by British by

not to be missed! be to not

the last day of service service of day last the

and galas. We also have fine dining and real ale trains, trains, ale real and dining fine have also We galas. and

1973

4th February was was February 4th Railway Railway

1970 website for family events, 1940’s revival experiences experiences revival 1940’s events, family for website

issued by British British by issued

throughout the year – make sure you check our our check you sure make – year the throughout

- closure notices notices closure -

We have exciting special events that take place place take that events special exciting have We through share issue share through

Southern Steam Steam Southern

railway, raising funds funds raising railway,

MORE MUCH SO PLUS

1967 End of of End

formed to purchase the the purchase to formed

preservation society society preservation

jobs over three years three over jobs

transport their crop to . to crop their transport

1975

A company and and company A 70,000 British Railways Railways British 70,000 manned station manned

frequent use by local growers to to growers watercress local by use frequent

also see the loss of of loss the see also Alresford as the only only the as Alresford

The name ‘’ came from the railway’s railway’s the from came Line’ ‘Watercress name The

The reshaping would would reshaping The

Four Marks, leaving leaving Marks, Four

and ballast and track

total of £18m per year. year. per £18m of total

and and and Medstead and

the equivalent of over 13 elephants. elephants. 13 over of equivalent the

removed the existing existing the removed

railway railway

stations, saving a net net a saving stations,

Abbas, Ropley Abbas,

tonnes, 97 as much as weigh can locomotives Our 1976

British Rail Rail British Ropley as a heritage heritage a as Ropley country’s 7,000 railway railway 7,000 country’s

staff from Itchen Itchen from staff

of one-third of the the of one-third of line from Alresford to to Alresford from line

1960s

average hippopotamus. hippopotamus. average Removal of of Removal

He called for the closure closure the for called He

Railway reopened the the reopened Railway

a daily basis – approximately the same weight as an an as weight same the approximately – basis daily a

Railways’ was published. published. was Railways’

1977

Mid Hants Hants Mid

1960

Our engines use between 3 to 5 tonnes of coal on on coal of tonnes 5 to 3 between use engines Our ‘The Reshaping of British British of Reshaping ‘The

Dr Beeching’s report report Beeching’s Dr

1963 and locomotive crews. locomotive and

, , March 27 On 1980

volunteer; from station staff and guards to signalmen signalmen to guards and staff station from volunteer; Diesel locomotives Diesel

1957

Virtually everyone you meet during your visit is a a is visit your during meet you everyone Virtually Introduction of of Introduction (BR) formed (BR)

was completed was

British Railways Railways British

to Alton to I O KNOW? YOU DID

the line to Medstead Medstead to line the

nationalised and and nationalised

miles from Alresford Alresford from miles

1983

Relaying of of Relaying

1948 Railways Railways

to Alton, running 10 10 running Alton, to require further help or information. information. or help further require

1985

Line extended extended Line

your visit, but please ask any of our staff if you you if staff our of any ask please but visit, your

1900

We hope this leaflet will guide you through through you guide will leaflet this hope We

Railway take over over take Railway

weekday

South Western Western South

services each each services

1884

London and and London

UNLIMITED TRAVEL UNLIMITED

with four passenger passenger four with lottery grants lottery

WITH ALL DAY DAY ALL WITH

2000

1865

Line opens opens Line partly funded by by funded partly HOP OFF HOP

sheds open at Ropley, Ropley, at open sheds

Company

HOP ON ON HOP

Winchester begins 2012 2012

Engineering Engineering

Mid Hants Railway Railway Hants Mid

from Alton to to Alton from

1864

Renamed the the Renamed

1861 Construction Construction

the end of Southern Steam Southern of end the 1850

commemorates 50 years since since years 50 commemorates

2017 Summer Gala Gala Summer

WATERCRESS LINE WATERCRESS MOST SUCCESSFUL HERITAGE RAILWAYS IN THE COUNTRY THE IN RAILWAYS HERITAGE SUCCESSFUL MOST

WELCOME TO THE THE TO WELCOME IN REGULAR USE FOR OVER 107 YEARS, WE ARE ONE OF THE THE OF ONE ARE WE YEARS, 107 OVER FOR USE REGULAR IN

ENJOYED BY ALL, RAILWAY YOUNG AND OLD TIMETABLE

EAT AND DRINK Our trains run according to colour-coded timetables. For today’s The West Country Buffet at Alresford Station serves hot food, colour-coded timetable, please ask a member of staff at our booking offices. snacks and drinks. You’ll also find drinks, light snacks and ice creams ONE TRAIN SERVICE at Ropley Station and Alton Station (seasonal opening). ALTON DEP 12.00 2.00 4.00 MEDSTEAD 12.15 2.15 4.15 Enjoy your refreshments at one of our picnic areas at Alresford ROPLEY 12.27 2.27 4.27 or Ropley. ALRESFORD ARR 12.35 2.35 4.35 ALRESFORD DEP 11.00 1.00 3.00 INFORMATION FOR WHEELCHAIR AND ROPLEY 11.16 1.16 3.16 PUSHCHAIR USERS MEDSTEAD 11.27 1.27 3.27 We try to make the railway as accessible as possible for ALTON ARR 11.40 1.40 3.40 everyone. Step-free access is available for entry to all platforms TWO TRAIN SERVICE from the station building. We have two wheelchair accessible ALTON DEP 10.50 12.00 12.50 2.00 2.50 4.00 carriages and ramps available to assist with boarding. MEDSTEAD 11.04 12.15 1.04 2.15 3.04 4.15 Buggies and pushchairs can be taken on the trains, but should ROPLEY 11.16 12.27 1.16 2.27 3.16 4.27 be placed in the Brake Coach. ALRESFORD ARR 11.24 12.35 1.24 2.35 3.24 4.35 Please ask any member of our staff for assistance. ALRESFORD DEP 11.00 11.45 1.00 1.45 3.00 3.45 ROPLEY 11.16 12.00 1.16 2.00 3.16 4.00 MEDSTEAD 11.27 12.15 1.27 2.15 3.27 4.15 ALTON ARR 11.40 12.28 1.40 2.28 3.40 4.28

TWO+ TRAIN SERVICE D=Diesel S=Steam D S S D S S D S S D S ALTON DEP 10.50 11.15 12.00 12.54 1.20 2.05 3.00 3.25 4.15 MEDSTEAD 11.04 11.29 12.15 1.08 1.34 2.19 3.14 3.40 4.30 SNAP, TAG ROPLEY 11.16 11.40 12.27 1.20 1.45 2.30 3.26 3.52 4.42 ALRESFORD 11.24 11.48 12.35 1.28 1.53 2.38 3.34 4.00 4.50 AND WIN ARR ALRESFORD #WATERCRESSLINE 10.10 11.00 11.50 12.15 1.00 1.55 2.15 3.10 4.05 DEP Take a ride ROPLEY 10.22 11.16 12.00 12.27 1.20 2.05 2.31 3.26 4.15 MEDSTEAD 10.33 11.31 12.15 12.38 1.35 2.20 2.43 3.41 4.30 ALTON ARR 10.54 11.44 12.28 1.00 1.48 2.33 3.04 3.54 4.43 watercressline through the heart watercress_line of thewatercressline watercressline watercress_line thewatercressline ALRESFORD - ROPLEY - MEDSTEAD - ALTON

WWW.WATERCRESSLINE.CO.UK SHARE YOUR MEMORIES [email protected] MAP AND VISITOR WITH US FOR A CHANCE TO The Railway Station, Station Rd, WIN PHOTO OF THE MONTH , Alresford SO24 9JG INFORMATION TEL: 01962 733810 WHAT TO SEE AND DO 7 GET CLOSE TO ALRESFORD Explore the colourful Georgian market town of Alresford. Enjoy a stroll around the small town or OUR ENGINES! walk the beautiful Millennium Trail along the River Alre. Experience behind the scenes of our

ROPLEY restoration work and speak to our engineers Carriage Restoration Viewing Gallery in person. Touch, smell and hear the work 1 Watch our staff and volunteers restoring one of our many carriages and learn about being carried out in our Loco Yard. the craftsmanship.

2 Loco Shed Viewing Gallery Restoration in action. View our locos from above and see the restoration work being carried out. FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY 3 King’s Cross Footbridge This bridge was dismantled and removed from King’s Cross in 2008. It took eight lorry loads YOUNG ENGINEER’S TRAIL (200 tonnes) to move all the components. Explore the Young Engineer’s Trail. Pick up a leaflet at Ropley Station and by following the Restoration Route, find all 6 rubbing plaques along the route. 4 Miniature Railway Ride the ¼ km track amongst the kestrels and deer. Our miniature locomotives passing our 3 HARRY POTTER’S BRIDGE beautiful meadow field (open at events and selected running days). A fan of Harry Potter? Walk in his footsteps over the same bridge used in MEDSTEAD AND Harry Potter films. 5 The Goods Museum CHILDREN’S PLAY AREA The Victorian-era Medstead Goods Store, which was built around 1880, has been totally renovated Perfect for younger visitors, with picnic benches nearby so you can enjoy and hosts an exhibition on the role of railways in the transportation of goods and freight. your lunch. DID YOU KNOW? At over 630 feet (190m) above sea Photography Exhibition 6 EAT AND DRINK level Medstead Station is the highest in The waiting room on Medstead down platform hosts a display of photos and text illustrating the Pick up a kid’s picnic box from Alresford Station with a selection of delicious history of Medstead Station from its opening in 1868 to the present day. Southern . The steep ‘1 in 60’ climb treats and enjoy at one of our picnic spots. Each box contains a set of crayons. up to Medstead has gained the station its ALTON historic nickname of ‘going over the Alps’. CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY SHEETS The Curtis Museum and Allen Gallery are a 10 minute walk away from Alton Station. Activity sheets are available for different ages with colouring in, puzzles and Combine a visit to Jane Austen House Museum and Library a couple of miles away. games. These can be picked up at our booking offices. 5 6

DID YOU KNOW? The award winning topiary at Ropley Station is over 130 years old.

3 1

7 2 RESTORATION ROUTE 4 Our Restoration Route around Ropley TELL YOUR Station will guide you behind the scenes FRIENDS of our engineering facilities. Look out for posts with the logo. The route is

YOU’RE CHECKHERE IN step free to allow accessible access. FACEBOOK