SPA VALLEY RAILWAY - SPRING DIESEL AND BEER WEEKEND [CANCELLED]

Spring Diesel & Beer Weekend
Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd March 2020
COVID-19 UPDATE

Please note, in line with what many other heritage railways and similar organisations have done, the Spa Valley Railway has suspended all train operations until 25th April at the present time.

We hope to re-open for our Peter Rabbit event on the 25th & 26th April, in the event we have to remain closed this event will be moved to a date later in the year and all customers re-booked automatically and contacted by email. 

Cancelled Events/Running Days:

• Spring Diesel Weekend 21st & 22nd March 2020.
• Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th March, including the High Weald Belle.
• Saturday 4th, Sunday 5th, Wednesday 8th, Thursday 9th April, including all Dining Trains.
• Easter Specials 10th to 13th April. 
• 15th, 16th, 18th (Class 31 Running Day) & 19th April, including all Dining Trains.
• Transport Film Festival 11th & 12th May (due to older volunteers unable to dedicate time to organise due to COVID-19)
• 35th Anniversary of Line Closure Event 11th & 12th July (to allow our volunteers to concentrate on the Summer Diesel Gala). 

This would have been the railways first enthusiast event of the 2020 season where our heritage diesels, including visiting Class 20 D8188, take to the stage for two days of diesel filled action. Our resident fleet will be joined, subject to successful test runs following lengthy maintenance and a period of traffic by Class 20 D8188 courtesy of the Somerset & Dorset Loco Co. Ltd. The 1000Hp BR Green Bo-Bo will arrive by road from the Midlands and will be the 5th member of the class to operate on the Spa Valley Railway, others being 20118, 20110, D8098 and D8059, the latter also owned by the Somerset & Dorset Loco Co. Ltd.

Our popular two train service at 45-minute intervals will be in action, including a brake van ride to Eridge on the Saturday morning, plus a selection of beers and ciders will be available for you to enjoy from our award winning bar car 'Kate' and at Eridge, whilst stocks last! Day Rover tickets are valid ALL day so if you travel on the Saturday you can ride the trains from the start to the end which includes travelling on the evening Fish & Chip/Ales on Rails trains for no extra cost, the only catch is food and drink aren't included!

Locomotives:
Drewry 2591 'Southerham' (Saturday Only)
Class 10 D3489 'Colonel Tomline' (Saturday Only)
Class 20 D8188 – Courtesy of the Somerset & Dorset Loco Co. Ltd.
Class 31/4 31430 'Sister Dora'
Class 33/0 33063 'R.J.Mitchell'
Class 73/1 73140
Class 207 DEMU 1317 (Saturday Only)
BR Standard 4MT No. 80078 (Sunday Only, Mother's Day)
All of the locomotives and units listed above are subject to availability and the Spa Valley Railway reserves the right make changes to the locos/units line up without prior warning however we will always endeavour where possible to communicate in advance any changes.

Coaches:
Rake of 4 MK1s with Bar Car 'Kate'.
CIG: Class 421 3CIG 1497. 
(pictured below just outside Groombridge)

Real Ales and Ciders:
There will be a range of Beers and Ciders available on board the train with 'Kate' shown as Set A in the timetable and in the Waiting Room at Eridge.

Real Ales in Kate:
High Weald Brewery - Chronicle 3.8%
High Weald Brewery - Comet Pale 4.2%
Kent Brewery - Bounty Hunter 5.5%
Kent Brewery - Twelfth Night 7.4%
Mad Cat Brewery - Red Ale 3.9%
Mad Cat Brewery - Ninth Life 5.9%
Old Dairy Brewery - Spring Top 4.0%
Old Dairy Brewery - Mosaic IPA 5.3%

Ciders in Kate:
Dudda's Tun - Cherry 4.0%
Dudda's Tun - Salted Caramel 4.0%
Dudda's Tun - Apricot 4.0%
Dudda's Tun - Sweet Apple 5.3%

Real Ales at Eridge:
Harvey's - 1859 Porter 4.8%
Harvey's - IPA 3.5%
Westerham Brewery - Spirit of Kent 4.0%
Westerham Brewery - Family Stout 4.5%

Ciders at Eridge:
Dudda's Tun - Blackcurrant 4.0%
Dudda's Tun - Spiced 4.0%
Please note, this is not the same scale as the CAMRA Real Ale & Cider Festival in October and there will be no bars at Tunbridge Wells West, Groombridge or on Set CIG.

Fish & Chip Supper
On Saturday 21st March, we're running one of our popular Fish & Chip Supper trains, this is either a separate stand alone ticket, valid from 19:00 on the day or you can buy a combined Day Rover and Fish & Chip Supper ticket. It is just £25 to buy a combined ticket which is all day travel plus an evening meal delivered to you at a selected table! It is otherwise if purchased as a stand alone product £15 so a saving of £5 when combining the two tickets otherwise.

Evening services will be hauled by Class 20 D8188 at the Tunbridge Wells end and Class 31/4 31430 'Sister Dora' at the Eridge end.

Ales on Rails
It wouldn't be a Diesel event without the evening beer trains, the visiting Class 20 and resident Class 31 are the two locos to power the trains into the evening and you can join us on board for just £10 and enjoy the fine selection of real ales (and ciders!) we have on offer and your first pint is free!
Driver for a Tenner
Take a driver for just a Tenner on some of our locomotives at Eridge and Tunbridge Wells West! You can have a go at driving one of these powerful machines a short distance, you never know, it might just be the drive you need to get your volunteering started at the Spa Valley Railway.

Brake Van Rides
You can take a ride behind Drewry 2591 'Southerham', Class 10 D3489 'Colonel Tomline' and Class 20 D8188 at 09:30 from Tunbridge Wells West to Eridge and return, just £3 extra on top of a Rover ticket (so £18 total) with all takings going towards the railways upkeep!

Timetable
Tunbridge Wells West Departures:
Saturday 09:30 (pre-booked Brake Van ride), 10:00 and then every 45 minutes until 21:15. Sunday 10:00 and then every 45 minutes until 16:45.
Eridge Departures:
Saturday 10:00 and then every 45 minutes until 21:15 and then the last departure is 21:50. Sunday 10:45 and then every 45 minutes until 16:45 and then last departure is 17:20.

MIDLAND RAILWAY BUTTERLEY - TEDDY BEARS WEEKEND 29th MARCH 2020

Teddy Bears’ Event
“If you go down to the woods today……”, well not the woods exactly, in fact your big surprise is actually at the Midland Railway – Butterley. Throughout the year they will be hosting a number of very special Teddy Bears’ Weekends. You will be greeted by the larger than life Butterley Bear and there will be special Teddy Bears’ displays around the railway, featuring about 200 bears of all shapes and sizes. New for 2020, in Deeley’s Tearoom there will be an interactive display and colouring competition.  There is a themed children’s competition with a small prize for every completed entry and all entries will go into  a prize draw with the winner receiving a special railway bear. Special offer: Any child brought in by their own Teddy Bear will be able to travel free of charge.

The Midland Railway – Butterley is a heritage railway with a difference.
You can ride through the Derbyshire countryside behind on of a fascinating collection of locomotives in a restored carriage and you can explore a huge museum complex and a country park.

SWANWICK JUNCTION SIGNAL BOX

The Museum Complex includes a large railway museum, the West Shed Experience, Midland Road Transport Group, Stationary Power Gallery , National Fork Truck Heritage Centre, Golden Valley Light Railway, Butterley Park Miniature Railway, Swanwick Junction Model Railway, Demonstration Signal Box, and even a Victorian Railwayman's Church The main building has been moved and rebuilt from Syston in Leicestershire. Back at Butterley Station, the building was moved from Whitwell in North Derbyshire and there is the Garden Railway and the Alfreton Model Railway display.

The narrow gauge Golden Valley Light Railway uses stock collected from local industry, and even from as far away as Poland. The star item in its collection is the Ashover Light Railway coach that is under restoration after being rescued from use as a bowling clubroom for 50 years.

Garden Railway
The Garden Railway Layout is to be found in the former goods yard, opposite the signal box, it is operated by the Butterley Garden Railway Association (BGRA) and live steam trains are usually in action on Sundays. Both 32 and 45mm gauge trains can operate on the layout.

Model Railway
Butterley Station is the home of a large model railway layout run by the Alfreton Model Railway Society (AMRS) on the platform just past the Buffet. The 4mm/00 gauge layout, called Midland Road, is usually open at weekends and on seasonal peak days. The layout features a variety of scenes including stations, tunnels, goods yards, farm yards and much more besides.  Children of all ages, including those “over 21”, love watching the model trains on the move and hunting for the hidden gems amongst the scenery.

OO GAUGE SOUTHERN REGION MAUNSELL COACHES [LAWRENCE AND GODDARD]

As previously shown here briefly we've a boxed set of 6 SR Maunsell coaches made by David Lawrence and Larry Goddard. Now I only have this information garnished from the limited research available to me without Dad being here to enlighten me. However I am led to understand that Mr Lawrence might be responsible for most of the coaches build work and Mr Goddard is an expert painter and finisher ... though I think that comment understates both of their talents considerably and shall continue to try and find further reference and knowledge about both of these superb experts in their field.

Now I'm not the expert, sadly my late father was, so all I can provide is some basic information from what I can see and the limited research I have done so far, Am always open to comment and correction but please be constructive as I'm not trying to mislead anyone here.

Six Southern Region Maunsell Coaches
CORRIDOR COMPOSITE Class 1st / 3rd 
 - No.5662 + No.5648
CORRIDOR BRAKE THIRD (Luggage)
 - No.3740 + No.3799
CORRIDOR THIRD
 - No.783
DINING SALOON 
- No.7863 (pictured above)
GUV/CCT SR No.417
(the above GUV is included as part of this collection though I think it's just one Dad built himself to compliment the coaching stock). 
Remain boxed for safety and to preserve their quality, I will however aim to get them out and show the whole set at the next OO Gauge Test Track open day. More photo's and video clips if possible will hopefully follow. 

There is a 7th vehicle which appears to be a baggage car but origin is unlikely to match the others I think it was just kept together as a complete running set of rolling stock. 

Been in my late fathers collection for many years, probably about 20 given he moved onto larger scale modelling for the past couple of decades.

In wonderful condition for their age, signed by both David and Larry on the underside. Professionally valued at a dedicated model auction house, that regularly deals with vintage items, they estimated around £200-£250 each and was given a reserve as a complete set of £1250. The GUV / Baggage van being included in the set was being offered effectively free. 

Sorry have tried to get a decent close up of this signature to show you but my camera skills are poor and it just comes out blurred. Will keep trying though probably needs more light and a steady hand.

Here's a few more pictures taken including the GUV/CCT baggage car that I can only presume Dad added in afterwards as I had a couple of these which were Slaters Kits he made up to supplement some of his stock, sadly this item has lost one or two of it's 'windows' they probably lost their adhesive qualities while stored away. One of the coaches too has a loose roof but is otherwise intact again probably just a fresh application of superglue / resin or whatever is preferred.

6th NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK NARROW GAUGE EXHIBITION - 7th MARCH 2020

Saturday 7th March 2020

LOCATION:
Blyburgate Hall (Former St John Hall), 
Blyburgate, Beccles, Suffolk  NR34 9TF

OPENING TIMES:    Saturday  10.00am - 4.00pm
ADMISSION:    Adults £3.00      Family £6.00  

This will be the groups 6th open day/exhibition with a selection of narrow gauge layouts. There will be guest layouts as well as some of the groups own member's layouts. The OO9 Society sales stand will be present again. Refreshments will also be available. Please note that there is only disabled parking at the hall, please use the car park along road next to 'Roys'. We are using four rooms, sadly for this venue we're afraid that the smaller two rooms are not wheelchair accessible as they are up a short flight of stairs. The venue is about a ten minute walk from Beccles Railway station.

List of Layouts Attending:
Southwold - Oon3
(pictured above and right)  A superbly detailed depiction of the terminus of the Southwold Railway. 
[Layout by Stuart Green].
Oh Guano - O.16.5
Orne - OO9
Llanfair Jamieinion - OO9
Ashurst Brickworks - OO9 (pictured below). 

Ashurst is an imaginary village nestled alongside a narrow estuary on the Sussex coast. The availability of good quality brick making clay in the local area stimulated the building of a narrow gauge light railway to transport the handmade bricks to the awaiting coastal ships. Shortly after its opening, the railway management decided to open the line to passengers to serve nearby isolated communities. Time has moved on and we now view the railway as it is in the 1950's. Trains continue to run in their time honoured way, but for how much longer before it succumbs to the lorry and a possible future in preservation?
4000 Yards Area 5 - Sm32
Vale of Maentwrog by Paul Bason, Echoes of the Ffestiniog Railway in 4mm/ft scale 9mm gauge (00-9)
The Brickworks - O.14
Mirkwood - OO9
Shortwaite Hill - OO9
Fishie Fishie - Sm32

Caroline Concrete Works O-16.5 - (Above) A new venture, after their previous work on Ben Moor Foot Peat works so another industrial 7 mm narrow gauge based on a concrete works. Standard gauge siding for deliveries and transporting products out. Narrow gauge within the works for moving materials and finished products within the works.

Nearest Railway Stations:
Beccles [0.19 miles] 
Brampton (Suffolk) [4.28 miles] 
Somerleyton [5.25 miles] 
Haddiscoe [5.59 miles] 

MAP: [Blyburgate Hall, post code - NR34 9TF]

CHESHAM MODEL RAILWAY CLUB EXHIBITION -- SUNDAY 1st MARCH 2020

LOCATION
White Hill Centre, White Hill, 
Chesham, Buckinghamshire  HP5 1AG

OPENING TIMES: 
Sunday 10am - 4pm

ADMISSION:  Adults £5.00  Concessions £5.00  Children £2.50  Family £12.00

The first Sunday in March sees the annual exhibition for the Chesham Model Railway Club. Should expect at least 11 layouts of various gauges, plus a few trade stalls, the Club's secondhand stall, children's activities including our brand new hands on OO layout (Their old one will also be up for sale at this event). Refreshments including a licenced bar will be available. Please note that parking is limited on site, but includes some disabled spaces. There is plenty of further parking nearby, with the local council run car parks being free on Sundays. Chesham [Metropolitan Railway] station is nearby at the other end of the adjacent Waitrose car park.

List of Layouts Attending:
Gunnistock - O Gauge (right) A new end to end layout based upon Cornwall's LSWR Old Gunnislake Station on the Calstock Branch in first half of the 20th Century - Displayed by the host club [CMRC].
Glenfogle - N Gauge
6' SQ Tail chaser - Glenfogle is a small northern Scottish fishing hamlet on the banks of Loch Fogle. The era modelled today is a summer Saturday in the late 1980s. The proposed build of the line was planned to be more direct and run across the Lairds land to the rear of the castle. Access was denied so the line had to be diverted on a slower and more circuitous route out to the loch edge. This required the construction of a causeway so the railway could proceed to the north as planned. The diversion has meant that this section carries with it a permanent speed restriction due to the curvature needed. Since the construction of the causeway this has created a small inner harbour for the village - Displayed by Jeff Davies for the Chesham Club [CMRC].

Engaine-Cum-Hardy - N Gauge (pictured right)
General steam layout has a four road mainline station capable of taking two seven coach trains whilst the branch line trains are terminated in the bay platform or can connect to the mainline trains on platform 4 at the far side of the station. In the goods yard, after a journey around the layout, wagons are shunted and automatically uncoupled into their respective sidings. The brewery siding also has a working wagon turntable, and the 4-road engine shed has a working coaling tower - Displayed by Robin French

Obuom Junction - N Gauge [pictured above]
Obuom Nkwanta (Junction) is based upon the railways found in West Africa concentrating on Ghana and Liberia. The buildings and landscape are from actual locations in Ghana, Namely the Old Governors house, now a hotel for the Botanical Gardens with it's palm tree lined drive. The 'Nim Tree Bar' behind the station being where Jonathan spent most of his time after work, plus the traditional homes which can be found in Northern Ghana. Most of the locomotives are ex-American or old British designs. The wild life includes Elephants. The large trees in the hotel garden are under size but would look too big if modelled to scale. - By Jonathan Wilkins of Host Club CMRC.

Bradfield (Gloucester Square) - OO Gauge Fine Scale
This Late 1950s/Early 1960s (BR Green Period) this layout is inspired by the Midland Railway's terminus in Bradford. An imaging showing the track plan and station layout options is shown here (right) It is not a replica of the station though, but is intended to reflect the atmosphere of a jaded West Riding terminal in the final decade of steam. Trains are run to a working timetable with movements controlled by working semaphore signals and by DCC with on board sound systems. - By Tring & District MRC (Pictured above and right).
Salinas Valley - HO Gauge
This is a small USA switching layout with relatively modern rail served industries. It is assumed to be situated on the outskirts of a city in the 1960/70s. The design is based on the "Inglenook" style with an additional kickback siding to a chemical distribution depot. The rear siding and the main tracks are worked from a small sector plate fiddle yard. The layout is digitally controlled using an NCE Powercab - By John Baggaley.

Porlock - OO Gauge
Exmoor based village layout in GWR/BR Western period. The original Porlock layout was built by Hemel Hempstead resident Bill Faulker as a home based layout and then donated to HHMRS, who have extended it with a scenic board and fiddle yard to produce an exhibition layout.
An interesting feature is the inclined siding which allows coaches to be shunted into the siding and then rolled back into the station which allows the locomotive to move to the other end of the train - [Kevin Grace of Hemel Hempstead MRS].

Oakleigh Park - OO Gauge
This layout is based on the Hornby Dublo 2-Rail track system and was built to run 2-rail locomotives and super detail rolling stock produced by the Meccano company form 1958 to 1964. Motive power has been expanded to include some Wrenn locomotives & Hornby Dublo re-paints - By David Jarvis.

Muddleport - OO Gauge - This layout started as an experiment in minimum radius OO. The scenery was added as an afterthought - By Ron Nettleton of host club CMRC.

Lego Railway - The owner builds a New Lego model for each show. Great for inspiring children as well as adults!! - By Ben Apps.

Childrens Self-Drive Layout - OO Gauge 
A brand new figure of eight configuration - Displayed by members of the Chesham Club [CMRC].

Nearest Railway Stations:
Chesham (LU) [0.16 miles]
Amersham [2.25 miles]
Chalfont & Latimer [3.41 miles]
Great Missenden [4.29 miles]
MAP