Watercress Line

Rebuilt SR West Country Class 34016 Bodmin at Alton station.

80104 at Ropley

The Watercress Line is the marketing name of the Mid-Hants Railway, a heritage line in Hampshire, England, running Template:Mi to km from New Alresford to Alton where it connects to the national rail network. The line gained its nickname in the days that it was used to transport locally grown watercress to markets in London.

Overview

Watercress Line
Alton line to Brookwood Alton Meon Valley Passing loop Basingstoke & Alton Light Railway to Basingstoke Meon Valley Railway to Fareham Boyneswood Bridge (summit of line) Medstead and Four Marks Ropley motive power depot Ropley Alresford Alresford sidings (end of line) Itchen Abbas M3 built over trackbed Winchester South West Main Line to London Waterloo & Weymouth Didcot, Newbury & Southampton Railway to Newbury

Opened in 1865 as part of the Alton, Alresford and Winchester Railway and closed by British Railways in 1973, the line originally continued westwards from New Alresford to Winchester, joining the South Western Main Line at Winchester junction two miles (3 km) north of Winchester, but this section of the line is now closed. In the past there were proposals to extend the line to rejoin Winchester, but this would have required massive funding. The M3 motorway from London to Southampton cuts across the route and houses have been built across the right-of-way in Itchen Abbas.

As well as the two main stations the railway also has two other stations; one at Ropley, where the main locomotive shed and workshops are located, and the other jointly serving the villages of Medstead and Four Marks. The section of line between these two intermediate stations is affectionately known as the "Alps" due its steep gradients.

In 1941, prototype Merchant Navy Class 21C1 Channel Packet traveled as far as Alresford after the naming ceremony at Southampton for a trial run with press dignitaries.

Motive Power

The railway is operated by a variety of steam locomotives, many originating from the Southern Railway. Heritage diesel locomotives and multiple units are also represented, including the Southern Region Class 33 diesel locomotive, an '08' and a Class 11 diesel shunters. Two of their locomotives, named Thomas and Douglas were rebuilt from Hunslet 'Austerity' tank engines ('Thomas' was rebuilt at MHR.)

Operational

Steam Locomotives

Thomas the Tank Engine on the Watercress Line At Alresford Station

• Hunslet Engine Company 0-6-0 No. 1 "Thomas", works number 3781 of 1952-rebuilt 1994.
• SR Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 No. 35005 Canadian Pacific.
• LMS Class 2MT 2-6-2T No. 41312.
• LNER Class A4 4-6-2 No. 60019 Bittern. Operates on main line.
• BR standard class 5 4-6-0 No. 73096.
• GWR 5700 Class 0-6-0 No. 5764. On 3/4 week loan (as of 18/19 March) from the Severn Valley Railway, to run as 'Duck' during the 'Day Out With Thomas' event.
• SR West Country Class 4-6-2 No. 34007 "Wadebridge". On hire from the Bodmin and Wenford Railway. Hauled passengers for the first time (after cab fire) on 13th April 2008 during a Day Out With Thomas event.

Diesel Locomotives

• British Rail Class 33 No. 33208/D6593.
• British Rail Class 08 No. 08288/D3358.

Diesel Multiple Units

• British Rail Class 117 DMS No. W51405.
• British Rail Class 122 DMBS No. W55003.

Under overhaul/restoration

Steam Locomotives

• Hunslet Engine Company 0-6-0 No. 10 "Douglas" (works number 2890 of 1943, rebuilt into a tender engine 2001). Undergoing a major overhaul, work on chassis almost complete.
• JŽ Class 62 0-6-0T No. 30076. Undergoing restoration with the overseas modifications being removed.

Southern Railway 828, a S15 class 4-6-0 Maunsell's development of the LSWR Urie design.

• SR Class S15 4-6-0 No. 828. Undergoing overhaul with the boiler being worked on.
• Southern Railway U Class 2-6-0 No. 31806. Undergoing overhaul, re-wheeled, pony truck soon to be fitted, work on the frames is almost complete.
• LMS Black Five 4-6-0 No. 45379 (5379). Planned to return to steam mid 2009.
• BR standard class 9F 2-10-0 No. 92212. Dismantled for a boiler overhaul, due to return to service December 2008.
• BR standard class 4 4-6-0 No. 75079. Undergoing restoration with the cylinders being re-bored and the new tender being comstructed.

Diesel Locomotives

• John Fowler 0-4-0DM shunter, works number 22889 of 1939.
• British Rail Class 45 No. 45132/D22.
• British Rail Class 27 No. 27007/D5353.
• British Rail Class 11 No. 12049 (Day Aggregates livery).

Diesel Multiple Units

• British Rail Class 117 DMBS No. W51363.
• British Rail Class 117 DMS No. W51400.
• British Rail Class 117 TCl No. W59515.
• British Rail Class 205 DEMU 205025 (Cars 60124+60824).

Awaiting overhaul/restoration

Steam Locomotives

• LSWR Class S15 4-6-0 No. 30499, at Ian Riley's workshops.
• LSWR Class S15 4-6-0 No. 30506.
• Southern Railway U Class 2-6-0 No. 31625 (done up as James the Red Engine).
• Southern Railway N Class 2-6-0 No. 31874.
• SR West Country Class 4-6-2 No. 34016 Bodmin.
• SR West Country Class 4-6-2 No. 34105 "Swanage".
• BR standard class 4 2-6-0 No. 76017.

Stations

• Alton railway station
• Medstead and Four Marks railway station
• Ropley railway station
• Alresford (Hampshire) railway station

External links

• Mid Hants Railway - "The Watercress Line" official website.
• Mid Hants Railway - Steam locomotive restorations in detail with photos and movies
• Mid Hants Railway - Signals and Telegraph Department run by volunteers.
• HeritageRail.co.uk - Watercress Line photographs.