Spa Valley Railway in Tunbridge Wells is inviting visitors to its Mixed Traction Gala on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 March 2023.

Ten different diesel and steam locomotives will work alongside each other, including visiting GWR Prairie 5526, Class 25 D7612, Tamper and Ballast Regulator. Visiting locomotives will join resident heritage diesels and the magnificent steam locomotive Bulleid Pacific 34072 ‘257 Squadron’.

Passenger trains will operate between Tunbridge Wells West (next to Sainsburys) and Eridge stations, and stopping at Groombridge Station. Trains will leave every 50 minutes throughout the day with the opportunity to enjoy a selection of beers and ciders from Bar Car Kate.

During March, Plasser and Theurer 07-16 Tamping Machine No. DR73434 / Works No. 1581 and Plasser and Theurer USP5000C Ballast Regulating Machine No. DR77329/Works No. 392 are visiting the Spa Valley Railway to work on their infrastructure.  The owning group has agreed to provide a crew to enable the Tamper and Ballast Regulator to haul a public train using the popular Queen Mary Brake Van!  Spa Valley Railway is urging visitors to book in advance to take a journey on the Queen Mary Brake Van as this is always very popular.

Tickets:

Adult One Day Rover £25.00, Two Day £45.00, Child One Day Rover £15.00, Child Two Day Rover £25.00, Family One Day Rover £50.00, Family Two Day Rover £70.00.

Day Rover tickets are valid all day so anyone travelling on Saturday can ride the trains from the start to the end of the day, including travelling on the evening Fish and Chip or Ales on Rails trains.  Visitors will need to buy food and drink separately.

Trains will operate from 10:00 to 23:00 on Saturday 25 March and from 10:00 to 17:00 on Sunday 26 March.

Book in advance for the Fish and Chip Supper on Saturday 25 March. These trains will be hauled by Small Prairie 5526 and the equally impressive steam locomotive 257 Squadron!

Also at the event, the railway will be running their first Steam and Ale Train of the year.

For some tasty ales and ciders, hop on board the train on the evening of Saturday 25 March to enjoy eight different beers from Kent Brewery!

Real Ales:  Pale – 4%, Kent Golding Bitter – 4.1%, Cobnut – 4.1%, Prohibition – 4.8%, New Black – 4.8%, Tropic Ale – 4.9%, Comfortably Plum – 4.9%, Loaded – 5.0%

Ciders:  Blackcurrant, Cherry, Apricot, Salted Caramel, Elderflower, Sweet Apple,

Locomotives:

• Great Western Small Prairie 5526 steam locomotive – Courtesy of the South Devon Railway
• Bulleid Pacific 34072 ‘257 Squadron’
• Drewry 2591 ‘Southerham’ (Saturday only)
• Class 10 D3489 ‘Colonel Tomline’ (Saturday only)
• Class 25 D7612 – Courtesy of South Devon Diesel Traction
• Class 31/4 31430 ‘Sister Dora’
• Class 33/0 33063 ‘R.J.Mitchell’
• Class 207 DEMU 1317
• Plasser and Theurer 07-16 Tamping Machine No. DR73434 / Works No. 1581
• Plasser and Theurer USP5000C Ballast Regulating Machine No. DR77329/Works No. 392

All locos are subject to availability.

To book train tickets in advance, click here.