A VISIT TO US IS JUST THE TICKET !
All of our travel tickets (other than for Santa Specials) offer UNLIMITED TRAVEL, giving you freedom of the line on the day of your visit. The tickets represent great value as you can take as many journeys as you wish or break your journey at any station and join another train later on. This way, you can ride behind the different locomotives that are in service as well as exploring each station and surrounding area.
Tickets are available to purchase on the day from the Ticket Offices at Alresford or Alton stations, however, for special events, we recommend that you book your tickets in advance. You can purchase standard travel tickets in advance if you wish, these make a nice gift idea.
Whatever the time of year, there is always much to see and do here at the Watercress Line! See our special events section for more information about the exciting events coming up. There is something for everyone to enjoy!
During your visit, you may wish to stroll around Alresford or Alton. Alresford is an attractive Georgian market town and the home of Hampshire’s watercress industry from which we took our name. Alresford has some wonderful rural walks within easy reach of the station including the Millenium Walk which takes you down by the River Arle. The railway station at Alresford is a 2 minute walk from the main high street with pay and display car parking outside the station. Alresford station is on one level, offering excellent access for customers with walking disabilities.
Alton was once well known for brewing and has an interesting local museum. The town centre is approximately 10 minute walk from the railway station, offering a variety of pubs, restaurants and shops. If starting your journey from Alton, the Watercress Line can be found on Platform 3 by using the footbridge, crossing the main line connection that serves Woking and London Waterloo. For disabled customers, there is a foot crossing available on request, but this is subject to South West Trains operation. We therefore recommend you begin and finish your journey at Alresford station.
Pay and display car parking is available outside Alton station with additional pay and display parking available in the town.
THE ROUTE
The Watercress Line is part of the old British Railways secondary route from Alton to Winchester and Southampton. It was closed by BR in February 1973, despite a six year campaign to save it. The preset company was formed in the same year with the original objective of running a commuter service during the week with steam trains at the weekends. Various factors prevented this scheme from coming about, not least the construction of the M3 across the route east of Winchester.
The section between Alresford and Alton was bought from BR and steam trains commenced operating the 3 mile stretch from Alresford to Ropley in 1977. However, BR had torn up the lines and even removed the ballast over the remaining 7 miles to Alton and this had to be re-laid by our volunteers. This section to Medstead & Four Marks opened in 1983 and the last section to Alton in 1985, this cost close to £1m.
The entire route is single track with passing points at each of the intermediate stations. As your train leaves Alresford it enters a deep chalk cutting before crossing over the old A31. The you will cross the river Arle, from which curiously Alresford takes its name, and to the right you should be able to glimpse some watercress beds.
The line continues climbing eastwards past Bishops Sutton and on occasions buzzards are seen in the area. Grand views of the Hampshire hills open up as your train approaches Ropley where our Locomotive Shed and engineering works can be found. The topiary at this station is famous and has been cultivated for over 100 years.
The steam engine may well take water here before continuing its journey. Immediately the climb steepens to 1 in 60, which is hard work for a steam engine, hence our need for large, powerful locomotives. More good views may be had after Ropley, and to the right may be seen the ‘Shant’ a building where in the 1860’s the navies who built the line were housed. Rounding ‘Wanders Curve’, the next cutting is entered and then you reach Medstead & Four Marks station, the highest in Southern England. This is a very pretty and peaceful station, the gardens are always worth a visit and there is an interesting display of photos in the downside platform waiting room. Medstead is the base for our Permanent Way and Signal & Telegraph Departments who tend to the track and signaling equipment, making sure the railway runs smoothly – quite literally! It is also home to our Wagon Restoration Group who restore heritage wagons, now not seen on the national network and an important part of our industrial heritage.
The summit of the line (652 ft above sea level) is reached in the cutting beyond this station and then it is downhill (again at 1 in 60) most of the way to Alton. About 1 mile before Alton station you will pass the site of Butts Junction, where two other lines branched off at one time. To the north (left hand side) was the Basingstoke & Alton light railway (1901-1933) and to the south the route to Fareham (1903-1955). The remains of the junction signal box can be glimpsed to the north of the line just before you cross the main road into Alton. Before Alton station you pass the Coors brewery, previously owned by Bass; and on the other side of the road there was another brewery that was rail connected. To the south of the line is Kings Pond on the River Wey, used originally to store water for a mill. At Alton we share the station with South West Trains who provide onward connection to Woking and London (Waterloo).
More information about the history of our railway is available in our glossy souvenir guide available for purchase at our stations and shops for £5.00
Download and view our Gradient Profile chart. Information about our Signalling history can be found here.
REFRESHMENTS
Hot and cold food is available from the station buffet at Alresford. This station now offers free WiFi access.
At Ropley, our shop sells a selection of snacks and drinks and is open most operating days.
Medstead & Four Marks also offer a limited range of refreshments during weekend operations.
Alton station also offers snacks and drinks.
On our steam hauled services, there is a Buffet serving a variety of refreshments. This service is available most operating days.
GIFTS & SOUVENIRS
Our main shop can be found at Alresford station in the Old Goods Shed at the western end of the platform. This shop is open daily and has a wide selection of gifts from railway models, books and DVD’s to jams, preserves and chutneys.
Ropley station shop can be found in the main building and is open most operating days.
Alton station shop can be found on Platform 3 and is open on operating days.
VIEW THE ENGINES
You are welcome to visit the yard at Ropley to view steam and diesel engines up close. This is open most days between 10am and 4pm. Please note that access to the yard is sometimes restricted when there is shunting, lifting or coal deliveries taking place for your safety.
TOILETS
Alresford – these are in the main station building and in the Old Goods Shed (including disabled and baby changing facilities). Additional toilets are available on the opposite side of the car park.
Ropley – in the main station building. The Disabled toilet is available on the platform.
Medstead – in the main station building.
Alton – On platform 3. Disabled toilet is also available.
OTHER FACILITIES
Picnic areas – There is a large picnic area, with children’s playground, at Ropley with views of the engine shed. There is also a picnic area at Alresford overlooking the station. Both sites offer excellent views of the trains.
STATION OVERVIEW
ALRESFORD
The Headquarters of our railway at the westerly end of the railway, situated in a typical country market town. The information office is situated in the station on Platform 1 as is the West Country Buffet serving drinks and hot and cold food, free WiFi is available in the buffet which is open every day except Monday. There is a picnic area overlooking the station and seating available outside the buffet on the platform.
Toilets are available in the station and in the Goods Shed (also on Platform 1) with disabled and baby changing facilities in the Goods Shed.
The Old Goods Shed houses the station shop and conference facilities.
This station offers excellent disabled access as it is all on one level with disabled parking very close to the station. Ramps are available at all our stations and staff are on hand to help with boarding the trains.
ROPLEY
A country station famous for its topiary, once housing only a small goods yard it has now become the engineering hub of the Watercress Line. The station building on Platform 2 houses a restored ticket office and a depiction of a typical station masters lounge. A small gift shop is also located in the station building along with toilet facilities (inc. disabled)
Across the line there is a picnic area, children's play area and the seasonal T-Junction serving drinks and hot & cold food. All are located on an elevated area from which you can overlook the passing trains and our locomotive yard and sheds. There is a lineside path running westwards from Platform 1 which can be a good spot from which to take photos
The main attraction at Ropley is our engineering works, although you cannot enter the shed, the doors are often open for you to see our ongoing restoration projects and you are free (except when shunting is in progress) to enter the yard and walk in and amongst the trains not running on the day of your visit. For more information please visit The Works.
MEDSTEAD & FOUR MARKS
Situated close to the summit of "the Alps", Medstead & Four Marks is the highest station in Southern England. It is smaller and more peaceful than our other stations.
Toilets are available in the main station building (not disabled) and there are grassed areas suitable for picnics. The footbridge offers a grandstand view of trains working hard up the long, straight 1 in 60 gradient from Ropley.
The restored interior of the main building, including the period booking office, is well worth a look. The waiting room on the opposite platform contains an exhibiton illustrating the history of the station.
The Railway's Permanent Way, Signals and Telegraphs and Building Departments are based in the former goods yard and restoration and maintenance of our vintage goods wagon fleet takes place here.
ALTON
The eastern tip of the Watercress Line, using Platform 3 sharing the station with South West Trains (who use Platforms 1 & 2). Half hourly connections to London and elsewhere on the national rail network are available from here (Sunday - hourly until lunchtime. Please check SWT Timetable). Access is via the footbridge, however we recommend disabled passengers read our access information page before commencing a journey at Alton.
Tickets can be purchased from the Shop situated on Platform 3 or from an on-train Ticket Inspector, there is an information kiosk from which hot drinks may be purchased. Toilet facilities (inc. disabled) are available.
All photos courtesy Mike Pearson