Watercress Line Spring Steam Gala: 29th April-1st May 2023.

Could this be anything to do with a majority shareholder with a base in Cheshire?

 

And me no change from the original

 

Is V2 available?

 

its out of ticket now that would be worth visiting for, if it was a working loco,

 

It definitely says v2 at the top. Hopefully a v3 will be produced including 5239


as well as stating 5239 will be attending....

All hidden in plain sight and perhaps rushed postings?

Cheers, Neil

 

Yes I had downloaded that version before the visit of 5239 was announced.

 

https://watercressline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Public-Timetable-250423-FINAL.pdf

 

Lokks like the S15 is only out on the Sunday, with 41312 working Saturday & Monday Is good to see that the last train to Alton will not be on the Short set - which when I was down last week got reduced from 3 +PMV to 2 +PMV due to a dragging brake.

I guess 41312 / 506 will be on standby duty for the days they're not running?

 

Pretty likely

 

Final Timetable now up:
https://watercressline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Public-Timetable-250423-FINAL.pdf

 

First guest arrived. 4079, facing London

 

Out of interest, and to plan which trains to ride or photograph, is 5239 really going to arrive at Alresford at 12:30 on a passenger and leave at 12:32 on a freight?

 

Based on what happened at past events, 5239 will stop outside the station. Then come off the passenger train and onto the freight. Another engine then brings the passenger train into the station.

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Normally with this working the passenger stock is held in the cutting outside Alresford, the loco detaches, runs onto the freight waiting in plat 2, the loco that had previously worked the freight (in this case 53808) then attaches to the stock and pulls into platform 1. Freight then departs. Other loco runs round and departs with passenger set. Section time for Ropley- Alresford is increased to allow for the engine swap. EDIT:Ninja'd by Paul-Uni!

 

Thanks to both of you, makes sense.

 

From memory the last time a Great Western Castle graced MHR metals was at the 2014 Autumn steam gala. When 5029 Nunney Castle was the star visiting loco of the gala.

 

Except it’s a recipe for late running. From the sublime to a complicated timetable but we will enjoy it anyway. At least the MHR has listened to criticism so good for them

 

5029 was indeed the last Castle to visit the Watercress Line.
Let's hope 4079 makes as much noise as 5029 did in 2014.
4079 will be the fourth member of the class to visit after 5080, 7029 (in the 1990's) & 5029 (twice in the 2000's).



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I remember sitting in my garden in Alresford and hearing 5029 prety much all the way to Ropley, definitely heard it whistle for Bishops SAutton foot crossing!

Castle at dusk by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

Northside Castle by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

 

My visits to the Watercress only go back to 2000 so I only remember Nunney visiting. The first visit was when it failed on a mainline railtour and was brought to Ropley for repairs. Following completion of repairs it ran the following weekend. It was during the period that 6024 King Edward I was visiting. I went to the railway to see the King and had the added bonus of the Castle running as well. The run up Medstead bank was something special!