Mid Hants Railway - The Watercress Line

The Mid Hants Railway is affectionately known as the Watercress Line due to its connection with transporting watercress and other produce up to market at Covent Garden.

A heritage railway the Watercress Line was saved from extinction by enthusiasts who re-opened it in 1977. The line runs from Alton to Alresford in mid Hampshire, England.

The Mid Hants Railway is one of the steepest graded lines in the country with a ruling gradient of 1 in 60, necessitating the use of larger locomotives on its daily services.

850 'Lord Nelson' pulling into Ropley station with an Alton bound train from Alresford

850 Lord Nelson, pulling into Ropley station with an Alton bound train from Alresford.


The Mid Hants Railway is affectionately known as the Watercress Line due to its connection with transporting watercress and other produce up to market at Covent Garden.

A heritage railway the Watercress Line was saved from extinction by enthusiasts who re-opened it in 1977. The line runs from Alton to Alresford in mid Hampshire, England.

The Mid Hants Railway is one of the steepest graded lines in the country with a ruling gradient of 1 in 60, necessitating the use of larger locomotives on its daily services.

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850 ‘Lord Nelson’ at Ropley station with an Alton bound train from Alresford

The driver of 850 Lord Nelson holds the single line token ready to pass it to the signalman at the end of the platform at Ropley station.

A Southern Railway Lord Nelson class 4-6-0, 850 was built at Eastleigh and entered service in August 1926.


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Schools' class 4-4-0, 925 'Cheltenham', pulls into Ropley station with an Alresford bound service from Alton

Schools class 4-4-0, 925 Cheltenham, pulls into Ropley station with an Alresford bound service from Alton. Built by the Southern Railway at Eastleigh 925, entered service in 1934.


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925 'Cheltenham' with the 'down' service from Alton makes a determined start out of Ropley station

925 Cheltenham with the 'down' service from Alton makes a determined start out of Ropley station and up the steep bank to Alresford 2½ miles away.


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925 'Cheltenham' heading up the bank from Ropley to Alresford

925 Cheltenham heading up the bank from Ropley to Alresford with its four-coach train from Alton.


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850 'Lord Nelson' leaves Ropley with the 11:16 'up' for Alton

850 Lord Nelson leaves Ropley with the 11:16 'up' for Alton.


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850 'Lord Nelson' leaves Alton with the 12:50 'down' service to Alresford

The weather starting to cloud over as 850 Lord Nelson leaves Alton with the 12:50 'down' service to Alresford.


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Young boy watches with his grandfather as the 12:50 'down' leaves Alton

New railway enthusiast in the making? Young boy watches with his grandfather as the 12:50 'down' leaves Alton.