“The Spa Valley Railway desperately needs your help”
The Spa Valley Railway has run heritage trains through the High Weald from Tunbridge Wells since 1996 but due to urgent repair works that are needed it requires your fundraising help in order to survive. Eileen Leahy spoke to Richard Burrell who is spearheading the campaign to ensure this popular visitor attraction stays on track…
The Spa Valley Railway has been a hallmark of Tunbridge Wells tourism for many years.
Firstly as a fully operational railway bringing both visitors and residents to and from the town from the 19th century, and secondly as a popular visitor attraction since the late 1990s.
Now, however it faces a perilously uncertain future given that one point of its centuries’ old line – Broom Lane Bridge – requires nearly £300,000 in urgent repair works.
“If we don’t raise this sum then I am afraid the whole of the Spa Valley Railway will have to close,” warns train enthusiast and local business entrepreneur Richard Burrell.
I’m meeting the esteemed former jeweller, who ran a number of shops all over the South East for nearly five decades, to discuss the level of fundraising needed and to discover ways in which readers of this publication can help.
“I have always been a huge fan of the Spa Valley Railway line, right from the beginning,” he continues. “It’s a great thing for railway enthusiasts but also such a fun thing to get involved with. My children and their children love it – as do many families – so it would be a terrible tragedy to see it close down.”
He goes on to explain that Broom Lane Bridge, built in the 1890s, has chronic corrosion. “It’s basically crumbling away and if the inspectors deem it unfit for purpose they will simply close it down.”
He adds that there are three key phases to the replacement of Broom Lane Bridge.
“The first one is a certified replacement bridge design, and this will cost around £30,000 and thanks to our savings, we are able to cover this but we only have another £10,000 to put towards the second phase.”
Richard says the cost for this is approximately £60,000 and will involve constructing and painting a new bridge. Finally, phase three will involve removing the old bridge and installing the new one, with estimated costs upwards of £200,000 to construct it on site.
“Between myself and Jonnie, who runs the Spa Valley Railway, we have many friends and supporters but we are still appealing to anyone who could help ensure we complete this enormous project and replace the bridge so people can still enjoy riding on this historic railway.”
The timeframe for this is pretty urgent says Richard adding that that funds have to be raised before the end of this year.
And sadly in addition to the bridge’s huge repair bill fans of the Spa Valley Railway are now having to fund the clean-up of the graffiti that happened a few weeks ago on some carriages.
“The Spa Valley Railway is a Tunbridge Wells institution. It’s a wonderful treat for young and old people alike with special seasonal trips and lots of themed events such as cheese and wine tastings and even murder mystery days – and it’s all run by volunteers. It would be heartbreaking if it had to close down.”
Richard adds that the Spa Valley Railway committee would be extremely grateful to anyone who can donate to their appeal or even suggest any fundraising activities. So do feel free to get in touch filling out the contact form at www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk or follow @spavalleyrailway
