Visiting Steam Locomotives and Live Music at Spa Valley Railways Annual Summer Steam Festival

West Kent’s biggest gathering of road steam can be seen at the Spa Valley Railway on 1 and 2 July 2017.  Entry is from 9am. 

The Summer Steam Festival includes some impressive steam locomotives including visiting engine Beatrice No 2705 from Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway.

The Summer Steam Festival will be centred around Eridge Station with steam hauled passenger trains running regularly between Eridge and Tunbridge Wells West Station.  A selection of real ales & ciders plus a BBQ will also be at Eridge Station.

Rarely seen in the South East of England, visiting steam locomotive 'Beatrice' No.2705 will be making her first appearance at the annual Steam Festival alongside another visiting engine 'RING HAW' courtesy of the North Norfolk Railway and resident locomotives Ugly and no.72.  Visitors can also see 13 road engines, 6 model railways and 31 vintage vehicles (split over the two days).

“The festival will see West Kent’s biggest gathering of road steam this year!  The railway’s event team will turn our beautiful heritage railway into a steam adventure for all the family with road, rail and miniature engines, model railways and vintage cars.” said the railway’s General Manager Jonnie Wesson. 

Visitors can also see inside the engine shed to view progress being made on restoring steam locomotives 'Sutton' and the Jinty.

On Saturday 1 July from 19:00 to 21:00 “Noble Jacks” will be performing at Eridge Station.  Noble Jacks are a rip-roaring Alt-Folk band with roof raising energy, whose warm electro-acoustic interactions fuse together a mixture of folky footstompin’ rhythms and engaging lyricism. The band encompasses heartfelt, yet uptempo songs showcasing fiddle, blues harmonica and big anthem toplines. Noble Jacks have a relentless gigging schedule around the the British folk scene and recorded their debut album with Union Music Store at The Metway studio in Brighton.

They have already performed at many festivals around the country from Bestival, Local Live, Broadstairs Folk Week, to the Harvey's Brewery, Lewes, and this year promises to be no different following the release of their debut album 'What the Hammer' early in 2017.

Entry to the festival at Eridge will either be by Spa Valley travel tickets or a separate festival only ticket.

New this year will be a chance to book a Fish and Chip Supper on Saturday 1 July 2017 while travelling on the 19:35 train from Tunbridge Wells to Eridge by steam train.   Tickets are valid for travel and entry to the steam festival throughout the evening so visitors can choose to break a journey at any time - just remember not to miss the last train up the line!

Admission:    Adult 1 Day Train Travel & Steam Festival £25.00, Child £12.50.