Watercress Line
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The Watercress Line is the marketing name of the Mid-Hants Railway, a heritage line in Hampshire, England, running 10 miles from New Alresford to Alton where it connects to the national rail network. The line gained its nickname in the days that it was used to transport locally grown watercress to markets in London.
Opened in 1865 as part of the Alton, Alresford and Winchester Railway and closed by British Railways in 1973, the line originally continued westwards from New Alresford to Winchester, joining the South Western Main Line at Kings Worthy junction north of Winchester, but this section of the line is now closed. In the past there were proposals to extend the line to rejoin Winchester, but this would have required massive funding. The M3 motorway from London to Southampton cuts across the route and houses have been built across the track in Itchen Abbas.
As well as the two main stations the railway also has two other stations; one at Ropley, where the main locomotive shed and workshops are located, and the other jointly serving the villages of Medstead & Four Marks. The section of line between these two intermediate stations is affectionately known as the "Alps" due its steep gradients.
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[edit] Locomotives
The railway is operated by a variety of steam locomotives, many originating from the Southern Railway. Heritage diesel locomotives and multiple units are also represented, including the Southern Region Class 33 diesel locomotive, and Class 73 electro-diesel locomotives. Two of their locomotives, named Thomas and Douglas were rebuilt by the railway from Hunslet 'Austerity' tanks.
- SR 4-6-2 SR West Country Class #34016 Bodmin and #34105 Swanage
- SR 4-6-2 Merchant Navy class #35005 Canadian Pacific
- LMS 4-6-0 Class 5MT #5379(45379)
- BR 4-6-0 Class 5MT #73096
- BR 2-6-0 Class 4MT #76017
- BR 2-10-0 Class 9F #92212
[edit] Stations
- Alton railway station
- Medstead and Four Marks railway station
- Ropley railway station
- Alresford (Hampshire) railway station
[edit] References
[edit] External link
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