Watercress Line
Encyclopedia
The Watercress Line is the marketing name of the Mid-Hants Railway, a heritage railway
in Hampshire
, England
, running 10 miles (16.1 km) from New Alresford
to Alton
where it connects to the National Rail
network. The line gained its popular name in the days that it was used to transport locally grown watercress
to markets in London
. The railway currently operates regular scheduled services, along with dining trains and numerous special events throughout the year. The line is also well known for the facilities, staff and the quality of restoration work performed at Ropley MPD.
Stations were initially constructed at Itchen Abbas
, Ropley
and Alresford
. The station at was already in existence. The station at Medstead and Four Marks
was added in 1868. Just outside this station, the line is at it highest point (652 feet (198.7 m) above sea level) having risen from Alresford (263 feet (80.2 m) above sea level) and descending to Alton (339 feet (103.3 m) above sea level). The section of line became known as "the Alps", due to the steep gradients that exist there.
The line provided an alternative route between London and Southampton
and, besides transporting locally produced watercress
, was particularly important for military traffic between the army town of Aldershot
and the military embarkation port at Southampton.
With the development of motorised transport, the line declined during the inter-war and post-war
periods of the 20th Century and was further compromised by the closures of the Basingstoke and Alton Light Railway
in 1932 and the Meon Valley Railway
in 1955. Electrification of the line from London to Alton in 1937 meant that the Watercress Line was no longer part of a through route; it became necessary to change at Alton. Electrification of the line from London to Southampton occurred in 1967, which further affected the economics of the Mid-Hants route.
The line became part of the Southern Railway
in 1923 and then part of the Southern Region of British Railways
in 1948. It survived the Beeching Axe
in 1963, but was eventually closed by British Railways in 1973.
In 1941, prototype Merchant Navy Class
21C1 Channel Packet travelled as far as Alresford after the naming ceremony at Southampton for a trial run with press and dignitaries.
. The extension to Medstead & Four Marks opened on 28 May 1983 and the final section to Alton opened on 25 May 1985.
A replica of Sans Pareil
visited the Watercress Line in June 1982, successfully running from Ropley to Alresford under its own power on 12 June 1982.
Some of the structures that can be seen on the Watercress Line today were not part of the original railway infrastructure
; they have been added to make the line serviceable again and to recreate the feel of a fully operational steam railway. The line is now maintained by a small base of paid staff (mostly in administrative duties) and a core of over 400 volunteers.
class and the BR Standard Class 5
. Operated alongside these there are a number of diesel locomotives including a Class 205 'Hampshire Unit', Class 33
and a Class 08 diesel shunter.
The Watercress Line has four stations, positioned in the same locations as the former British Rail
stations. All stations feature a passing loop, allowing trains to pass one another, with all but Alton station featuring two platforms connected via a footbridge.
– is situated at the northern end of the line. Alton is the only station that does not have two passenger platforms (two are assigned to South West Trains
, with a cross-platform connection to the town and to onwards services to London Waterloo). Alton effectively has two passing loops, one at, and one just outside, the station, allowing trains to pass one another outside of the station and thus reducing the impact of the single platform during intensive operations. The last train of the day terminates here. – is the highest station in Hampshire and a depiction of a quiet 1940s Southern Railway
station building. The Signal and Telegraph department is based here, along with the Permanent Way
group and the Building department. – is the engineering centre of the line and the location of the locomotive maintenance and running sheds. The station is famous for its topiary
and houses the largest signal box on the line, controlling movements through the station, as well as much shunting to and from the locomotive yard. The ongoing re-signalling project in the area will see a significant increase in the possible diversity of operations through the station.
Information sourced from Watercress Line website, Railway Guide.
From December 2011 the line will also be home to a 118 year old Handyside bridge. Visible in the Harry Potter films
, the bridge was removed from its original location at Kings Cross station during the station's 2009 refurbishment. Once repainted, the bridge will be located at Ropley.
installation has been commissioned at Alton. It is a colour-light system, running from the signal box
control panel; this contrasts with the mechanical semaphore signals
used on the rest of the line. The new system allows a more intensive train service, making use of the loop
, and allows shunting within the station, operations which the previous manual flag signalling did not allow. The new installation makes use of track circuit
s to detect where the train is situated and can change points and signals accordingly. It can run fully automatically, so there is no need for a signalman
, unlike the other signal boxes on the line. When there is no signalman, all Signal Post Telephones are diverted to Medstead & Four Marks
signal box. It works on a system where a member of the locomotive crew inserts the token
into a keyhole, to allow the system to take the next steps.
system. It is used on all distant signals on the line and then at all signals in the Alton colour light area, until an AWS gap is reached before the Meon Loop due to the large number of signals. Almost all of the locomotives and multiple units are fitted with it, apart from a couple of steam locomotives.
at Winchester
Junction, two miles (3 km) north of Winchester. There have been proposals to extend the existing line to rejoin Winchester but that would require significant civil engineering works and massive funding. The M3 motorway
from London to Southampton cuts across the old route and houses have been built across the right-of-way in Itchen Abbas
.
will be running a trial commuter service from Medstead & Four Marks
to Alton, using a lightweight Parry People Mover unit. The shuttle services, branded as GOCO Mid-Hants Link, will connect with South West Trains
main line services to Farnham, Woking and London Waterloo. Five trains are scheduled in each direction, with morning departures at around 06.22, 06.53, 07.24, 07.55 and 08.27.
Evening departures from Alton back to Medstead & Four Marks will operate at approximately 17.46, 18.35, 19.08, 19.39 and 20.10. The trial is being run in conjunction with MHR, Hampshire County Council and East Hants District Council.
(HLF) for a number of improvement projects.
A new two-track carriage and wagon workshop is to be built at Ropley, capable of holding four carriages under cover. The workshop is intended to meet the particular needs for the restoration of wooden vehicles. New woodworking machinery will be installed and the grant will also pay for the employment of a carpenter and carpentry trainees.
The existing locomotive workshop will be extended by the provision of a small machine shop and stores area and new volunteer mess (refreshment and changing) facilities. Viewing platforms for visitors will be provided in the locomotive and carriage workshops and the boiler workshop. Interpretation materials will be provided to enhance educational opportunities and provide explanations of the work being carried out.
A historic signal box is to be rescued (assisted by a grant from the Railway Heritage Trust) and installed at Medstead. It will provide a hands-on signalling experience for visitors together with space for an exhibition of Strowger telephone equipment.
The total cost of the projects is likely to be in excess of £1m, with the balance being funded from within the railway and by additional volunteer labour.
The railway was successful in gaining two previous HLF awards: the Old Goods Shed at Alresford was restored and opened in 2000; the wheel drop
shed at Ropley was built in 2005.
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, running 10 miles (16.1 km) from New Alresford
New Alresford
New Alresford or simply Alresford is a small town and civil parish in the City of Winchester district of Hampshire, England. It is situated some 12 km north-east of the city of Winchester and 20 km south-west of the town of Alton...
to Alton
Alton, Hampshire
Alton is a historic market town and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of the English county of Hampshire. It had a population of 16,584 at the 1991 census and is administered by East Hampshire district council. It is located on the source of the River Wey and is the highest town in...
where it connects to the National Rail
National Rail
National Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
network. The line gained its popular name in the days that it was used to transport locally grown watercress
Watercress
Watercresses are fast-growing, aquatic or semi-aquatic, perennial plants native from Europe to central Asia, and one of the oldest known leaf vegetables consumed by human beings...
to markets in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The railway currently operates regular scheduled services, along with dining trains and numerous special events throughout the year. The line is also well known for the facilities, staff and the quality of restoration work performed at Ropley MPD.
British Railways ownership
In 1861, the Alton, Alresford and Winchester Railway Company was authorised to build a new railway to connect to the existing London & South Western Railway lines at Alton and Winchester. It was opened on 2 October 1865 as the Mid-Hants Railway. Trains were operated by the London & South Western Railway which eventually purchased the Mid-Hants Railway Company in 1884.Stations were initially constructed at Itchen Abbas
Itchen Abbas
Itchen Abbas is a village on the River Itchen about north-east of Winchester in Hampshire, England. The village is part of the Itchen Valley civil parish.A major oil pipeline from Hamble to Aldermaston runs through Itchen Abbas.-Parish church:...
, Ropley
Ropley
Ropley is a village and large civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It has an acreage of , situated east from New Alresford, with a station 1½ miles from the village. It is southwest of Alton, just off the A31 road...
and Alresford
New Alresford
New Alresford or simply Alresford is a small town and civil parish in the City of Winchester district of Hampshire, England. It is situated some 12 km north-east of the city of Winchester and 20 km south-west of the town of Alton...
. The station at was already in existence. The station at Medstead and Four Marks
Medstead and Four Marks railway station
Medstead and Four Marks railway station is a railway station in the English county of Hampshire, serving the villages of Medstead and Four Marks.-History:Opened in August 1868 as Medstead, it changed to its present name on 1 October 1937....
was added in 1868. Just outside this station, the line is at it highest point (652 feet (198.7 m) above sea level) having risen from Alresford (263 feet (80.2 m) above sea level) and descending to Alton (339 feet (103.3 m) above sea level). The section of line became known as "the Alps", due to the steep gradients that exist there.
The line provided an alternative route between London and Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
and, besides transporting locally produced watercress
Watercress
Watercresses are fast-growing, aquatic or semi-aquatic, perennial plants native from Europe to central Asia, and one of the oldest known leaf vegetables consumed by human beings...
, was particularly important for military traffic between the army town of Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
and the military embarkation port at Southampton.
With the development of motorised transport, the line declined during the inter-war and post-war
Post-war
A post-war period or postwar period is the interval immediately following the ending of a war and enduring as long as war does not resume. A post-war period can become an interwar period or interbellum when a war between the same parties resumes at a later date...
periods of the 20th Century and was further compromised by the closures of the Basingstoke and Alton Light Railway
Basingstoke and Alton Light Railway
The Basingstoke and Alton Light Railway was a railway in Hampshire, UK, opened on Saturday, 1 June 1901, with no formal ceremony.It was the first railway to be enabled by an Order of the Light Railway Commission under the Light Railways Act of 1896...
in 1932 and the Meon Valley Railway
Meon Valley Railway
The Meon Valley Railway was a cross-country railway in Hampshire, England that ran for between Alton and Fareham, closely following the course of the River Meon. At its northern end, it joined with the Mid-Hants Railway to Winchester, the Alton Line to Brookwood and the Basingstoke and Alton...
in 1955. Electrification of the line from London to Alton in 1937 meant that the Watercress Line was no longer part of a through route; it became necessary to change at Alton. Electrification of the line from London to Southampton occurred in 1967, which further affected the economics of the Mid-Hants route.
The line became part of the Southern Railway
Southern Railway (Great Britain)
The Southern Railway was a British railway company established in the 1923 Grouping. It linked London with the Channel ports, South West England, South coast resorts and Kent...
in 1923 and then part of the Southern Region of British Railways
Southern Region of British Railways
The Southern Region was a region of British Railways from 1948. The region ceased to be an operating unit in its own right in the 1980s and was wound up at the end of 1992. The region covered south London, southern England and the south coast, including the busy commuter belt areas of Kent, Sussex...
in 1948. It survived the Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
in 1963, but was eventually closed by British Railways in 1973.
In 1941, prototype Merchant Navy Class
SR Merchant Navy class
The SR Merchant Navy class , was a class of air-smoothed 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotives designed for the Southern Railway of the United Kingdom by Oliver Bulleid...
21C1 Channel Packet travelled as far as Alresford after the naming ceremony at Southampton for a trial run with press and dignitaries.
Heritage railway
The section of line from Alresford to Alton that can be seen today was purchased from British Rail in November 1975. Reconstruction of the line subsequently progressed in stages. The section between Alresford and Ropley re-opened on 30 April 1977. To provide engineering and maintenance facilities, the main locomotive shed and workshops were constructed at RopleyRopley
Ropley is a village and large civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It has an acreage of , situated east from New Alresford, with a station 1½ miles from the village. It is southwest of Alton, just off the A31 road...
. The extension to Medstead & Four Marks opened on 28 May 1983 and the final section to Alton opened on 25 May 1985.
A replica of Sans Pareil
Sans Pareil
Sans Pareil is a steam locomotive built by Timothy Hackworth which took part in the 1829 Rainhill Trials on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, held to select a builder of locomotives...
visited the Watercress Line in June 1982, successfully running from Ropley to Alresford under its own power on 12 June 1982.
Some of the structures that can be seen on the Watercress Line today were not part of the original railway infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
; they have been added to make the line serviceable again and to recreate the feel of a fully operational steam railway. The line is now maintained by a small base of paid staff (mostly in administrative duties) and a core of over 400 volunteers.
Rolling stock
The Mid-Hants Railway plays host to a modest collection of steam and diesel locomotives, passenger carriages and restored wagons, most of which are from the 1940s to 1960s period. Steam locomotives operated include Bulleids West Country Class, the Lord NelsonSR Lord Nelson Class
The SR class LN or Lord Nelson class is a type of 4-cylinder 4-6-0 steam locomotive designed for the Southern Railway by Richard Maunsell in 1926. They were intended for Continental boat trains between London and Dover harbour, but were also later used for express passenger work to the South-West...
class and the BR Standard Class 5
BR standard class 5
The British Railways Standard Class 5MT 4-6-0 was one of the standard classes of steam locomotives built by British Railways in the 1950s. 172 were built, essentially being a development of the LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 .- Background :...
. Operated alongside these there are a number of diesel locomotives including a Class 205 'Hampshire Unit', Class 33
British Rail Class 33
The British Rail Class 33 also known as the BRCW Type 3 or Crompton is a class of Bo-Bo diesel-electric locomotives ordered in 1957 and built for the Southern Region of British Railways between 1960 and 1962....
and a Class 08 diesel shunter.
Stations
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
stations. All stations feature a passing loop, allowing trains to pass one another, with all but Alton station featuring two platforms connected via a footbridge.
– is situated at the northern end of the line. Alton is the only station that does not have two passenger platforms (two are assigned to South West Trains
South West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...
, with a cross-platform connection to the town and to onwards services to London Waterloo). Alton effectively has two passing loops, one at, and one just outside, the station, allowing trains to pass one another outside of the station and thus reducing the impact of the single platform during intensive operations. The last train of the day terminates here. – is the highest station in Hampshire and a depiction of a quiet 1940s Southern Railway
Southern Railway (Great Britain)
The Southern Railway was a British railway company established in the 1923 Grouping. It linked London with the Channel ports, South West England, South coast resorts and Kent...
station building. The Signal and Telegraph department is based here, along with the Permanent Way
Permanent way
The permanent way is the elements of railway lines: generally the pairs of rails typically laid on the sleepers embedded in ballast, intended to carry the ordinary trains of a railway...
group and the Building department. – is the engineering centre of the line and the location of the locomotive maintenance and running sheds. The station is famous for its topiary
Topiary
Topiary is the horticultural practice of training live perennial plants, by clipping the foliage and twigs of trees, shrubs and subshrubs to develop and maintain clearly defined shapes, perhaps geometric or fanciful; and the term also refers to plants which have been shaped in this way. It can be...
and houses the largest signal box on the line, controlling movements through the station, as well as much shunting to and from the locomotive yard. The ongoing re-signalling project in the area will see a significant increase in the possible diversity of operations through the station.
- AlresfordAlresford (Hampshire) railway stationAlresford station is a railway station in New Alresford, Hampshire, UK.-History:Constructed in 1865 for the new Alton, Alresford and Winchester Railway Company which later became the first incarnation of the Mid-Hants Railway, the station later joined the London and South Western Railway. It was...
– is located at the southern end of the line. It is the main station for passenger facilities, including a museum, buffet and two shops. Most of the carriage stock is stored at this station, with Alresford Train Care performing day to day maintenance and cleaning to the carriages.
Information sourced from Watercress Line website, Railway Guide.
Imported structures
| Imported structures | ||
|---|---|---|
| Station | Structure | Original site |
| Alresford | Footbridge | , East Sussex |
| Alresford | West Country Buffet (building) | , Dorset |
| Alresford | West Country Buffet (counter) | , Devon |
| Alresford | Platform Canopy Columns (now supporting upper floor in Former Goods Shed Visitor Centre) | , Hampshire |
| Ropley | Signal box | , Hampshire |
| Ropley | Footbridge | , Devon |
| Ropley | Water Tower | Longmoor Military Railway Longmoor Military Railway The Longmoor Military Railway was a British military railway in Hampshire, built by the Royal Engineers from 1903 in order to train soldiers on railway construction and operations.-Route:... , Liss, Hampshire |
| Ropley | Ex-LBSC Platform Water Column (Reputed to be from Christ's Hospital Station) |
, West Sussex. |
| Ropley | Wheel Drop Wheel drop A drop table or wheel drop is a device used in railway engineering during maintenance that require the removal of locomotive or rolling stock wheelsets... |
Bricklayers' Arms Bricklayers' Arms Bricklayers' Arms is a busy road intersection between A2 and the London Inner Ring Road in south London, England. It is the junction of Tower Bridge Road, Old Kent Road, New Kent Road and Great Dover Street; Old Kent Road and New Kent Road east-bound are connected by a flyover.The area is named... , South London |
| Medstead & Four Marks | Signal box | , Wiltshire |
| Medstead & Four Marks | Footbridge | , Isle of Wight |
| Medstead & Four Marks | Signal box (recovered by the Mid Hants Railway in October 2010 for use as a display) |
, Buckinghamshire |
| Ropley | Groundframe Hut (formerly used at Ropley in two locations as a signal box for many years) |
, Wiltshire |
| Alton | Signal box | , Hampshire |
| Alton | Water Tower | , Surrey |
From December 2011 the line will also be home to a 118 year old Handyside bridge. Visible in the Harry Potter films
Harry Potter (film series)
The Harry Potter film series is a British-American film series based on the Harry Potter novels by the British author J. K. Rowling...
, the bridge was removed from its original location at Kings Cross station during the station's 2009 refurbishment. Once repainted, the bridge will be located at Ropley.
Alton signal box
A new signallingRailway signal
A signal is a mechanical or electrical device erected beside a railway line to pass information relating to the state of the line ahead to train/engine drivers. The driver interprets the signal's indication and acts accordingly...
installation has been commissioned at Alton. It is a colour-light system, running from the signal box
Signal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
control panel; this contrasts with the mechanical semaphore signals
Railway semaphore signal
One of the earliest forms of fixed railway signal is the semaphore. These signals display their different indications to train drivers by changing the angle of inclination of a pivoted 'arm'. Semaphore signals were patented in the early 1840s by Joseph James Stevens, and soon became the most...
used on the rest of the line. The new system allows a more intensive train service, making use of the loop
Passing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
, and allows shunting within the station, operations which the previous manual flag signalling did not allow. The new installation makes use of track circuit
Track circuit
A track circuit is a simple electrical device used to detect the absence of a train on rail tracks, used to inform signallers and control relevant signals.- Principles and operation :...
s to detect where the train is situated and can change points and signals accordingly. It can run fully automatically, so there is no need for a signalman
Signalman
A Signalman is a person who historically gave signals using flags and light. In modern times the role of Signalmen has evolved and now usually uses electronic communication equipment. Signalmen usually work in rail transport networks, armed forces, or construction...
, unlike the other signal boxes on the line. When there is no signalman, all Signal Post Telephones are diverted to Medstead & Four Marks
Medstead and Four Marks railway station
Medstead and Four Marks railway station is a railway station in the English county of Hampshire, serving the villages of Medstead and Four Marks.-History:Opened in August 1868 as Medstead, it changed to its present name on 1 October 1937....
signal box. It works on a system where a member of the locomotive crew inserts the token
Token (railway signalling)
In railway signalling, a token is a physical object which a locomotive driver is required to have or see before entering onto a particular section of single track. The token is clearly endorsed with the name of the section it belongs to...
into a keyhole, to allow the system to take the next steps.
Ropley signal box
Phase One of the Ropley re-signalling project, construction of the new signal box, has been completed. Phase Two is expected to happen once the Alton re-signalling scheme has been finished. Phase Two will include installation of Up and Down distant signals, in place of the existing fixed reflective boards. The new signals will be motorised semaphore signals as they are too far from the signal box to be operated mechanically without considerable physical effort by the signalman. The scheme will also include installing "advance starter" signals and an "outer home" signal in the Up (Alton-bound) direction.AWS (Automatic Warning System)
The Watercress Line is currently the only heritage railway with a complete AWSAutomatic Warning System
The Automatic Warning System is a form of limited cab signalling and train protection system introduced in 1956 in the United Kingdom to help train drivers observe and obey signals. It was based on a 1930 system developed by Alfred Ernest Hudd and marketed as the "Strowger-Hudd" system...
system. It is used on all distant signals on the line and then at all signals in the Alton colour light area, until an AWS gap is reached before the Meon Loop due to the large number of signals. Almost all of the locomotives and multiple units are fitted with it, apart from a couple of steam locomotives.
Train Protection & Warning System
Train Protection & Warning System (TPWS) is not used by the Watercress Line, however the Class 205 Hampshire Unit has TPWS fitted.Future developments
Before its closure, the railway joined the South Western Main LineSouth Western Main Line
The South Western Main Line is a railway line between London Waterloo and Weymouth on the Dorset coast, in the south of England. It is a major railway which serves many important commuter areas, as well as the major settlements of Southampton and Bournemouth...
at Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
Junction, two miles (3 km) north of Winchester. There have been proposals to extend the existing line to rejoin Winchester but that would require significant civil engineering works and massive funding. The M3 motorway
M3 motorway
The M3 motorway runs in England for approximately from Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, to Southampton, Hampshire and forms an unsigned section European route E05. It is dual three lanes as far as Junction 8 near Basingstoke and then dual two lane until Junction 9 near Winchester and then dual three...
from London to Southampton cuts across the old route and houses have been built across the right-of-way in Itchen Abbas
Itchen Abbas
Itchen Abbas is a village on the River Itchen about north-east of Winchester in Hampshire, England. The village is part of the Itchen Valley civil parish.A major oil pipeline from Hamble to Aldermaston runs through Itchen Abbas.-Parish church:...
.
Commuter service trial
From a date to be determined in 2011, Go! CooperativeGo! Cooperative
Go! Cooperative Ltd, now trading as GOCO, is an open access UK Train Operating Company which is currently proposing to operate a service between Yeovil and Birmingham, via Oxford...
will be running a trial commuter service from Medstead & Four Marks
Medstead and Four Marks railway station
Medstead and Four Marks railway station is a railway station in the English county of Hampshire, serving the villages of Medstead and Four Marks.-History:Opened in August 1868 as Medstead, it changed to its present name on 1 October 1937....
to Alton, using a lightweight Parry People Mover unit. The shuttle services, branded as GOCO Mid-Hants Link, will connect with South West Trains
South West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...
main line services to Farnham, Woking and London Waterloo. Five trains are scheduled in each direction, with morning departures at around 06.22, 06.53, 07.24, 07.55 and 08.27.
Evening departures from Alton back to Medstead & Four Marks will operate at approximately 17.46, 18.35, 19.08, 19.39 and 20.10. The trial is being run in conjunction with MHR, Hampshire County Council and East Hants District Council.
2008 lottery grant
In October 2008, the Mid-Hants Railway announced that it had been awarded a £550,000 grant by the Heritage Lottery FundHeritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
(HLF) for a number of improvement projects.
A new two-track carriage and wagon workshop is to be built at Ropley, capable of holding four carriages under cover. The workshop is intended to meet the particular needs for the restoration of wooden vehicles. New woodworking machinery will be installed and the grant will also pay for the employment of a carpenter and carpentry trainees.
The existing locomotive workshop will be extended by the provision of a small machine shop and stores area and new volunteer mess (refreshment and changing) facilities. Viewing platforms for visitors will be provided in the locomotive and carriage workshops and the boiler workshop. Interpretation materials will be provided to enhance educational opportunities and provide explanations of the work being carried out.
A historic signal box is to be rescued (assisted by a grant from the Railway Heritage Trust) and installed at Medstead. It will provide a hands-on signalling experience for visitors together with space for an exhibition of Strowger telephone equipment.
The total cost of the projects is likely to be in excess of £1m, with the balance being funded from within the railway and by additional volunteer labour.
The railway was successful in gaining two previous HLF awards: the Old Goods Shed at Alresford was restored and opened in 2000; the wheel drop
Wheel drop
A drop table or wheel drop is a device used in railway engineering during maintenance that require the removal of locomotive or rolling stock wheelsets...
shed at Ropley was built in 2005.
Incidents
There have been some incidents at the Watercress Line over its history. Most incidents are confined to mechanical failure of railway systems. On 26 July 2010, a fire broke out in the newly constructed Carriage and Wagon workshop at Ropley 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 – Telecoms Department run by volunteers.
- HeritageRail.co.uk – Watercress Line photographs.