Just a very short blog post this evening to let you all know that this weekend (11 and 12th June 2015) 4464 Bittern is planned to be in service on the Watercress Line. So it is a great time to visit the Mid-Hants Railway as you can be hauled by the fastest steam engine to run in preservation…
It has been an incredible first week at the Watercress Line. Fellow members of staff and the volunteers have all been very welcoming, which of course has helped make it all the better. And the view from the office is easily the best I’ve ever had (yes even with a Network Rail Stoneblower sitting there.) With…
Do you love heritage railways and do you want them to last for future generations to enjoy? If so, please take a short moment to vote for the Watercress Line and their Mind the Gap project! The project provides a fantastic apprenticeship scheme for 14 young people to learn the skills and knowledge required to maintain steam engines…
Good evening, Last sunday the Watercress Line held its annual War on the Line event and with it being Fathers Day it seemed liked the perfect time to visit with the family. The event is set in the time when World War II was well underway and all along the railway there was hectic activity!…
Good evening Today it was announced that the Mid Hants Mind The Gap apprenticeship project is one of seven finalists in the Heritage category of the 2015 National Lottery Awards! The Mind the Gap project aims to preserve the railway line by providing 14 young people with two-year apprenticeships in heritage engineering and carpentry.…
As the day that I will be working on the CanPac project for the Watercress Line approaches, it has given me a little time to reflect on the last steam locomotive to emerge from Eastleigh’s locomotive works after an overhaul. After spending many (if not all) of its’ preserved life on static display, the National Railway Museum’s…
Seven years ago, after a break away from heritage railways of several years I made a trip to Ropley loco yard, on the Mid Hants Railway. Locomotive yards had always been places that I’ve loved, places where you can find a number of steam engines in one place. On this particular day two locomotives really…
Today is a little teaser to say that there’s an exciting announcement pending! I’ve been waiting some time to make this announcement on locoyard and will await a little longer, just so that everything happens as it should. However there are a few clues in today’s blog post that looks at brief visit to the…
925 “Cheltenham” rests at Alresford awaiting her next duties. As you are no doubt now aware by now, a little while ago now (been rather busy since!) three locoyard bloggers assembled together for the MHR Spring (!?) Steam Gala. As a first time visitor to the railway it was great to be shown round by…
To round off my articles on the Watercress Line Spring Steam Gala, tonight we have a slideshow of remaining pictures, mainly of the home fleet in action. I hope you enjoy the show!
Loco Yard 