Watercress Line ‘Spring Steam Gala’ 27/04/2025

With May heat setting in and full operating season on the horizon, the Watercress Line kicks into action with their annual ‘Spring Steam Gala’. This years three day event was centered around a ‘gala of firsts’, showcasing operations in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. On the locomotive side was Ivatt tank No.41312 as well as newly restored Merchant Navy Class No.35005 ‘Canadian Pacific’. This pair of homefleet engines would operate alongside 3 fantastic visitors: LSWR T3 Class No.563, L&YR A Class No.52322 and L&YR No.752 (LMS No.11456), a Tender engine rebuilt as an L&YR 23 Class in 1896. The event would have also seen Urie S15 Class No.506 running but she was sadly withdrawn from the event due to firebox damage. The event boasted several highlights, from double headed L&Y locos, to mixed passenger and goods trains, to an 8 coach express, demonstrating a diverted boat train from Southampton, and even express passenger locomotive No.35005 ‘Canadian Pacific’ found her way onto the down freight towards the end of the day. 00:00 Intro 00:06 41312 Ropley 01:41 563 Ropley 03:14 563 Ropley to Alresford 12:29 11456 & 52322 Alresford to Ropley 22:27 35005 Ropley 23:40 11456 & 52322 Ropley to Medstead and Four Marks 33:19 11456 & 52322 Medstead and Four Marks 34:52 41312 Hampshire Hunt Bridge 35:45 11456 & 52322 Hampshire Hunt Bridge 36:46 35005 Hampshire Hunt Bridge 37:39 563 Medstead and Four Marks 39:21 35005 & 563 Medstead and Four Marks 40:30 35005 Medstead and Four Marks to Stoke Cutting 42:28 35005 Stoke Cutting to Ropley 49:33 35005 Ropley to Alresford 56:56 35005 & 52322 Alresford 58:08 52322 Alresford 59:02 35005 Alresford 59:42 11456 Alresford 1:00:32 11456 & 35005 Alresford 1:01:03 11456 Alresford to Ropley 1:09:10 563 Northside Lane 1:10:01 35005 Northside Crossing 1:11:07 41312 Northside Crossing 1:12:20 563 & 41312 Ropley 1:14:00 563 & 41312 Ropley to Medstead and Four Marks 1:22:45 52322 Medstead and Four Marks 1:23:03 52322 Medstead and Four Marks to Ropley 1:33:42 52322 Ropley 1:34:42 11456 Ropley 1:35:50 11456 Ropley to Alresford 1:44:36 11456 & 52322 Alresford 1:45:41 52322 Alresford to Sun Lane Bridge 1:46:26 52322 Sun Lane (E-Stop) 1:47:04 52322 Sun Lane Bridge to Ropley 1:55:59 563 Ropley 1:56:24 52322 King’s Cross Footbridge 1:57:41 11456 Ropley 1:58:57 35005 Ropley 1:59:56 11456 Ropley 2:00:42 Outro All footage filmed on Sunday 27th April 2025.