Heritage railway to host fundraising walk

The Spa Valley Railway is aiming to raise £300,000 to replace the Broom Lane Bridge

A heritage railway is hosting a fundraising walk to raise money to replace a bridge which is coming to the end of its life.

The Spa Valley Railway, based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, is aiming to raise £300,000 to replace the Broom Lane bridge, between High Rocks and Groombridge, East Sussex.

The walk, taking place on Sunday, will leave Tunbridge Wells West station at 09:30 GMT and it will be five miles long.

General manager at the railway, Jonnie Pay, said the bridge which was built in the 1890s was showing signs of corrosion.

'We must do something'

The walk will go to Birchden junction before turning around to return to Groombridge, from where a train will take the walkers back to Tunbridge Wells.

The railway says the walk will discover parts of the Spa Valley Railway that are never open to the public.

Mr Pay said: "Broom Lane Bridge was built in the 1890s but has corrosion on the primary girder flanges, particularly on the web flange angles, which is not unexpected due to its age, but it presents a problem.

"To ensure we can continue taking our passengers along the Spa Valley Railway, the bridge is regularly inspected, a speed restriction has been imposed.

"It is subject to an enhanced monitoring regime, and it has recently undergone load testing to demonstrate its continued availability for rail traffic", he said.

"However, we must do something before the corrosion reaches a point where we cannot operate trains."