| Photos taken at the 2009 Spring Gala at the Watercress Line.
And what an eventful day! Visiting the railway for this weekend was Metropolitan No.1, Beattie Well Tank No. 30585 and the star attraction Lord Nelson No.850. Around 10.30am, resident standard five No. 73096 suffered a major failure of the left hand cylinder which blocked all traffic between Ropley and Medstead for approx 90 minutes. The published timetable was no longer of use, but the railway staff kept us informed as much as they could, and the rest of the day went without a hitch. Despite the problems, we had a great time in the spring sunshine! |
Southern Railway No.850 Lord Nelson runs around the train at Alton |
Metropolitan No.1 arrives at Medstead and the crew accept the token from the signalman |
Class 33 No. D6593 is fired up and heads off to rescue the stricken standard 5 No. 73096 |
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Sadly, class 33 No. D6593 failed. As it pulled away from Ropley, huge flames were coming out of the electric motors and created as much smoke as a steamer! The problem was that bad that the engine had to pushed beyond the points to allow it to be rescued. |
Resident class 08 No. 08032 came to the rescue the broken class 33. |
In the meantime, a second 33, No. 33053, was fired up and went to rescue the stricken standard 5 No.73096 |
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A closer view of 34105 'Swanage' |
A view of all the engines outside the loco works - from left to right, No. 34105 Swanage (disguised as 34102 'Lapford'), Standard 4 No. 76017, Standard 4 No. 75079, No.34016 Bodmin and No. 35005 'Canadian Pacific' - quite an impressive line up! |
A close up of unrebuilt West Country class No.34105 'Swanage' |
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Standard 4MT No. 76017 needs a good clean before any restoration work can be carried out! |
A4 No. 60019 'Bittern' and West Country No. 34007 'Wadebridge' make a fantastic air smoothed/streamlined pairing as they arrive at Ropley |
LNER A4 No.60019 'Bittern' stops at Ropley in the right place so it can take on water |
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Metropolitan No.1 looks in fantastic condition here at Ropley |
Ivatt tank No.41312 pulls into Ropley carrying the Lymington Flyer headboard. This engine had a special extension to its boiler certificate so that it could take part in the gala weekend |
This is the best photo of the day, taken by my 7 year old son. This captures the Watercress Line rather well I thought! |
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Nos.34007 and 60019 sit in the March sunshine at Ropley |
Another view of Wadebridge and Bittern - 6 cylinders, 50,000lbs+ of tractive effort and 15P of pulling power. Very impressive! |
West Country class No.34007 'Wadebridge' prepares to take the train to Alresford |
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Beattie Well Tank No.30585 simmers at Alresford |
No.850 Lord Nelson arrives at Alresford |
Immaculate paint work! |
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The sun always shines on the Southern. No.850 Lord Nelson looks maginificent in the March sunshine |
