Watercress Line Autumn Steam Gala 3rd to 5th October 2025

Many thanks for your further report and photos. If you are there again today I'd very much like to hear and see about your day please as I won't do the return journey three days in a row. It's 75 miles each way and Friday, as expected was the M25 usual 06.00 M25, plus the usual Friday afternoon M25 on my return. Yesterday saw totally unchecked runs in both direction; 80 minutes for the 75 miles down and 79 minutes return. Speed control set so I was running fractionally under the signed speed limits. Clear runs both ways on one day - a unique experience! But a combination of the expected usual Sunday pm M25, plus that incredible Four Marks bakers being shut on a Sunday (so no further supply of granary rolls to bring home and freeze), has turned me into an armchair gricer today.

And I would mention that of course I make very good use of the tea bar at Medstead when it is open for special events.

As for the last train of the day ex Alton. I hadn't realised it would be top and tailed until it arrived at Medstead. Great joy! I hadn't been able to decide between trying the meet shot with 30506 from the up platform so I could get both pacifics in as the S15 approached head on, or use the footbridge and accept I'd only get one pacific plus just the tender of the other one in shot with 30506 arriving. With just 34059 at the front of the train the decision was made for me. Back to the footbridge and all of 34059 plus part of its train, and 30506 arriving with its passenger train also visible. To me that is my shot of the event. Which, as I now have the regulator in the roof and cut off at full babble mode, is a prompt to thank the group who do so well with 30506, to run it is as 30506 and close to 1960s condition. And for whoever in the Mid-Hants made the late timetable change to run the full length goods train both ways with the S15, which meant chimney first uphill on the double track section approaching Medstead, very many thanks are due.

I booked on both the 30506 goods train charters as a matter of principle after the change to it becoming 30506. But with the charters not expected to get up to Medstead and this getting old nonsense making the prospect of climbing in and out of a brake van quite daunting, I stood back from the first one, and may well do the same for the second one. Although I will check if there is the possibility of a low light shot of it hauling the full goods train consist away from Ropley that I can take from the road bridge.

Regulator now shut and cut off back from full babble mode.

Bryan

 

An enjoyable day yesterday despite the occasional heavy showers. It seemed busy but not stupidly so; I had a ride behind 13 different trains and managed to find a seat on all of them. Thanks to all for putting on a good show. A few of my pics from the day.

SNG at Medstead and Four Marks


Sir Archibald Sinclair at Medstead and Four Marks


Kilmersdon doing footplate rides at Ropey


30506 leaving Ropley with the freight


CanPac departing Ropley with steam to spare


41312 running round at Ropley

 

Our first visit since May 2023 for various reasons, and we had a great day yesterday despite Storm Amy - 50mph winds and long spells of heavy rain made for a challenging day filming! We chased 34059 lineside first thing at Bishop's Sutton then Horse Lane, before leaving the car at Medstead and taking train to Ropley. Very enjoyable ride on the miniature railway and its always great to watch the non-stop trains power through Ropley. We then took 35005 to Alresford to have a round trip back behind 60007 which was very enjoyable, finishing the day watching the 34059 & 35005 double header head east from Medstead. Video below, photos to follow...

 

Had a 'fun' day ballast yomping in quite challenging conditions with @Hampshire Unit!

To say it was windy was an understatement & yes, at times the rain was biblical and horizontal, combined with the wind........ from what I gathered yesterday, rail head conditions were rather challenging, thus the timetable slipped, and @The Gricing Owl, it's Muggin's 'Ere that posts about the exploits of the Saturday gang of the Wagon Group atop the hill!

It was good to see all the trains well filled & despite the challenging conditions, the crews all seemed to be enjoying themselves & putting on a show.

A few pics from yesterday......

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54833714029/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54833714374/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54833806090/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54833806510/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54833732348/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54833807240/in/dateposted-public/

 

Nice to see Archie yesterday

"Sir Archibald Sinclair" near Bishops Sutton by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

 

One of the almost ignored sites of the weekend was Kilmeston moving 850 from display to the wheel drop shed this evening.
(Apologies for the quality, taken using a cheap Motorola phone.)

Thanks to everyone who made purchases from society sales stands, every little helps - particularly when considering boiler repairs.

Cheers, Neil

 

I decided not to address you as 'Muggins atop the hill' as one thought that was rather less than was appropriate after seeing that lovely rake of wagons behind 30506.

Bryan

 

We are now home and exhausted after three excellent days at this superb gala. We stayed right until the end to see the locos all returning to Ropley and soaked up the wonderful atmosphere. It was worth waiting to capture this image below of 30506 leading 60007 back to Ropley MPD for disposal.

I might write a longer report later tonight for The gricing owl if I can stay awake!

If I don't manage to write anything tonight I will just add a big thank you now from me, my Dad and my sister to all involved with the Gala. You should all be proud of staging a brilliant event particularly in the challenging conditions of Friday and Saturday.


Sent from my XQ-BT52 using Tapatalk

 

A challenging couple of days on the lineside filming in the elements the weather provided but the railway still put on a good show as always!