The Mid Hants Railway, Hampshire, UK

PeterD-2009

This preserved line was established following the closure of the railway link between Alton and Winchester. Only the link between Alton and the market town of Alresford could be saved as the remainder of the trackbed was cut by a major road building project.
In common with the many other preserved lines in the UK, much money and true dedication by the voluntary workforce has resulted in what I can only describe as a living and working museum. I should say at this stage that I have no connection with any preserved line but I am extremely enthusiastic with what has been achieved.
Going back to the Mid Hants Railway, the length of line being operated is about 10 route miles. The railway is single track with two passing loops at the intermediate stations of Ropley and Medstead & Four Marks. I visited the line earlier this year and thought I would share some of the photographic record with you.

Alresford
This location houses the museum in the old goods shed and also many coaches and a Diesel Multiple Unit which are in various stages of restoration.
To begin with, I show the information board which you can read to get an insight to the station as it was.


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The stub of line in the Winchester direction has several long sidings in which coaching stock is housed.

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The centre, unoccupied track is used as a locomotive head shunt with the switch nearest the camera leading to the other platform face in the station and hence allowing locomotives to run round the carriages.


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The loco in this image is class A4 60019 Bittern designed by Sir Nigel Gresley. It is seen passing under the station footbridge on a train from Alton. You may know of one of its sister locomotives, Mallard, which holds the world speed record for a steam locomotive.

Followiing arrival, the locomotives backs a little to take the strain off the couplings.


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The fireman is busy removing the coupling and hoses. Having freed the locomotive it pulls forward just beyond the switch.


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It then runs round alongside the carriages to just before the road bridge on the single track to Ropley. Then comes forward again to be attached to the coaches again. Here the fireman has stepped down from the locomotive whilst it is slowly approaching the carriages.


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This is the other main line locomotive in operation on the shuttles, 34007 Bodmin. It is running round its train to recouple at the Alton end.

As they buffer up to the train, the crew chat to the relief crew on the platform.

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The last task before going off duty is to couple up.

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The main platform at the station.

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The main station building (centre top) is the access point to the platform. In front of that is a station buffet and shop and finally, the station signal box.The whole ares, like the other stations, is kept in an excellant condition. The LSWR colour scheme is present on all the station buildings as you will see.

Another view of the platform closer to the entrance canopy. The station master, in uniform, stands at the entrance.

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And now an image of a departing service for Alton. The locomotive is 60019 Bittern.

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Ropley
This station is a must to stop off at and explore the site.

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The left hand platform is for the Alton bound trains whilst the other is for Alresford bound trains. A picnic site has been created on high ground (the other side of the trees on the left) overlooking the station and loco facilities.

On the right hand platform is located the station signal box.

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Bittern arriving at the station from Alresford.


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Whilst this was going on, I was given permission to go on the footplate with the crew.

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The back head and controls of Wadebridge. I also saw from the cab, Bittern running into the ststion on an Alresford train.

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Engineering facilities at Ropley

This is where locomotives are restored and maintained. It boasts a two road shed, Yard, Wheeldrop and paint shop. You are free to wander about the yard but access to the sheds can be restricted. On my visit, I was unable to gain access.

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The loco shed is in the background. To the right is a locomotive stripped to its main frames.

Medstead & Four Marks

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Passengers leaving a train from Alton.


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Wadebridge arriving from the Alton direction.


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As a train arrives at a station, the tokens are exchanged. Having a token is the authority for the train to enter the single track section. In this image the station master holds out the token for the line to Ropley and raises the other arm to collect the token for the Alton section. The fireman on the locomotive is also ready to exchange tokens.

Alton


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This is a shared station with Network Rail. The left hand platform face is used by the Mid Hants Railway. The other two are used by South West Trains. Locomotives and stock can be moved through he gate to/from Network rail tracks. Network rail has painted the whole of the station to match the colours of the Mid Hants Railway.

Sorry it is long - not too long I hope. There are plenty more images on my website which you may wish to see. I only spent 3 hours here and I could easily have stayed all day and still not see everything.

Hope you find something of interest.

Cheers

Peter

Reverb

Well composed photos of something I didn't know anything about. Thanks for sharing!

PeterD-2009

Thanks and an update

Reverb wrote:

Well composed photos of something I didn't know anything about. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you for viewing and your kind comments. I enjoy putting story lines together as they are a great way of reminding me of what I have done.

For anyone interested in further reading about this preserved line, I can do no better than offer this link http://www.watercressline.co.uk/. I know it says Watercress Line but that is a popular name for the Mid Hants Railway due to the commodity it was famous for shipping.

Peter

Barry1

Peter - Really interesting photos especially for those of us who like big toy trains. I live in a town named after one you mentioned here - Winchester (Virginia). Many mayors of your Winchester have been here for our annual Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival. I look forward to photos of your Winchester some time on dgrin. Thanks.

Wil Davis

Very nice pictures, thanks for sharing! I grew up in North Devon (Braunton); I visited Barry Island in the mid-70s, and took some pictures of 34046 "Braunton" (Bulleid light Pacific) in a very sorry state, along with many other fine locomotives, but found out recently that she's been fully restored to her former glory (~70,000 man-hours), and is currently on the West Somerset Railway, so she's not too far from home.

"Bodmin" looks quite at home in your pics, but "Bittern" looks rather out of place operating in on the Southern…

Nice job, thanks for posting!

- Wil

PS: I trust that Doctor Richard Beeching is enjoying life in Hell at the moment (it's a fate far better than that bloated pig deserves!)

PeterD-2009

Barry1 wrote:

Peter - Really interesting photos especially for those of us who like big toy trains. I live in a town named after one you mentioned here - Winchester (Virginia). Many mayors of your Winchester have been here for our annual Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival. I look forward to photos of your Winchester some time on dgrin. Thanks.

Thank you for your comments and also for viewing. I shall look through my archives and post some images of Winchester UK. Please be patient though and I promise I shall not forget.

PeterD-2009

Wil Davis wrote:

Very nice pictures, thanks for sharing! I grew up in North Devon (Braunton); I visited Barry Island in the mid-70s, and took some pictures of 34046 "Braunton" (Bulleid light Pacific) in a very sorry state, along with many other fine locomotives, but found out recently that she's been fully restored to her former glory (~70,000 man-hours), and is currently on the West Somerset Railway, so she's not too far from home.

"Bodmin" looks quite at home in your pics, but "Bittern" looks rather out of place operating in on the Southern…

Nice job, thanks for posting!

- Wil

PS: I trust that Doctor Richard Beeching is enjoying life in Hell at the moment (it's a fate far better than that bloated pig deserves!)

Thanks for your comments and for viewing Wil.
Dr Beeching certainly has a lot to answer for. Not far from here there used to be a rail link between Hayling Island and Havant. This was a very popular, well supported line but was closed in the 1960's. There is now only ONE fixed link to Hayling Island, a single carriagway road bridge even 40 years on from closure. Driving on/off the island can be a nightmare particlarly in the summer. It must have cost the island dear in terms of tourism. You can find a little about what remains at http://www.imageinuk.com/Trains/Hayling-Billy-Line/9114641_yk9G8#607540476_YtrrN. I intend to walk the course of the railway and take more images.

Who would have thought that 41 years after a total ban on steam in the UK, a thriving tourist industry has been created from the rusty heaps at Barry Island and similar sites. Now, regular steam trains run on the national system once more and stations, closed railways, once derelict coaching stock and goods wagons have all been brought to life. Its not just the old timers involved either, lots of young blood have joined in. Driver training and experience of railway operation can be purchased for not too much money. I shall go through my archive to see what I have of how the railway equipment and infrastructure was restored and post this on here.

I mentioned Mallard when introducing Bittern. Here is an image of Mallard in the National railway Museum at York


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Yes you can see the locomotive and touch it but......where is the whiff of hot oil and steam? Where is the distinctive sound of the blast from the chimney, the whistle .........?
With a working railway you can really appreciate all of these things and get to understand the practises of running a railway and the background engineering required to keep it running.