Episode 31 – The Autumn Steam Gala 2019 Welcome to The Autumn Steam Gala 2019 where I see some locomotives in pristine condition and talk to people. This is being published in time for the Spring Steam Gala 2021. To view the photographs that accompany this podcast: Please click here to open the gallery in another tab . When the gallery is open ‘hovering’ over a picture shows arrows to move forwards (or back), enlarge the picture (an ‘X’ in the top right hand corner) and close the gallery (an ‘X’...
Apr 28, 2021•23 min
Episode 30 – War on the Line 2019 (part 2) Welcome to War on the Line 2019 (part 2), where I talk to a number of characters from the local community. The 2019 event commemorates 75 years since D Day. Bomb Disposal: The Danger Unexploded Bomb sign was often seen in the early 1940s. A UXB requires a specialist to defuse it. These people are incredibly brave. Each time they pit their wits and experience against the bomb’s designer. A mistake results in a large explosion with catastrophic results. T...
Apr 17, 2020•20 min
Episode 29 – War on the Line 2019 (part 1) Welcome to War on the Line 2019 (part 1), where I talk to a number of characters from the local community. The 2019 event commemorates 75 years since D Day. The cycling Cobbler: I talk to a shoe repairer who uses his bicycle to visit different parts of the area so that he can provide a service. I find that he has a pair if shoes for a soldier. He doesn’t know where the soldier has got to. Let’s hope he’ll come back to pay for the repairs! The Auxiliers:...
Mar 04, 2020•19 min
Episode 28 – Life on the Watercress Line – Watercress People (4) Welcome to Watercress People (4), where I interview three of the many people who make the Watercress Line the great experience that it is. Sandra Johnson Sandra tells me that she and her husband were at a loose end, saw an advertisement and, liking steam trains, volunteered 31 years ago. She has been manager of the very popular Watercress Belle for the last 20 years. The chefs cook all the food is cooked from scratch in the Kitchen...
Jan 19, 2020•18 min
Episode 27 – Life on the Watercress Line – Some Leave at Christmas (2)? Listen to Some Leave at Christmas (2) to find out about a great way of spending Boxing Day and the 27th December . If you’d like a break from the relatives, or just need some exercise and air, then go along to the Watercress Line and join in the fun. Christmas Leave is where you have the opportunity to travel with servicemen and their families. Some are travelling back to base whilst others are going home for a few days. The...
Dec 13, 2019•14 min
Episode 26 – Life on the Watercress Line – Some Leave at Christmas (1)? Do you fancy some leave at Christmas? Would you like a break from the relatives? Need some air? Then visit the Watercress Line for Christmas Leave, where you’ll have the opportunity to travel with servicemen and their families. With Christmas just over, those who had leave for Christmas are travelling back to base. Those who were on duty over Christmas are going home for a few days. The Home Guard are very active during Chri...
Dec 10, 2019•15 min
Episode 24 – Canadian Pacific update part 2 Welcome to the Canadian Pacific update part 2, where I talk to Becky Peacock about the progress made to the boiler and Bulleid coaches over the past year. The project is to restore the Merchant Navy class locomotive, number 35005, Canadian Pacific and two coaches. Oliver Bulleid designed the Merchant Navy class locomotives for the Southern Railway early in the Second World War. They had many innovations – some worked well, others didn’t! He also design...
Nov 19, 2019•12 min
Episode 23 – Canadian Pacific update part 1 Welcome to the Canadian Pacific update part 1, where I talk to Becky Peacock about the progress made over the past year. The project is mainly about the restoration of the Merchant Navy class locomotive, number 35005, Canadian Pacific . Oliver Bulleid designed the class for the Southern Railway early in the Second World War. These locomotives had many innovations – some worked well, others didn’t! Oliver Bulleid was a very persuasive person; this allow...
Oct 29, 2019•12 min
Episode 22 – Spring Steam Gala 2019 Welcome to Spring Steam Gala 2019, where we look at the attractions for this special weekend. London Transport 0-6-0 Pannier Tank L92 This loco was originally a Great Western class 5700 tank engine. The GWR and BR built 863 of these locomotives between 1929 and 1950. The class was designated as light goods and shunting engines. They were also used for passenger trains on branch, suburban and shorter mainline journeys. British Railways withdrew them by 1966. Lo...
Oct 13, 2019•19 min
Episode 21 – Life on the Watercress Line – Watercress People (3) Welcome to Watercress People (3), where I have the opportunity to interview some of the many people who make the Watercress Line the experience it is. Jim Russell – The Early Years Jim joined the Watercress Line on 25th August 1973, soon after he left school. He travelled around on his first moped. Jim and the others had many dreams for the line. He never imagined that it would turn into the thriving, living, railway seen today. He...
Sep 25, 2019•15 min
Episode 20 – Life on the Watercress Line – Autumn Steam Gala (2) Welcome to the Autumn Steam Gala (2). The Steam Gala features Guest locomotives as well as Watercress Line regulars. There is a Steam Gala each Spring and Autumn. This episode features Schools Class ‘Cheltenham’ , Class 9F No. 92212 and Class 2MT No. 41312 . 4-4-0 Schools Class locomotive No. 925 Cheltenham The Schools class were the most powerful 4-4-0 type locomotives to operate in Britain. They were a very successful design, use...
Aug 23, 2019•16 min
Episode 19 – Life on the Watercress Line – Autumn Steam Gala (1) Welcome to the Autumn Steam Gala (1). The Steam Gala is an opportunity to see Guest locomotives on the Watercress Line. There is one in the Spring and this one each Autumn. This episode features Foxcote Manor and ‘Prairie’ tank locomotive 5199 . 4-6-0 locomotive No. 7822 Foxcote Manor This is one of a class of 30 engines. Charles Collett designed the engines for the Great Western Railway and first were built in 1938. Foxcote Manor ...
Jul 12, 2019•13 min
Episode 18 – Life on the Watercress Line – Watercress People (2) Welcome to Watercress People (2), where I have the opportunity to interview some of the people who make the Watercress Line happen – when you and visit. My first interview in Watercress People (2) is with David Mead who has been involved since the early days after British Rail closed the line in the 1970s. I then talk to Steve Crowther , the Chair of the Mid-Hants Railway Preservation Society about how she became involved. Steve is...
Jun 27, 2019•17 min
Episode 17 – Life on the Watercress Line – Christmas Leave (2) Welcome to Christmas Leave (2), where I have the opportunity to travel with servicemen and their families at Christmas. Some are travelling back to base and others are going home for a few days. There are all types of people in Christmas Leave (2) , in addition to the military I meet the entertainer at Alresford, a black marketeer, the police and many others. I get the opportunity to talk to some of the passengers who are out for the...
Jun 09, 2019•14 min
Episode 16 – Life on the Watercress Line – Christmas Leave (1) Welcome to Christmas Leave (part 1), where I have the opportunity to travel with servicemen and their families. With Christmas just over those who had leave for Christmas are travelling back to base. Those who were on duty over Christmas are going home for a few days. The Home Guard are very active in Christmas Leave (1) checking the identity cards of all the passengers. In addition they’re on the lookout for suspicious people – spie...
May 20, 2019•15 min
Episode 15 Welcome to Watercress People (1), where I have the opportunity to interview some of the people who make the Watercress Line happen – for you and me. My first interview in Watercress People (1) is with Colin Fuller who was one of the original people involved when British Rail closed the line in the 1970s. I then talk to Steve Crowther, the Chair of the Mid-Hants Railway Preservation Society. We discuss the roles of the Society and the Mid-Hants Railway Limited in creating the Watercres...
Apr 22, 2019•19 min
Episode 14 Welcome to A Day Out With Thomas (B), a favourite event for visitors, of all ages, to the Watercress Line . I join Thomas and his friends who are out in the summer weather to entertain everybody! Rusty and I talk about his role and later I catch part of his magic show. I visit the swing seat roundabouts, a very popular attraction at Ropley. After that I take the first train to Alresford. At Alresford I speak to a family who are out for the day. In A Day Out With Thomas (B) I talk to R...
Apr 05, 2019•11 min
Episode 13 Welcome to A Day Out With Thomas, a favourite event for visitors, of all ages, to the Watercress Line . I join Thomas and his friends who are out in the summer weather to entertain everybody! I talk to the Fat Controller who is here to ensure that the event runs smoothly. He has come all the way from the Island of Sodor for the week. I also speak to Rusty who gives magic shows each day. In A Day Out With Thomas (A) I get to talk with footplate staff and listen to Thomas driving the co...
Mar 22, 2019•11 min
Episode 12 Welcome to Walk the Line where members of the public raise money for the Watercress Line . It is an opportunity to see the railway from ground level and at walking pace! 950 walkers, with many assorted dogs, took up the challenge to Walk the Line on a Sunday last November. It was a beautiful autumnal morning when the walkers set off but torrential rain arrived during the walk. Many of the walkers ‘signed on’ in Alresford and took the vintage ‘rail replacement buses’ to Alton so that t...
Mar 08, 2019•12 min
Welcome to part 3 of the Driving and Firing Experience offered by the Watercress Line . The afternoon was my opportunity to drive a steam engine – something that I’d wanted to do since I was a child! Three of us were trainees that afternoon, guided by an excellent Watercress Line driver and fireman. This podcast starts as leave Alresford, for the second time, for the uphill climb to Ropley. After reaching Ropley we went on a tour of the engineering sheds. The sheds enable the line to carry out w...
Feb 22, 2019•18 min
Welcome to part 2 of the Driving and Firing Experience offered by the Watercress Line. My opportunity to do something that I’d wanted to do since I was a child! Drive a steam engine!! There were three trainees that afternoon, guided by an excellent Watercress Line driver and fireman. The podcast starts as we reach Ropley after an uphill climb from Alresford. This episode takes you from our arrival into Ropley, on to Medstead and then all the way back down the hill, through Ropley and on to Alres...
Feb 08, 2019•21 min
Welcome to this podcast about the Driving and Firing Experience offered by the Watercress Line. This was my opportunity to do something that I’d wanted to do since I was a child! Drive a steam engine!! There were three trainees that afternoon, guided by an excellent Watercress Line driver and fireman. I drew the short straw and had to ‘fire’ the loco in preparation for our uphill journey to Ropley and Medstead/Four Marks. The others seemed to have a much easier job! This episode takes you from o...
Jan 25, 2019•23 min
Welcome to this podcast about the Open Weekend on the Watercress Line. The weekend enables you to go behind the scenes at this heritage railway and see what makes it steam. The weekend coincides with the Heritage Open Days programme and MHRPS members can come along for free. There is an enhanced train service for the weekend with steam trains, the Hampshire diesel set and also freight train operations. Becky Peacock, the project manager for the Canadian Pacific project, gave guided tours of the ...
Jan 15, 2019•20 min
Welcome to this podcast of Santa’s Christmas Message. Today I’ve braved the snowstorms of the North Pole to get a few words with Santa. He is just about to set out. In just 24 hours Santa travels the world giving out the presents made the Elves. Remember to leave a mince pie out for Santa and a carrot for the reindeer. Don’t forget that Santa only delivers your presents once you’re deeply asleep ……. My thanks to Santa, his team of on train ‘helpers’, the Elves that he left at the North Pole and ...
Dec 24, 2018•6 min
Welcome to this podcast featuring the Santa Specials that run on the Watercress Line. Santa comes all the way from his home at the North Pole each time a train is running. During his visit his sleigh is looked after by the maintenance team at Ropley and, if you look carefully out of the train windows, you may see his reindeer in one of the fields by the track. There is so much magic surrounding Santa and lots of this rubs off on the passengers. You can hear everybody having a wonderful time. I’v...
Dec 14, 2018•19 min
Welcome to the Canadian Pacific restoration project – part 3. The Canadian Pacific restoration project – part 3, often called the CanPac project, is about the restoration of the Merchant Navy class locomotive, number 35005, Canadian Pacific and also two carriages designed by Oliver Bulleid in the 1940s. In this episode we are in the boiler shop at Ropley. I talk to Becky and also to Sam, a fully qualified boiler inspector. Sam originally started as an apprentice at Ropley before leaving to becom...
Nov 23, 2018•15 min
Welcome to the second episode about the Canadian Pacific restoration project. This project, often called the CanPac project, is about the restoration of the Merchant Navy class locomotive, number 35005, Canadian Pacific and also two carriages designed by Oliver Bulleid in the 1940s. Becky explains that some parts of the locomotive are at Eastleigh works (where Canadian Pacific was originally built) and that the boiler is at Ropley. Some of the people working on the restoration at Eastleigh actua...
Nov 08, 2018•19 min
The Canadian Pacific restoration project, often called the CanPac project, concerns the restoration of the Merchant Navy class locomotive, number 35005, Canadian Pacific . The Merchant Navy class was designed by Oliver Bulleid for the Southern Railway early in the Second World War. The locomotive brought together many innovations from across the world – some worked well, others didn’t! Oliver Bulleid was a very persuasive person; this allowed him to produce such an innovative design. Canadian Pa...
Oct 25, 2018•20 min
Our second visit to the War on the Line weekend takes us to Ropley and Alresford stations. Most visitors coming by car park at Ropley as there is free parking (the car parks at Alresford and Alton are ‘pay and display’). Ropley is the station with the most space available for displays. The episode begins with a description of the activities taking place during the weekend at the station. A ‘light’ locomotive is waiting to go down the line to Alresford to haul the first train of the day back up t...
Oct 12, 2018•17 min
Every summer the Watercress Line recreates the atmosphere of the early 1940s with the War on the Line weekend where there are different themes at each of it’s stations. In this episode we visit platform 3 at Alton station – the interchange between the Watercress Line and the national rail network – where we meet the singer entertaining the passengers and then we board the train to travel down the line (but for the steam engine it is uphill all the way!) to Medstead and Four Marks station to see ...
Sep 28, 2018•18 min
