steam railway trains for tv, films, &
fashion shoots. "near London", operating mainline steam engines, "standard
gauge", "Watercress Line", Hampshire England, Mid-hants railway steep gradients,
authentic original stations, "thomas the tank engine" and friends, sr, lswr,
semaphore railway signals, signal box boxes
for filming, photoshoots, etc.
| The line is 10 miles long, running between
Alresford and Alton in
rural Hampshire, England, near the
A31 Winchester - Farnham main road, and is just over an hour from London.
Our railway was once part of the British main-line network but is now
independently owned and operated as a heritage steam railway. The steeply-graded
route means that large and powerful
locomotives are the hallmark of the line, now a major tourist attraction
in the South of England.
The railway is available as a self-contained location and has been used in a variety of productions from advertising photography to television and feature films. Consequently we understand the needs and requirements of production companies and agencies. The majority of our staff are volunteers - highly committed and enthusiastic. Technical and historical expert advice with regard to both past and present railway scenes is all part of our service. |
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Locomotives The Mid-Hants Railway has a variety of steam locomotives available, from ex- Southern Railway to former British Railways engines in green or black. Diesel locomotives and trains are also available and because we are connected to the national rail network modern locomotives can be hired and readily brought to our line
Photo (Medstead & Four Marks station, 31st August 2008): David Warwick |
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Coaches The majority of our coaches are ex British Railway Mk1's built in the 1950's, either open saloons or with the more traditional compartments. The majority are in green livery and could portray a period from World War Two to the late 1960's. For contemporary interiors our heritage diesel trains or Pullman coach might have what you are looking for. More details Ropley station (Photo: Chris Cornell) |
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Goods (freight) wagons provide another useful feature, as do steam cranes (10-ton, 45-ton), all of which are available for hire Photo (25th March 2007): Henry O'Dwer |
Stations
| Medstead & Four Marks station
(Photo: Tony Wood) |
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There are four stations on the line:- Alresford the headquarters of the Watercress Line, represents a typical Southern Railways station of the era 1923-1947 and has a large car park suitable for a location base. Alresford station is gas-lit, including the station buffet. Photos of the Georgian town of Alresford Ropley station (bird's eye view) represents a typical country station of the 1950's, with some fine topiary and locomotive yard and shed Medstead & Four Marks (above) is a small country station restored in Southern green of the period 1923-47, with a goods yard and period booking office Alton station is shared with South West Trains and our platform represents the BR period of the 1950's. Previous work has included the "conversion" of stations and carriage stock to modern-day colour schemes At Alresford, Ropley and Medstead & Four Marks we have all facilities appropriate to the period: signal boxes, waiting rooms and ticket offices. There are footbridges at all our stations. How to Get to the Mid Hants Railway by road, rail or air
*Alresford, Hampshire was later renamed New Alresford, and this is the name to input if you are using AutoRoute computer program to get directions
Alresford station is gas-lit throughout Two photos: Chris Cornell |
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Some Of The Productions Shot On The Watercress Line "Primeval" - ITV Sci Fi Adventure directed by Michael Katleman
Mid-Hants Railway features in:
Those of you local enough to have seen the TV ad for Specsavers (the one where the girl embraces the wrong guy!) - that too was filmed at Ropley - cosmetically 'updated' for the occasion. Photo (Friday 26th July 2002): Chris Cornell
Filming for four days at Alresford "On the Right Track", written and directed by Ben Boultbee, starring Gerald Harper and Kim Fenton, was shot entirely on location at the Watercress Line between 8th and 12th January 2001. |
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Other filming at Mid-Hants Railway Photo-shoots and feature film location Photo-charter on 11th March 2004 |
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