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

I just tried to download the "new version" on the website gala page and it downloaded the old one with Can Pac on the goods. Somewhat confusing.

 

Yes, the same happened with me.

But as Microsoft mess up my Windows 10 printing to an HP printer after most updates (HP have a special page saying how to deal with that) I have to use MS snip to copy it off the Mid-Hants page, then I save it as a PNG and with care how I do it I can then print it!

More important for now of course is for the Mid-Hants to please let us know which timetable will apply for the gala.

So, thanks in advance to anyone here at the Mid Hants who can do that for us.

Bryan

 

There are two different versions on the website. The non clickable one is the new one

 

I have asked them which one applies and will post their answer when received

 

They have replied and confirmed that the correct timetable is the one with 30506 on the freight. I have asked them to substitute this one for the printable one.

 

60007 is on its way



all the best
Matt

 

The printable timetable has now been updated,

Not so good if you are travelling from any distance and wanted a ride behind 30506 - the only passenger trains it now works are the first train out of Alton and the last one back.

 

For clarification Everything faces London

 

Yes but the S15 is more suitable on the freight and the MN on the passenger train. Also 30506 is a home based loco. I think the balance is about right. Just hope the weather doesn’t disrupt things.

 

Totally agree Don, an S15 heading a goods train chimney first, just as we both saw them working back in the 1960s.

Bryan

 

An excellent first day - well it was up to when I left at circa 14.30 as the intermittent rain looked to have settled to steady and quite heavy - that seemed to have been confirmed on checking the rainfall radar when I got home.

A superb line up of SR steam locos in 196os livery and numbering, hauling appropriate coaches and with appropriate route discs. Very well done indeed Mid-Hants.

Weather was mainly dismal and all my phots were taken from the same location as looking down from the Medstead footbridge can do best in such weather.

And all were taken one handed as my left hand had to grasp a small umbrealla up by the inside top to keep rain off the lens. So such as the goods train was taken on 90 mm as keeping the camera body low until lifting it at the last minute meant the zoom slid along from my 70 mm setting! Not what I really wanted, but I was very pleased indeed to have got the photos of the S15 chimney first on a goods train on a double track section.

I really love basing myself at Medstead station - always get a lot of help and information when needed from the volunteers there. And being a gala the coffee, crisps etc bar was open and run by two lovely ladies who put up with my humour very well.

I hope to get there again tomorrow, but will make a decision when I see how strong Amy is going to blow down here in the south - so it may be Sunday instead.

Very low res, very quick edits below. Again, well done to all at the Mid-Hants; very many thanks for such a great event.

Bryan

 

I’ve been asked to mention 34058 sales stand is open on platform 2 at Ropley.

 

We had a good day today despite the pretty grim weather which prevailed for most of the day.
We started our day with an expensive visit to the 60007 sales stand at Ropley. The 60007 team and the range of products were very impressive. I ended up treating myself to several items as did my Dad and sister. We will visit the other sales stands tomorrow and Sunday as we are visiting for all three days.
With the weather as it was we opted for a round trip behind 60007 on the delayed 11.50 from Alresford. As expected this service was already packed when it arrived at Ropley but we were fortunate to spot some seats in the fourth carriage. 60007 made light work of the climb to Medstead. The return from Alton was more energetic. We stayed on this service to Alresford as the stock would form the 14.00 express with 34059. A delayed departure encouraged a spirited performance from the footplate crew and the non-stop run through Ropley was one of the highlights of the day. We returned to Ropley on the 15.15 service from Alton to grab a bite to eat and a hot drink. The chips and tea were just what we needed as the weather continued to deteriorate.
We returned to a drenched platform to catch the double headed Rebuilt Bulleid Pacific's on the last round trip of the day. I ventured out from the shelter of the station roof into the miserable weather to get some shots of this much anticipated pairing. By the time 34059 and 35005 arrived the weather was abysmal. We had a steady run up to Medstead in the gloom. The surrounding visibility was terrible.
Arriving at the Meon loop we stopped so that 34059 could be removed from the front and she went into the station siding to allow 35005 to bring our train in. 34059 then attached to the Alresford end of the stock to haul us back to Ropley on the last train of the day.
What followed was a bloody phenomenal run up the bank to Medstead as 34059 lifted her train and 35005 trailing on the rear up the challenging climb. This now ranks as one of the best runs we have ever had on the railway. The sound and performance from 34059 was superb. Who says Bulleids don't make a noise? This run will live long in the memory.

Thanks to everyone involved for a great day in the challenging conditions. We are back for more tomorrow.

Below are a few shots (the only ones I managed to get) from the day. Hopefully the conditions will be better tomorrow.

30506 works into Ropley with the goods:


No. 7 runs round at Alton:


30506 returns to Ropley with the goods:


41312 battles the elements at Ropley:


34059 leads 35005 into Ropley in stormy conditions:


34059 & 35005 pause at Ropley in abysmal weather:


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Great day out at the Watercress yesterday. The A4 & the two Bulleids were great. Timetable was more or less spot on by the end of the day. Only a few platform shots for me as the day was so poor weather wise. Thanks to everyone involved.

 

Here's my footage of the Mid Hants Railway Autumn Steam Gala nearly all filmed on Friday with two shots on Saturday. As expected the weather wasn't great in particular a deluge of rain at Soke Hill for Sir Nigel Gresley, but all locomotives put on a brillinat display. I hope you enjoy it.

 

Very good day at the Mid Hants despite the slightly wild weather which fortunately calmed down by mid afternoon. My first attempt to photograph 60007 went all wrong as strong wind and horizontal rain arrived at Medstead just in time for the train's arrival and messed my photos up completely. Not to worry - I managed to catch it on its second and third trips. Unusually I managed to grab a ride behind all 5 locos. It doesn't always work out that way as I'm not one for too much planning in advance. I tend to make up galas as I go along although I like to grab at least one picture of every loco if I can. Anyway, today I went Ropley to Medstead (35005), Medstead-Alton-Medstead (34059), Medstead to Ropley (41312), Ropley-Alton-Alresford (60007) and finally Alresford to Ropley (30506).

All locos looked and sounded great. Particularly spirited runs up Medstead Bank from Alton with 34059 and 60007!

Timetable slipped a bit - not sure why, so that by lunchtime everything was 15 minutes down. However, there did appear to be some slack in the timetable and everything was right back on schedule by the time I left at 5.40pm

Thanks Mid Hants for a great day out.

 

A second day at the gala that had a mix of wind, rain and quite a lot of sunshine. Plus some very well filled trains.

I based myself at Medstead as usual and concentrated when I could on the S15 now in BR 1960s sort of condition. That did require a return to Ropley involving 35005, then 35005 and 34059.

The volunteers running Medstead and Four Marks station excelled themselves again - as they so often do - and so far as those who work on the goods wagons there (one reports here quite often) a sunny photo of the goods train consist is included below.

Very quick and low res edits below.

Bryan

 

Another good day at the railway despite some pretty foul weather again after we arrived in the morning. It was also a bit cooler today with a chilly wind blowing up the hill to Medstead. Fortunately there were a few sunny spells and warm waiting rooms at both Medstead and Ropley.

We visited the other stalls we didn't get around to at Ropley yesterday and supported the 34058 folks with several purchases made. It was also good to see the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway stall in Ropley station and we snapped up some of the items they had on offer.

We decided to avoid the 60007 services today as they were already standing room only in the morning. We caught a packed service hauled by 41312 to Alresford to get something to eat before joining the (also very full) 14.00 express service again for another cracking run behind 34059. We stayed with the Bulleid to Alton and then travelled back to Medstead for a nice hot tea as the wind was now bitterly cold. We waited at Medstead to catch the double headed Bulleids service again. 34059 then hauled the return service from Alton with 35005 on the rear of the set again. The crew of 34059 provided another great performance although it didn't quite match the spectacular run from the first day of the Gala.

Thanks once again to everyone involved for a great day out.

A few low res shots from a day of very changeable weather below:

30506 brings the goods into a very windy Ropley station:


60007 hauls another packed service into Ropley:


60007 waits for the road to Medstead:


34059 rests between duties in the Cattle dock siding at Alresford:


Branch line service. 41312 rolls into Medstead:


34059 leads 35005 into Medstead with the last round trip of the day:


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SNG rolls into Ropley.