The Spa Valley Railway in Tunbridge Wells, Kent is delighted to announce the visit of Ivatt tank locomotive No. 41313, courtesy of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.  This impressive locomotive will be making a short visit to the mainland and will take part of the ‘Southern Steam Up’ event on 17 & 18 June 2023.

This special event will also be celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the formation of the Southern Railway and is the perfect opportunity to see some class Southern steam engines in operation over the weekend.

In 1923 the Southern Railway was formed and the visit of the Ivatt tank, which will haul trains alongside previously announced visiting South Eastern & Chatham Railway O1 No. 65 courtesy of the Bluebell Railway and resident Bulleid Pacific 34072 ‘257 Squadron’, will give a very strong Southern steam presence at the former London Brighton & South Coast Railway engine shed at Tunbridge Wells West, 75F.

41313 is an example of the Class 2 2-6-2 tank locomotive designed for the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) by George Ivatt and 41313 was built at Crewe works in 1952. The locomotive was based at Three Bridges for a short time in 1953 before transferring to Faversham, Kent and in the short time at Three Bridges may well have hauled trains along the now closed line to Tunbridge Wells West.

The Spa Valley Railway is extremely grateful to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway for facilitating this visit.

On the weekend of 17 & 18 June 2023, The Ivatt joins SECR O1 No. 65, Bulleid Pacific 34072 ‘257 Squadron’, Caledonian Railway No. 828 and Hunslet Austerity No. 2890 ‘Douglas’; all hauling trains at the Spa Valley Railway’s Southern Steam Up Event.