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.

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The Gala takes place on a beautiful Autumn weekend. The railway cannot operate into Alton because a bridge is being replaced. This also means that there is no access to the mainline via the link at Alton Station.

The 2019 Autumn Steam Gala is using the Watercress Line’s fleet of steam locomotives.

The British Rail Class 20 locomotive is doing a sterling job getting the steam locomotives into the right place. It is busily going hither and thither around the Ropley tracks.

Known as ‘Choppers’ because, under load, they sound like like helicopters, 228 of these locomotives were built between 1957 and 1968. The locomotives weigh 73 tonnes and can deliver 1,000 HP. These locomotives worked mixed freight traffic at up to 75 mph.

D8059 entered service in 1961 and was based at depots in the Sheffield area until British Rail retired it in 1990.

You can find a video of D8059 in action at the Gala here.

Cheltenham is looking magnificent. Freshly painted and sporting the British Railways designation 30925. Cheltenham is a Richard Maunsell design and was built at Eastleigh. They are the most powerful 4-4-0s built in Europe.

The class was withdrawn in 1961 / 62 and three, including the National Rail Museum owned Cheltenham, are at heritage railways.

Robert Urie designed this class for the London and South Western Railway.  The L&SWR also built the Watercress Line.

The locomotive has just come back into service after a long overhaul and this is it’s first Gala Weekend. The paintwork is in the style used by Southern Railway freight locomotives post 1927.

No. 506 first entered service in October 1920 and continued until January 1964. Over a million miles steamed she broke down on her way to Woodham Brothers scrap yard.

7 of the class live on in preservation.

To visit the Watercress Line website please follow this link to the Watercress Line.

Please consider donating to the Line at this time because over the past year  costs continued but there was very little income. To donate please click here.

You can find out more about the Day Out with Thomas, running from 29th May to the 6th June 2021 by scrolling down on this page.

This podcast is also available through Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Castbox , Deezer, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher and Vurbl.

AKM Music has licensed Steam Railway for use as the theme music.

Joseph McDade has licensed his work Backplate for use as incidental music.

© The MrT Podcast Studio 2021

The post LotWL Episode 31 – Autumn Steam Gala 2019 appeared first on The MrT Podcast Studio.

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.

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.

The team is represented by the Army and the Royal Navy.

The Navy is here to deal with airborne mines because they have experience with mines at sea whilst the Army deals with the bombs.

We learn about the different ways of dealing with the different types of mines and bombs.

Butterfly bombs were first  used was against the people of Grimsby.  Sadly because they don’t look dangerous children played with some that didn’t explode immediately. The Government had to publicise their dangers in schools.

I meet May Blossom on one of the stations. I can’t tell you which!

She is singing and entertaining the troops and civilians passing through the station. Such is her popularity that there is quite a crush when a train arrives and two children show how well they can jive!

My final interview in this episode is with one of the RAF Air Controllers. She tells me about their work guiding the RAF aircraft to their targets. They are an essential back-room team.

Please click on a thumbnail to open the gallery:

To visit the Watercress Line website please follow this link to the Watercress Line.

Please consider donating to the Line at this time because whilst the costs continue there is no income coming in. To donate please click here.

The Watercress Line is currently closed and sadly some of the planned events, such as the VE Day Commemoration, are cancelled.

To find out about the events that are currently planned please click here.

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Castbox, Deezer, Podchaser, Spotify and Stitcher.

AKM Music has licensed Steam Railway for use as the theme music.

Audioblocks has licensed Victorious Troops by Patrick Smith for use as incidental music.

© The MrT Podcast Studio 2020

The post War on the Line 2019 (part 2) appeared first on The MrT Podcast Studio.

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.

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 next person I spoke to told me about the Auxiliers. They would stay behind if there was an invasion. The idea was to be an active resistance to the invaders. They would cause disruption though their activities. Their life expectancy after an invasion was only a few weeks.

The Auxiliers had new and novel weapons including ‘tommy guns’ and exploding rats. There were over 3,000 very fit and extremely brave civilians in the Auxiliers. They were trained at Coleshill House in the Vale of the White Horse.

The National Trust owns the property today. You can find out more by clicking this link.

I meet a magician on the train. I am not permitted to say where it was going! Careless talk …..

The magician was keeping the passengers entertained with three pieces of ‘knicker’ elastic. I could not see how he joined the three pieces together with just a wave of his hand!

I meet members from our allies in the Russian Army camped at one of the stations on the line. Their tinned food supplies are of great interest to the visitors.

My final interview in this episode is with a hairdresser. They tell me that there was a queue outside before they had set up. We all know about queuing in wartime.

Please click on a thumbnail to open the gallery:

To visit the Watercress Line website please follow this link to the Watercress Line.

Visit the Watercress Line between the 8th and 10th May to join in. The line will take you back to 1945 to mark the 75th Anniversary. Find out more here.

Come along in period clothes, you can even have a 40s makeover at Pearl’s Pin Up Parlour on the Friday and Sunday.

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Deezer, Podchaser, Spotify and Stitcher.

AKM Music has licensed Steam Railway for use as the theme and incidental music.

© The MrT Podcast Studio 2020

The post War on the Line 2019 (part 1) appeared first on The MrT Podcast Studio.

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 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 Car. Diners receive a four course with Silver Service. The Kitchen Car (no. 1668) is very important as they are a very hard to get hold of these days. This gives the Watercress Belle an edge over many other organisations who cannot cook food from scratch on the train.

To find out more about Watercress Belle dining please click this link.

David tells me that his role is to coordinate the regional groups. He does this by arranging meetings and getting volunteers to publicise the Watercress Line.

To find out more about the Regional Groups please click here.

Our conversation starts by talking about training days. I learn about the importance of people understanding each others roles. We continue by talking about people requiring the skills to deal with passengers with special needs.

Many of the volunteers bring specialised skills from their work and these are of great use – although Steve tells me that they’ve not had an opportunity to use their dentist.

Steve enjoys being in the Signal Box when there is an evening service. She also loves the Santa Specials because of the large numbers of smiling faces.

We finished by talking about her thoughts for the future.

To find out more about Alresford station click here.

Please note: there are no photographs to accompany this Podcast.

To visit the Watercress Line website please follow this link Watercress Line.

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Deezer, Spotify and Stitcher.

AKM Music has licensed Steam Railway for use as the theme and incidental music.

© The MrT Podcast Studio 2020

The post Watercress People (4) appeared first on The MrT Podcast Studio.

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.

There are many characters in Christmas Leave (2). I meet the military, 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 day. Some of the story takes place on the train and other parts at Ropley and Alresford stations.

If you’ve enjoyed this podcast why not visit the Watercress Line on the  26th and 27th December 2019 and take part in Christmas Leave.  You could go through your wardrobe and find your 1940s gear – then you can dress in character! There will be lots to see at the stations and a regular train service. Full details are on the Watercress Line website – click here.

Please click on a thumbnail to open the gallery:

To visit the Watercress Line website please follow this link Watercress Line.

Look out for the next episode of Life on the Watercress Line.

You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Spotify and Stitcher.

The theme and incidental music, Steam Railway, used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

© The MrT Podcast Studio 2019

The post Some Leave at Christmas (2)? appeared first on The MrT Podcast Studio.

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 Christmas Leave checking the identity cards of all the passengers. In addition they’re on the lookout for suspicious people – spies, black marketeers and others. I’m a little worried though because they are helping people fill out and stamp their ID cards!

I get the opportunity to talk to some of the passengers who are out for the day. In this episode all the action takes place on the train as it is mid-Winter.

If you’ve enjoyed this podcast why not visit the Watercress Line on the  26th and 27th December 2019 and take part in Christmas Leave.  You could go through your wardrobe and find your 1940s gear – then you can dress in character! There will be lots to see at the stations and a regular train service. Full details are on the Watercress Line website – click here.

Please click on a thumbnail to open the gallery:

To visit the Watercress Line website please follow this link Watercress Line.

The next episode of Life on the Watercress Line is in a few weeks.

You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Spotify and Stitcher.

The theme and incidental music, Steam Railway, used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

© The MrT Podcast Studio 2019

The post Some Leave at Christmas (1)? appeared first on The MrT Podcast Studio.

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 designed the coaches.

Oliver Bulleid was a very persuasive person; this allowed him to produce such an innovative design.

Canadian Pacific was the fifth locomotive of the class built at the Eastleigh works in 1941. She entered service on 13 January 1942. Canadian Pacific  worked hard on passenger and freight trains during the war.

After the war the Merchant Navy class hauled the Southampton boat trains and ‘named’ expresses such as the Bournemouth Belle.

On 15th May 1965 Canadian Pacific, pulling a Bournemouth express, reached 105 m.p.h. She was travelling down the Winchester Bank.

Sadly Canadian Pacific was withdrawn from service later in 1965.

Please click on a thumbnail to open the Coach restoration picture gallery:

To visit the Watercress Line website please follow this link Watercress Line.

Bring the family and join us on a Santa Special. They run from Saturday 30th November to Christmas Eve. Click here  to find out more.

Don’t forget Christmas Leave on the 26th and 27th of December. Click here to find out more.

The next episode of Life on the Watercress Line is in two weeks.

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Deezer, Spotify and Stitcher.

AKM Music has licensed Steam Railway for use as the theme and incidental music.

The post Canadian Pacific update part 2 appeared first on The MrT Podcast Studio.

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 allowed him to produce such an innovative design.

Canadian Pacific was the fifth locomotive of the class built at the Eastleigh works in 1941. She entered service on 13 January 1942. Canadian Pacific  worked hard on passenger and freight trains during the war.

After the war the Merchant Navy class hauled the Southampton boat trains and ‘named’ expresses such as the Bournemouth Belle.

On 15th May 1965 Canadian Pacific, pulling a Bournemouth express, reached 105 m.p.h. She was travelling down the Winchester Bank.

Sadly she was withdrawn from service later in 1965.

To visit the Watercress Line website please follow this link Watercress Line.

Join us on a Santa Special between Saturday 30th November and Christmas Eve. Click here  to find out more.

Don’t forget Christmas Leave on the 26th and 27th of December. Click here to find out more.

The next episode of Life on the Watercress Line is in two weeks.

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Deezer, Spotify and Stitcher.

AKM Music has licensed Steam Railway for use as the theme and incidental music.

The post Canadian Pacific update part 1 appeared first on The MrT Podcast Studio.

Welcome to Spring Steam Gala 2019, where we look at the attractions for this special weekend.

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. London Underground  bought 13 of these locomotives following trials and modifications  and used them  for permanent way trains.

London Transport sold L92 to the Worcester Locomotive Society in 1969.

WD 300 is an American built locomotive.  382 of the type were built and used in World War 2. They saw service in many countries during and after the war. The War Department borrowed 42 which were stored at Newbury Racecourse station.

The Southern Railway bought 15 for use in Southampton docks.

Two of the locomotives, including WD 300, are at the Kent and East Sussex Railway. They survived because they seized up on their journey to the scrapyard.

The Gala was an opportunity for people to ride on the ‘Queen Mary’ guards van. This is an articulated guards van and is very rare. Listen to the engine, look at the photographs and find out more about this rare railway vehicle.

Interested in the pictures? Please click on a thumbnail to open the gallery:

To visit the Watercress Line website please follow this link Watercress Line.

Join us for the Autumn Steam Gala 2019 from the Friday 18th to Sunday 20th October. Click here  to find out more.

Don’t forget the Wizard Weekend on the 26th and 27th October. Click here to find out more.

The next episode of Life on the Watercress Line is in two weeks.

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Deezer, Spotify and Stitcher.

AKM Music has licensed Steam Railway for use as the theme and incidental music.

Joseph McDade has licensed Backplate for use as incidental music in this episode.

© The MrT Podcast Studio 2019

The post Spring Steam Gala 2019 appeared first on The MrT Podcast Studio.

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 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 said that although the line never get to Winchester it has reached Alton.

One of the early jobs that Jim did was to paint the bicycle sheds. He thinks he did a good job, as they were only repainted recently.

Jim has always enjoyed his time with the line and there has been the excitement of completing major projects.

Colin is a Watercress stalwart. He is often at Medstead and Four Marks station.  His is also a Travelling Ticket Inspector.

Colin tells me that Revenue collection isn’t the major part of the role; there are relatively few fare dodgers! He says that most of the time he’s acting as an on-board host. He gives out lots of information to the travellers he meets on the trains.

David tells me that there is a large Facebook community around the Watercress Line. He adds that many of the Mid-Hants members are part of it. Many of the members are good photographers and this provides an outlet.

There are no photographs to accompany this Podcast.

To visit the Watercress Line website please follow this link Watercress Line.

The Autumn Steam Gala 2019 will be held from the 18th to 20th October. Click here  to find out more. Scroll to the posts below to find out about last year’s Gala.

Don’t forget Wizard Weekend on the 26th and 27th October. Click here to find out more.

The next episode of Life on the Watercress Line is in two weeks.

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Deezer, Spotify and Stitcher.

AKM Music has licensed Steam Railway for use as the theme and incidental music.

Joseph McDade has licensed Crossover – Lectro Tango for use as incidental music in this episode.

© The MrT Podcast Studio 2019

The post Watercress People (3) appeared first on The MrT Podcast Studio.