Emerging into the forecast monsoon at Tunbridge Wells big railway station made it an unpleasant 20 minute hike through deserted streets to the Spa Valley station a mile or so away. The shed was empty apart from long lines of beer casks with the kettles and 25 warming up outside the shed. The 0925 departed right time, virtually empty apart from a few desperate cranks, the beer event not starting until 1100.
Caledonian kettle steaming nicely in the rain at Tunbridge Wells shed
25185 at a very wet Tunbridge Wells West prior to departure with the 0925 to Eridge
Despite being at the downhill end 25185 was thrashed hard where possible on load 4 and idling 4MT 80078 on the rear. 4 trips were made behind the 25 giving a respectable 20 odd miles behind what was once the hardest operational preserved rat to get. By the 2nd trip the weather was improving and bright skies greeted the third trip. A few fill ins were also made behind the superbly restored thumper 1317 on Eridge – Groombridge shuttles
By 1400 or so the wedge was immense, i escaped the now chortling, tipsy hooray Henry types for some good old fashioned window hanging even 31430 thrashed! A final return to Tunbridge Wells behind Caledonian Railway 828 a loco last raked in out of Aviemore in August 94!
Walking back to the big railway in the sun the streets of Tunbridge Wells were largely packed with more tipsy Hooray Henry types, give me the streets of Brechin any time!
Detailed 25185 loco history with many phots
80078 steaming nicely in the rains at Eridge with the 1015 to Tunbridge Wells
Its cargo of beer barrels still locked up PMV S1249 looks the part at Eridge
31430 looking and sounding good at Groombridge with the 1015 Tunbridge Wells – Eridge
Improving weather with 25185 back at Eridge after a good thrash on the 1100 ex Tunbridge Wells
After working a shuttle from Eridge, 1317 thumps off to the siding at Groombridge
Looking and sounding the part 25185 at Tunbridge Wells with the 1400 Eridge service
The Moves
730048} 0600 Bletchley – Euston LB-EU
730021}
92033 5M11
57303 No EU-CX
465019} 0731 Charing X – Sevenoaks CX-LB
465018}
375821 0745 Charing X – Hastings LB-TW
25185 0925 Tunbridge Wells – Eridge TW-ER
4828,
73140, 330xx (undercoat), 08922 TW
171727} 0907 L.Bridge – Uckfield – phot
171730}
1317 – phot
S1249 – phot
80078(k) 1015 Eridge – Tunbridge Wells ER-TW
31430 1015 Tunbridge Wells – Eridge – phot
25185 1100 Tunbridge Wells – Eridge TW-ER
80078(k) 1145 Eridge – Tunbridge Wells ER-TW
73128} RHTT
73107}
25185 1230 Tunbridge Wells – Eridge TW-ER
1317 1300 Eridge – Groombridge ER-GR
80078(k) 1315 Eridge- Tunbridge Wells GR-TW
25185 1400 Tunbridge Wells – Eridge TW-ER
1317 1430 Eridge – Groombridge ER-GR
31430 1445 Tunbridge Wells – Eridge GR-ER
828(k) 1530 Eridge – Tunbridge Wells ER-TW
375620} 1544 Hastings – Charing X TW-CX
375608}
375915} TO-CX
51653 No CX-EU
730048} 1809 Euston – M.Keynes EU-LB
730021}
37510 WM
end
Leighton Lists 