “Colonel Tomline” made a trip from Tunbridge Wells West to Groombridge, in order to lay detonators for the pursuing consist.

During its working life, 75069 spent time allocated to the south east division of the Southern region, with photographic evidence of the locomotive on shed at 75F Tunbridge Wells West, making it a fitting addition to the gala.

Drewry - 2591 "Southerham"
BR Class 10 - D3489 “Colonel Tomline”
BR Standard Class 4MT - 75069
BR(S) ‘West Country’ Class – 34092 “City of Wells”
BR Class 24 - D5054 “Phil Southern”
BR Class 25 – D7612
BR Class 33 – 33063 "R. J. Mitchell Designer of the Spitfire"
BR Class 31 – 31430 "Sister Dora"
BR Class 73 - 73140
GB Railfreight Class 73 – 73141 “Spa Valley Railway 25 Year Anniversary”
BR Class 207 – 207017

All footage filmed on Sunday the 28th of August 2022.