Mid Hants Railway (The Watercress Line)

Major visits : Easter '97, Easter '98, August '99

Minor Visits : Nearly every time we visit Grandma Janet and Granddad Wilf.

Their Website :- Mid-Hants Railway (Watercress Line Official Website)

See the pictures of my visit to Ropley to see Thomas and Friends

Summary

One of the best rides through deep cuttings and over embankments. Nice stations. Let down by lack of decent Engine displays or museum.  Their Thomas special weekends are very good - but see the warning below.

Sites

Alton : Station and shop. It's actually platform three of the BR mainline station.

Medstead : Station (not often used)

Diesel at Ropley

Ropley : Main site. Cinder or dirt paths - can get muddy.

Alresford  : Station and shop

Ride

One of the best. We go from Alton to Four Marks. This goes over bridges and embankments as well as through deep cuttings. At Four Marks, the engine turns around. We travel back to Ropley were we get out and explore. Then back home to Alton. 35 minutes ride each way.

Engines

Good number, mostly large to get trains over steep gradients.

Rolling Stock

Motley collection

Engine Shed

One, but wasn't allowed in !

Museum

None

Shops

At Alton, Alresford & Four Marks. Each one small but reasonable. I nearly always manage to get Granddad Wilf to buy me something.

Catering

Not tested

Toilets

Not tested

Other Facilities

• Main line access at Alton, so I get to see a few network trains.
• Great model shop on the walk to from Grandma & Granddad's to the Station !

WARNING!

When we tried to go to the Thomas day in August 2000, they had changed their pricing policy and wouldn't allow you get just a yard pass.  You had to buy a full travel ticket.  I only wanted to watch Thomas and Diesel messing about so we didn't go in and came home.  Daddy said they were too greedy.

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This page was last uploaded on December 23, 2002