Spring Steam Gala
We look forward to welcoming you to our 'steam' packed three day event
This event is a chance to see and ride behind special guest engines and our home-fleet locomotives.Â
Explore all of our heritage stations along the 10 mile line, get up close to some of our locomotives, find out more about our restoration projects and enjoy guided tours and various exhibits.
First Guest Locomotive:
We are delighted to announce that BR Standard 5 Class 73156 is our first visitor, courtesy of Great Central Railway and The Bolton Steam Locomotive Company.
She entered service in 1957 at Neasden and after just 11 years and approximately 325,000 miles of service, 73156 was with drawn and sent to Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, South Wales.
Locomotive 73156 is one of 172 BR Standard 5MT engines bulit and one of just five preserved.
A BR Standard 5 was once a very familiar sight at the railway when 73096 was in service, so it will be great to see this much loved class of locomotive back at our railway.
Don’t miss this locomotive in action!
Second Guest Locomotive Announced:
We are pleased to share that the second visitor for our Spring Steam Gala is Furness Railway No. 20, courtesy of the Furness Railway Trust.
Built in 1863 by Sharp Stewart & Co. of Manchester, the engine then saw lengthy service at the Barrow steelworks before being saved for first static and then living preservation.
She is Britain’s oldest working standard gauge steam locomotive, based in Preston at the Ribble Steam Railway.
Book your tickets now!
Third Guest Locomotive Announced:
We are pleased to share that Austerity Tank Engine 68067 is visiting, courtesy of the Great Central Railway.
Originally built for the War Department, carrying the number WD 75091 it was later used by the National Coal Board (NCB) under the name ‘Robert’ before being sold for preservation in 1982.
After restoration at the Great Central Railway, it received its current number 68067 and a British Railways black livery.
This event is a chance to see and ride behind special guest engines and our home-fleet locomotives. Joining national celebrations as part of Railway 200, this ‘gala of firsts’ showcases a variety of railway scenes from yesterday, demonstrating how the railway would have operated in the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s.Â
Explore all of our heritage stations along the 10 mile line, get up close to some of our locomotives, find out more about our restoration projects and enjoy guided tours and various exhibits.
On the day expect to see a variety of different passenger trains, including short mixed shuttle trains, and an 8 carriage non-stop run from Alresford to Alton hauled by Canadian Pacific, recreating the scene of a diverted express service from Bournemouth to Waterloo ‘Over the Alps’ such as the Bournemouth Belle during the electrification works in the mid 1960’s.
First guest locomotive announced
On her first visit away from her home railway, we welcome London and South Western Railway T3 class steam locomotive No. 563, with thanks to our friends at Swanage Railway Trust and the 563 Locomotive Group.
Built at Nine Elms works in 1893 to a design by renowned engineer William Adams, No. 563 was donated to the Swanage Railway Trust by the National Railway Museum in 2017 in a non-working condition.
No. 563 was withdrawn by the Southern Railway at the end of world war two in 1945, after running more than 1.5 million miles in service. 563 was used to help celebrate the centenary of Waterloo station in London during 1948, and as a result was thankfully saved from being scrapped with the rest of the class members. Lined out in 1890s Drummond passenger green livery – the 81-tonne T3 hauled its first passenger train since 1945 in October 2023, and is now one of the oldest locomotives still in an operational condition.
Second guest locomotive announced
On her first visit to our line, we welcome L&YR A Class 52322, courtesy of Andy Booth and East Lancashire Railway.
Built at Horwich in December 1895, she entered service in 1896 as L&YR number 1300 (later LMS 12322 and BR 52322). The locomotive first steamed in preservation in 1982.
This is the first time this locomotive has visited our line and becomes the second oldest in our lineup at 130 years young!Â
Behind the Scenes Tour
Our Behind the Scenes Tour is a unique opportunity to get an insight into the craftsmanship and equipment needed to restore and maintain The Watercress Line’s steam locomotives and rolling stock. If you are interested in steam engines, you will benefit from seeing where we carry out specialist machining, locomotive assembly, boiler overhaul and carriage restoration.
Health & Safety
• Our workshops are a heavy engineering environment with uneven surfaces, steps and obstructions to be manoeuvred around. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate wheelchair visitors.
• Visitors must be able to climb steps, walk on rough surfaces and step over objects unaided.
• Robust footwear and clothing must be worn; flip-flops, sandals and open-toed shoes are not permitted.
• Pets, including assistance dogs, are not permitted in the workshops.
• Children must be accompanied by an adult. The route is not suitable for children under the age of 12.
Please note, you need to buy a gala ticket to be able to go on these tours.
FREE
(This can be booked when you book your gala ticket.)
Visiting Locos:
• BR Standard 5 Class 73156, with thanks to our friends at Great Central Railway
• Furness Railway No.20, courtesy of the Furness Railway Trust
• Austeriy Tank Engine 68067, courtesy of Great Central Railway
Home-Fleet Locos:
• SR Merchant Navy Class 35005 Canadian Pacific, our flagship locomotive, returned the rails on the 19 March 2025, after a 14 year restoration project.
• 41312 Ivatt, spent its entire working career on the Southern region lines.
• 30506 – LSWR Urie S15 Class ‘506’ with a recent repaint and livery change, becoming the first S15 in preservation to wear an early crest.
What else is going on:
• Enjoy FREE guided tours of the Engineering Works at Ropley (need to pre-book)
• An extremely limited number of brake van rides available on selected services (donation of £30 and operators discretion & guidelines apply)
• Delightful miniature railway will be running a diesel service and will have a steam locomotive on display
• DS58 Steam Crane Experience – Speak to the operators and learn how the crane works as well as get the opportunity to lift the hook and chains under supervision. Pre-booking only, additional cost and restrictions apply (18yrs+)
• View our Goods Shed exhibition ‘Delivering the Goods’ at Medstead & Four Marks Station
• Society stands and displays at Ropley station
• View the model railway in the cattle dock siding at Alresford Station
• West Country Buffet at Alresford station and Ropley’s T-Junction will be open for you to enjoy a selection of hot and cold meals, snacks and drinks
• Alton Kiosk will be open, serving hot & cold drinks
• Check out the gift shops downstairs in the Old Goods Shed at Alresford Station, selling gifts and mementos of your day
Tickets
Children
Age 4 and Under
Advanced Booking: FREE
On the day: FREE
Children
Age 5-16
Advanced Booking: £18.50
On the day: £22
Adults
Age 17+
Advanced Booking: £35
On the day: £39
Family
2 Adults & 1 Child
Advanced Booking: £70
On the day: £78
Family
1 Adult & up to 3 Children
Advanced Booking: £70
On the day: £78
Family
2 Adults & up to 3 Children
Advanced Booking: £86
On the day: £98
Railway Companion
membership holders only
Advanced Booking: £26.25
On the day: £29.25
Booking fee of £2.50 may apply.
Parking
Ropley: The field will provide FREE car parking. Sat nav: Station Hill, Ropley, SO24 0BL.
Disabled drop-off at Ropley station is available before parking in the field.
Alresford Station: Pay & display car park, operated by Winchester City Council.
Disabled parking and electric charge points are available. Cash or RingGo app location 42519.
Alton Station: Pay & display car park, operated by South Western Railway. Cash or RingGo app location 77475.
Photography & Filming
Visitors are permitted to film and/or photograph at the Mid Hants Railway Ltd for personal use only. Filming and photography for commercial gain is strictly prohibited unless pre-approved by the Company. Drones must not be operated on or within 50m of Mid Hants Railway property.
The Mid Hants Railway only permits line side access to those with a valid Mid Hants Identity Card and PTS. No other line side access is permitted, including PTS certification issued by other heritage railways, and is viewed as trespass.
We respectfully ask photographers to remain in public areas. Please note that the field and crossing at Wanders Curve between Ropley and Medstead is not public land. Due to the amount of photographers that congregate in this area, we have been asked by the land owner to point out that this is private property and you will be trespassing in this field without the land owner’s consent. Cars parked in the access to the fields will be removed by the land owner. The railway asks that you respect the wishes of our neighbours and you do not trespass on to private property. Thank you.
The company does not guarantee that the trains will arrive or depart at the times stated and reserves the right to cancel, alter or suspend any train without notice, or to substitute a different train should this be necessary for whatever reason.
