Spa Valley Railway Diesel Gala 11th & 12th March 2017

The Spa Valley Railway diesel gala saw 31289’s return to traffic for the 2017 season. Having watched the live start-up courtesy of someone’s Facebook Live post, all looked good when we got there and the cloud of white ‘289 had spluttered out had dissipated.

Locos in use of the weekend were:

D3489, D9537, 31289, 33063 & 33201

There were literally no issues at all over the whole weekend and everything behaved itself, but for a couple of minor skirmishes; that caused no delay. 31289 was on good form, and despite it being a diesel gala it wasn’t too busy at all and was a pretty low-key event really.

With 33201 visiting, and now staying for a long period, the Saturday evening beerexes were 33063/33201 T&T so there was no late finish for me.

For clarity, 31289 worked the following over the weekend:

Saturday 11th March

1045 Tunbridge Wells – Eridge, 1200 Eridge – Tunbridge Wells

1405 Tunbridge Wells – Eridge, 1520 Eridge – Tunbridge Wells

1725 Tunbridge Wells – Eridge, 1835 Eridge – Tunbridge Wells

Sunday 12th March

1045 Tunbridge Wells – Eridge, 1200 Eridge – Tunbridge Wells

1405 Tunbridge Wells – Eridge, 1520 Eridge – Tunbridge Wells

1725 Tunbridge Wells – Eridge

Photos from the Weekend: