Saturday 15th November
2:00 pm
AGM followed by a presentation on the Spa Valley Railway with Brian Halford
The East Grinstead, Groombridge and Tunbridge Wells Railway (an extension of the Three Bridges to East Grinstead line) opened in 1866. Following the Beeching Report many rural railways closed in the 1960’s including the line from East Grinstead to Groombridge, on January 1st 1967. Although originally proposed for closure the section between Groombridge and Tunbridge Wells West (the west being added in 1923 by the newly formed Southern Railway to distinguish between the two stations serving Tunbridge Wells). Closure came to this section on 6th July 1985. The presentation will follow the journey of the preserved railway from 1985 with the opening of a new station at Groombridge in 1997 and to today’s terminus at Eridge station, still part of the national rail network with services to Uckfield and London Bridge via Oxted, in 2011.
Saturday 24th January
2:00 pm
The Art of the Georgian Engineers
The Georgian era was one of engineering mastery, ushered in firstly by canals and ending with the birth of the railways. Underpinning it all was the Industrial Revolution, beginning in 1704 and running throughout. In this talk Alan Green will explore the art of the greatest Georgian Engineers, their evolving technology and impact of their creations upon the landscape.