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| 17th
April 2006: Percy, Thomas and Henry in Ropley loco yard The Ropley picnic area gives a grandstand view of the happenings |
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| Mr
Wizard introduces Bertha
the Bunny to a family from Waterlooville From: Amanda Buckwell Sent: 23 April 2006 22:00 Our Bank Holiday Monday this Easter was well spent enjoying a Day Out With Thomas. We felt the event was really well organised (with very helpful friendly staff), great value for money and above all it was wonderful seeing our daughter Harriet (2yr) constantly waving her Thomas flag at all the engine's! We especially enjoyed Mr.Wizard and as promised he posted a picture onto the Watercress Line web site of us meeting him on the day. We will thoroughly recommend all our friends' families to definitely pay you a visit and we will of course come again soon! Thanks for a great day out!!! The Paardecooper family Waterlooville |
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Four
photos sent by Mr Wizard (17th April 2006) |
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| 16th
April 2006: The big engines have gone to the ends of the line, so Thomas, Toad and Diesel wait to give rides to early customers. New barley-sugar lamp-posts are being installed on the extension to platform 2 Photo (16th April 2006):
Tony Wood
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| 15th
April 2006: Early morning at Ropley and the locos are about to move to their starting positions. Diesel is in charge of Thomas's Troublesome Trucks, but Thomas is soon there to reclaim them to give early visitors a ride in Toad. Diesel's driver has lots of company when he gives cab rides Movie (2.9MB)
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Henry and Percy are coupled together face-to-face ready to go to Alresford; Henry will collect his carriages for a big-train end-to-end service, and Percy will chuff about Alresford station to show off his newly-repainted brake van |
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| Behind Percy, Toad stands ready to give rides at the end of Thomas's goods train |  |
| Later in the morning, Thomas and Diesel have a race: Diesel wins! |
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| After the race, Diesel and Thomas go to the platform to meet their little friends |  |
 A family from South Korea takes a ride in a big train. Grandad and
grandson pose for a photo with James
in the yard
Nine photos and a movie (all 15th April 2006): Tony Wood |
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Murdock arriving at Ropley on Friday 14th April, seen from inside Daisy Photo (14th April 2006): Mike Woolmington of Ropley staff |
13th
April 2006:  Photo (13th April 2006):
Ian Sharp
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Percy was chuffing around Alresford today with his brake van The face-painting was (as ever) much in demand |
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web-movies: Three photos and two movies (all 13th April
2006): Tony Wood
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Mr Wizard's Magic Show always goes down well, especially with the little ones! (Movie, 4.1MB, August 2005: Mr Wizard) |
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| From: Darren Ginger Sent: 12 April 2006 19:34 Subject: Thomas Day Out Hi Tony Just wanted to drop you a line to say a big thank you to everyone at The Watercress Line for a great day out. After 4 visits in the last couple of years my daughters who are 7 and 3 are slowly becoming steam converts and look forward greatly to our days out. We have attached some of their favourite pictures from today. If anybody is looking for something to do over the Easter break I don't think you could find a better day out. Thanks Darren, Jo, Phoebe and Hayley |
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| 11th
April 2006: Everyone out today wrapped up against a cold wind; many picnics were enjoyed in our steam-heated trains running full end-to-end of the line. A small crowd went to the end of the yard to watch Thomas take a drink at the water tower. Meridian TV were at MHR today, filming a feature for their Meridian Today programme (broadcast 12th April) Photo (11th April 2006):
Tony Wood
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| From: Sarah White Sent: 24 March 2007 19:43 Subject: Thomas Day Out 10th April 2006 Hello I have been looking at the website with my daughter Jasmine (4yrs) and we noticed that you do not have any photographs of 10th April 2006. I have attached one (Thomas and Diesel race.) Mrs Sarah White and Jasmine White Thank you, Sarah. See you both at Easter? ... tw, 25th March 2006
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9th
April 2006: Early morning at Ropley, before the customers arrive, platform 2 is full of locos ready to depart to their starting places; Percy and Henry are about to depart for Alresford, Thomas, Toad and Diesel are preparing to give rides to those who arrive early. Murdoch is at platform 1 ready to go to Alton A porter was sweeping the steps of the footbridge behind the camera Photo (9th April 2006):
Tony Wood
Movie: Thomas and Toad give rides (770KB, 9th April 2006): Tony Wood |
| From: Paul Emery Sent: 09 April 2006 20:12 Subject: A day out with Thomas Dear Tony I just wanted to drop you a word of thanks and would ask you to pass this on to all colleagues at your amazing Railway. I have just spent a whole day with my wife and 2 children Sophie (4) and Adam (2) at your Day out with Thomas. And what an absolutely incredible day it was. I am 37 and I don't know who was more a kid, myself or my children. I mean, screaming for Thomas to beat Diesel in the one on one race at the top of my voice. Does this sound like an adult to you? My children have never been so excited in their lives before. And your staff were fantastic, you could tell that they were having as good a time as your visitors. I could not fault it. I would and already have recommended you to others and have already started to look into the footplate course you hold. As a bus driver I would love to further my experience and have a go. So to finish off I would like to offer my congratulations on a well presented, organised and thoroughly enjoyable experience. Keep it going and we will be back very soon. Kind regards Paul Emery Thank you Paul for such warm comments on our efforts. You are absolutely correct about the staff and volunteers having a good time too at these events d:-) ...tw |
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| 8th
April 2006: Percy is a lovely little Peckett 0-4-0 whose coal is bucket-fed to a little bunker in the cab. Movie of this scene (450KB) The limited supply almost proved his undoing this afternoon at Ropley when he ran out of coal just outside Ropley station whilst pulling his goods train from Alresford. Fortunately his good friend Thomas was able to come to his rescue. Movie of the rescue (1MB) |
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| Your
webmaster, noting a keen wind, asked Mrs Kyndley if she was cold. "Yes," she said, "But I've got my bloomers on." Challenged, she showed them to the camera despite the somewhat disapproving eye of the Law! Three photos (8th April
2006): Tony Wood
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| More little movies:
Thomas gives rides in Toad (1.1MB) Thomas and Diesel head to the footbridge to start a race (800KB) Thomas and Percy (680KB) Five movies (all 8th
April 2006): Tony Wood
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Links to other pages
Loco
Shed: Latest Reports and Photos
Thomas events: dates, booking details, fares How to get to the Watercress Line How we cook breakfast on the shovel at Mid-Hants Railway The Origins of Thomas the Tank Engine How many people are looking at this website? Latest record figures |
www.watercressline.co.uk
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Tel No: 01962 733810 Fax No: 01962 735448 e-mail: reservations@watercressline.co.uk |
