The Golden Age of Steam on the Watercress Line in Hampshire
Explore the charm of steam trains with two nostalgic photos from Hampshire
Hampshire, Alton, Medstead and Four Marks, Steam Locomotive, Mid-Hants Railway
Hampshire: Let’s take a trip down memory lane with two special photos from the Mid-Hants Railway.
The first photo is from a chilly March day in 1978 at Alton station. It shows the arrival of a stunning ex-British Rail 2-6-0 locomotive, number 76017.
This old engine, after serving on the national network, is starting a new journey at the Mid-Hants Railway. The photo captures its careful unloading from a low-loader lorry onto a temporary ramped track.
Errol Lonsdale, the reliable shunter, oversees this delicate operation. He’s a familiar face on the Watercress Line.
Now, let’s jump to a sunny July day in 1985. Our second photo takes us to the lovely Mid-Hants Railway station of Medstead and Four Marks.
This time, we see another impressive steam locomotive. Its wheels grip the rails as it prepares to head to Alton, with smoke billowing from its chimney against the beautiful Hampshire countryside.
These two photos, taken years apart, show the lasting magic of steam and the hard work of those who keep this railway heritage alive. They remind us of a time when steam trains were a common sight and sound.
The legacy of steam continues, not just in photos and memories, but in the vibrant reality of these preserved railways.