Watercress Line: ‘Spring Steam Gala’ 27/04/24

The Watercress Line (Mid Hants Railway) is located in Hampshire between the small towns of New Alresford and Alton, this would be home to their annual Spring Steam Gala. This would intel visiting locomotives and an intensive timetable. The first visiting loco we see is 34070 ‘Manston’. Last seen on the channel at the Bluebell Railway’s Giant of Steam Gala in October 2023. Courtesy of Southern Locos LTD, Manston has been at the Watercress line for sometime now, playing a useful roll during a locomotive shortage. It’s certainly been a popular addition to the fleet! Joining the Bulleid, next we see an Ivatt no 41312, a member of the home fleet as well with an S15 No 506. Both would take turns hauling goods trains and passenger trains. Rubbing shoulders would be a Jubilee ‘leander’. This gala would offer enthusiasts a one last look at the locomotive before it gets sent away for overhaul at the expiry of its boiler certificate. And lastly, we’d have a LH&JC Tank No 29, this only ran two runs as on the Friday and half of Saturday it had failed. But nevertheless, the amazing engineering team managed to get her running in the end. All footage was captured on the 27/4/24 but is in no particular order. Locomotives featured:  LMS Jubilee No. 45690 Leander LH&JC Tank No.29 SR. Battle of Britain No. 34070 Manston LSWR SIS No. 506 BR Ivate 2MT No. 41312 Timestamps: 0:00 34070 - Hampshire Hunt 1:36 41312 - Northside Crossing 3:15 45690 - Bighton Lane 5:26 506 - Mounters Lane 6:20 45690 - Mounters Lane 7:34 29 - Bowers Grove Lane 9:01 41312 - Bishops Sutton 10:18 34070 - Bishops Sutton 12:11 29 - Northside Crossing 13:18 45690 - Northside Crossing