Autumn Steam Gala at the Watercress Line

We look forward to welcoming you to our three day ‘steam’ packed Autumn spectacular!

The Autumn Steam Gala event is a chance to enjoy unlimited rides behind a range of visiting locomotives as well as our home-fleet locomotives, running on an enhanced timetable.

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 talks and various exhibits.

LOCOMOTIVES RUNNING:

Visiting locomotives:

• No. 72 ‘Fenchurch’ – courtesy of the Bluebell Railway. Intended to give rapid acceleration on suburban trains of light-weight carriages on the South London line, where the stations were only about a mile apart.
• LNWR coal tank no. 1054, owned by the National Trust and courtesy of the Bahama’s Locomotive Trust. Originally designed to haul freight (predominantly coal traffic).
• GWR Class 5205, 5239 ‘Goliath’, courtesy of the Dartmouth Steam Railway, Devon. Primary use was to haul coal from the mines in South Wales to the ports for export.
• Another visitor to be announced!

Home-fleet locomotives:

• 41312 LMS Ivatt – spent much of its working career on Southern region lines.
• 53808 7F – courtesy of S&D Railway Trust. Spent much of its working life as a local goods train.

What else is going on:

• Enjoy behind the scene tours throughout Ropley workshop & yard and get up close and explore our locomotives under restoration
• Driver experiences with ‘Kilmersdon’ 1788
• Queen Mary Brake Van rides available with the Goods Train
• Browse upstairs in the Old Goods Shed at Alresford station, currently exhibiting artefacts from the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust
• Experience unlimited rides on the delightful miniature railway
• Society stands and displays at Ropley station
• View our Goods Shed exhibition ‘Delivering the Goods’ at Medstead & Four Marks Station
• West Country Buffet at Alresford station, T-Junction at Ropley & the Kiosk at Alton will be open for you to enjoy a selection of hot and cold meals, snacks and drinks
• Check out the gift shop downstairs in the Old Goods Shed at Alresford station selling fabulous gifts, stationary, toys, books and more

TIMETABLE:

Visit our website for visiting loco updates and to view the timetable when it is available closer to the event: www.watercressline.co.uk/autumn-steam-gala.

TICKETS:

ONE DAY

• ADULTS AGE 17+:  Online Booking: £35 / On the Day: £39
• CHILDREN AGE 5-16:  Online Booking: £18.50 / On the Day: £22
• CHILDREN UNDER 4 YEARS:  Online Booking / On the Day: FREE
• FAMILY (1 ADULT & 3 CHILDREN):  Online Booking: £54.50 / On the Day: £62
• FAMILY (2 ADULTS & 3 CHILDREN):  Online Booking: £89.50 / On the Day: £101

3 DAY MULTI-PASS

• ADULT:  Online Booking: £70
• CHILD:  Online Booking: £37

PARKING:

• Ropley: The field will provide FREE car parking. Sat nav: Station Hill, Ropley, SO24 0BL. Disabled drop-off at Ropley station available and parking in the field.
• Alresford: Pay & display car park, operated by Winchester City Council.
• Alton: Pay & display car park, operated by South Western Railway.