Watercress Line Spring Steam Gala: 25th - 27th April 2025

Three Victorian engines!
Two that aren't Southern related!
This event us going to be A-C-E!

Fingers crossed = 11456/52322 DOUBLE-HEADER!

 

It's great to see that 35005 will be used on a recreation of the Bournemouth diversions during the event. Info. taken from the Gala web page:

"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."

 

No surprise to see 35005 added to the gala (I guess they didn't want to announce it until after the launch weekend).

Interesting that the Mid-Hants have two L&Y locos at their gala and the East Lancs had two Bulleid Pacifics at theirs!

 

Interesting indeed and despite the arrival of foreign locos , the 35005 8 car run on its own will get me there. I had Standard 5s and Light pacifics over the Alps during electrification works, but never a Merchant Navy; so I shall be torn between travelling on it or photting it. And I only vaguely recall the Belle ever using that route, possibly because I was annoyed at missing it! It tended to use the Portsmouth direct instead as a diversion route due to its weight. Or myabe I was annoyed because it had a pilot loco! LOL.

And I really hope SR 41312 is back as I hope that will be on a two car shuttle, as per the Lymington Branch.

Bryan

 

41312 is available for service again. Passed tests a couple of weeks ago

 

Very many thanks for that, great news.

Bryan

 

Really looking forward to this, my first visit to the Mid-Hants in over 30 years. First ride behind Can Pac for 25 years and first time I will have seen the T3.
Although I am expecting a slightly more sedate run behind Can Pac, last time it clocked 84mph through Wigan after a late departure from Blackpool!!

 

Timetable now on website

 

OK, 35005 gets a decent shout as it should, then it's almost all about the foreign locos - which will no doubt be the key reason for very many to come to the event of course.

But I'll do a day, maybe a couple of days, mainly for 35005 but filling in with the Four Marks bakers, 41312 and 30506 when I can. Hopefully getting 35028 somewhere not too far away as it heads the GB train.

Bryan

 

When I was down over Can Pac's launch, I was told the plan was to have the two LYR locos facing Country; if that's still the case, my only nitpick is that it is a shame the full line freight outing is hauled tender first each way. Otherwise it's a fairly busy timetable; the LSWR duo double heading will be nice to see.

 

I have worked out how most of it works but how does 35005 get to Medstead for the 1605 freight?

 

The freight gets to Alton at 13.19.

35005 gets to Alton at 14.15.

The timetable then show 35005 on the freight arriving Medstead at 16.05 and departing to Alresford at 16.20.

Now pure quesswork by me, with question marks to emphaise that!

The Meon loop, presumably just the country side of Alton, is occupied by a shuttle from circa 14.05 to maybe 14.15-14.20?

From that it seems the freight must be shunted into a siding (is there one there available near Alton as well as the Meon Loop?) where it waits for 35005 off the 14.15 arrival.

At which 35005 is on the freight in the siding or the Meon loop until departing in time to arrive at Medstead at 16.05?

And does the 8 car train that 35005 arrived on at 14.15 return as 8 cars?

Could that make Alton re the Alps line be the busiest it has been with steam locos and active rolling stock for a very long time?

Unless of course I have totally gone up the wrong line with my assumptions and am now stalled somewhere between Winchester Chesil and Shawford Junction.

Bryan

 

Bryan

I think after 35005 arrives at 1415, the train divides and 52322 takes the first part to Alresford at 1445 . I dont know where the freight is but possibly moves to the Meon loop after 11456 vacates it on the shuttle and before the 1525 to Alresford leaves which is 563 is on the remainder of the 8 coaches. 563 is detached from the front of the 1430 from Alresford. The freight then follows 563

DB

 

1. 35005 actually leaves Alton at 16:05. It's just in the wrong box of the timetable.

2. The 8 car splits at Alton

 

If you see my post I had said that the 8 coach train divides and what happens to each part but where is the freight in all this as 52322 needs to get onto the 1445 and the Meon loop is occupied until after the 1529 arrival

 

Given I was already typing my reply and sent it at the exact same time. I wasn't going to remove it all again and the fact it was explaining the 16:05 error

 

Ok yes but where does it wait until 1605?

 

I assume it is stabled in the siding at Alton station; I'm told that the 16.05 arrival at Medstead is correct and it departs Alton from the siding or loop there, which is why no departure time is shown. Passengers can only board the brake van at Medstead on the run.