Blog for Events
Spa Valley Railway in Tunbridge Wells visit - Spring 2025
08/03/2025
A visit to the Spa Valley Railway in Spring 2025
Malling Camera Club steams ahead with the Spa Valley Railway
On a sunny Spring Sunday members of the Malling Camera Club met at Eridge Station for a day of railway related photography with the wonderful Spa Valley Railway.
Right away the team were greeted to the sight and sound of Battle of Britain Class Steam Locomotive 34053 with period coaching stock as it departed for Tunbridge Wells.
The Locomotive, originally named Sir Keith Park in September 1947 by AVM Park himself, has been temporarily renamed 303 Squadron for 2025 in honour of the Polish airmen who formed the fighter Squadron during the Battle of Britain in 1940.
Letting the train take the strain, the Malling group travelled on the steam hauled service to Spa Valley’s HQ at Tunbridge Wells West where access to the workshops was made available.
Members were able to see first hand the extent of engineering works and ongoing maintenence being undertaken on Spa’s fleet of Locomotives and Rolling Stock facilitated by the team of hard working dedicated volunteers.
Originally two stations existed in Tunbridge Wells, Central and West. In 1985 the line between Tunbridge Wells Central and Eridge was closed but after significant redevelopment of the site at Tunbridge Wells West the line between there and Eridge was reopened as a Heritage Railway.
After touring the workshops the group boarded the train for the return journey alighting at Groombridge for lunch and to inspect the station and the surrounding area.
Later in the afternoon the team from Malling took the train back to Eridge and much notice was taken of local landmarks and potential photo opportunities along the way.
Malling Camera Club would like to express their thanks to David Bower for arranging and all the good people at the Spa Valley Railway for accommodating their visit and for their hospitality.
On a sunny Spring Sunday members of the Malling Camera Club met at Eridge Station for a day of railway related photography with the wonderful Spa Valley Railway.
Right away the team were greeted to the sight and sound of Battle of Britain Class Steam Locomotive 34053 with period coaching stock as it departed for Tunbridge Wells.
The Locomotive, originally named Sir Keith Park in September 1947 by AVM Park himself, has been temporarily renamed 303 Squadron for 2025 in honour of the Polish airmen who formed the fighter Squadron during the Battle of Britain in 1940.
Letting the train take the strain, the Malling group travelled on the steam hauled service to Spa Valley’s HQ at Tunbridge Wells West where access to the workshops was made available.
Members were able to see first hand the extent of engineering works and ongoing maintenence being undertaken on Spa’s fleet of Locomotives and Rolling Stock facilitated by the team of hard working dedicated volunteers.
Originally two stations existed in Tunbridge Wells, Central and West. In 1985 the line between Tunbridge Wells Central and Eridge was closed but after significant redevelopment of the site at Tunbridge Wells West the line between there and Eridge was reopened as a Heritage Railway.
After touring the workshops the group boarded the train for the return journey alighting at Groombridge for lunch and to inspect the station and the surrounding area.
Later in the afternoon the team from Malling took the train back to Eridge and much notice was taken of local landmarks and potential photo opportunities along the way.
Malling Camera Club would like to express their thanks to David Bower for arranging and all the good people at the Spa Valley Railway for accommodating their visit and for their hospitality.