RTW West

Tunbridge Wells West in BR Southern Region green.

Tunbridge Wells West was one of two stations in Royal Tunbridge Wells but it lost out to Tunbridge Wells Central during a round of line closures in the 1980s. The ornate station buildings were sold and are now a pub - well worth seeing as it's a typical Victorian confection. When the Spa Valley Railway set about preserving parts of the line they couldn't get the original station building so they established the old engine shed as the new station - much of the original marshalling areas around the station and engine sheds are now under the car park of the Sainsbury's supermarket built on the site. From here the preserved line runs to Groombridge and, I'm told, it's a jolly little trip - it's about five miles.

You got the photo because I called in to the Sainsbury's petrol station to fill up on the way home this evening. Marking now with Springwatch in the background. Nearly Friday!