Mid-Hants Railway | Watercress Line | Spring Steam Gala 24th-26th April 2026

GCR should be able to manage seeing as their Diesel Gala is on the same weekend, GCR only appear to run at weekends so there's easily time to allow the loco to run the week before and after the Watercress Gala at GCR and get it to Watercress in time and vice versa. They proved it was doable with the Austerity that was at Swanage for their Gala and next week back running at GCR.

 

Useless speculating now that the timetable is finally live

https://watercressline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Spring-Gala-2026-PTT.pdf

 

Very many thanks Ben, much appreciated. At first glance it looks to be a good timetable.

Is there any indication yet as to which way round 73156 will be facing please?

And is it known if the freight will not be carrying passengers - ie, an authentic freight train.

Bryan

 

There's rides in the Toad brakevan available on the freight set, albeit extremely limited.

 

As its on the non stop express on the Saturday - 73156 will be facing London

 

Not certain if I can make it to this event yet but have optimistically plotted out itineraries for a very quick pop in to focus on the Austerity out of Alton on Friday or a full day on Sunday that would pack plenty in.

Lineside question as I haven't done much photography at the Mid-Hants in recent years - the footpath that's beside the line on the eastern side of Ropley, that doesn't get you out to Northside Lane does it? (I've got a vague memory that maybe it once did but now you can't go through the final field?) If I get to do the Sunday, I fancy some time on the bridge at Bighton Lane and seeing if I can squeeze into the gallery at the foot crossing, but I'm thinking to get to those locations on foot from Ropley I need to walk along the main road to Bishop's Sutton?

Any help most welcome, I basically don't want to set off on a roadside walk to a lineside location if I can actually do most of it by the lineside, nor to head off down a dead end!

 

I always find locations difficult at the MHR other than around the stations.
A little confused with your Northside Lane question as that is to the west of Ropley. Do not ever remember a public footpath, only that beside the railway that the MHR built that is a dead end, but there may have been.
Last time I was at the Bighton Lane bridge it was a very head on shot due to the garden wall and the foliage, that may of course have been cut back, not having been there for sometime.
The bridge at Ropley is quite good for departure shots and Bighton Hill Bridge for down trains approaching Ropley, but normally at galas the access is restricted from the station and you would have to walk down to the main road and back up.
Yes it is a main road walk to Bishops Sutton.
The other location I like if you have a longer lens is looking across the climb past Wanderers Curve, from just before the Four Marks housing starts, which you could reach by the bus that runs along the main road if the timings work.
A line I prefer on non sunny days as it provides more photo opportunities.
Good luck, I doubt I will make it myself.

 

Thanks Gladiator, and you're right that I mixed up my east and west there. I agree it's a tricky line for photography and usually at galas there I focus on getting a good front coach window for the climbs and just get a few station pictures but if I can have a full day this time I'm keen to add a few miles of walking in too and mix the day up a bit, so thank you for the advice.

 

The footpath alongside the line from Ripley station in the direction of Northside only goes a short way then stops. At the foot crossing at Northside itself, the farmer is known to not like photographers who stray from the footpath and it is a little disheartening to see some just go off trampling the crops.

From the B3047 there are gaps in the hedge that offer views over the fields to the line with a decent camera lens.

There's a footpath from Alresford at Sun lane that follows the line and dips down which offers a good shot.

Soke Hill/Gravel Lane/Grosvenor Road also has a few spots for photography but lineside vegetation is starting to encroach.