Скачать или смотреть The Mid-Hants Railway, The Watercress Line, Spring Steam Gala & Miniature Railway, 27th April 2025

The Watercress Line is the marketing name of the Mid-Hants Railway, a heritage railway in Hampshire, England, running 10 miles (16 km) from New Alresford to Alton where it connects to the National Rail network. The line gained its popular name in the days when it was used to transport locally grown watercress to markets in London. The railway currently operates regular scheduled services, along with dining trains, real ale trains and numerous special events throughout the year.

I also visited the miniature railway at Ropley with Ivor.

Featuring...
Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway A Class No. 52322.
L&YR No. 11456.
T3 No. 563 visiting from the Swanage Railway.
35005 Canadian Pacific.

We look forward to welcoming you to our 'steam' packed three day event.

This event is a chance to see and ride behind special guest engines and our home-fleet locomotives. Joining national celebrations as part of Railway 200, this ‘gala of firsts’ showcases a variety of railway scenes from yesterday, demonstrating how the railway would have operated in the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s.

Explore all of our heritage stations along the 10 mile line, get up close to some of our locomotives, find out more about our restoration projects and enjoy guided tours and various exhibits.

On the day expect to see a variety of different passenger trains, including short mixed shuttle trains, and an 8 carriage non-stop run from Alresford to Alton hauled by Canadian Pacific, recreating the scene of a diverted express service from Bournemouth to Waterloo ‘Over the Alps’ such as the Bournemouth Belle during the electrification works in the mid 1960’s.

First guest locomotive announced

On her first visit away from her home railway, we welcome London and South Western Railway T3 class steam locomotive No. 563, with thanks to our friends at Swanage Railway Trust and the 563 Locomotive Group.

Built at Nine Elms works in 1893 to a design by renowned engineer William Adams, No. 563 was donated to the Swanage Railway Trust by the National Railway Museum in 2017 in a non-working condition.

No. 563 was withdrawn by the Southern Railway at the end of world war two in 1945, after running more than 1.5 million miles in service. 563 was used to help celebrate the centenary of Waterloo station in London during 1948, and as a result was thankfully saved from being scrapped with the rest of the class members. Lined out in 1890s Drummond passenger green livery – the 81-tonne T3 hauled its first passenger train since 1945 in October 2023, and is now one of the oldest locomotives still in an operational condition.

Second guest locomotive announced

On her first visit to our line, we welcome L&YR A Class 52322, courtesy of Andy Booth and East Lancashire Railway.

Built at Horwich in December 1895, she entered service in 1896 as L&YR number 1300 (later LMS 12322 and BR 52322). The locomotive first steamed in preservation in 1982.

This is the first time this locomotive has visited our line and becomes the second oldest in our line up at 130 years young!

Third guest locomotive announced

We are delighted to announce the final guest locomotive will be L&YR no. 752 / LMS 11456, courtesy of Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Trust. This will be her first visit to The Watercress Line.

Originally built as a tender engine in 1881 she was rebuilt as a saddle tank by L&YR in 1896.

NOTICE:

It is with regret that we have to announce the short-term withdrawal of Urie Society Locomotive No. 506 from service, for firebox repairs.

Sadly, this will mean a change in our timetabled line-up for the upcoming Spring Steam Gala, however it still promises to be a fantastic event with three visiting locomotives alongside our remaining home-fleet.

Work has already started on stripping the locomotive for repairs, as we aim to have No. 506 back in traffic as quickly as possible.