Sponsorship Form

OVER THE ALPS:  Walk of the Line, Saturday 10th November 2007 for BR Standard Class 4 Restoration

The Society has aquired another steam locomotive to add to its growing collection of motive power - a British Railways Standard 4MT #75079.

The locomotive was built in Swindon in 1956 and later, in 1957, it was fitted with a double chimney. This engine is very appropriate for our line as it spent most of its working life at Eastleigh and Basingstoke before being withdrawn at Eastleigh in November 1966.

The locomotive is ours, and that's a great advantage. We will have total control of it and its future working. Once restored, ownership of this engine will further reduce the dependency on other people's engines for which we have to pay a commercial fee every time we use them. 75079 will work for us and earn money only for us and that is a significant advantage to the railway. We need to get this engine restored to working order. We already have a team of, mainly, volunteers who are prepared to carry out the restoration for us. This is where your effort today will help. The more you can raise in sponsorship today, the more you will help pay the bills to get the work done.

The locomotive has been purchased with almost all the components required.
The boiler has been assessed as being capable of being put into working order for approx £30,000 and then there is the rest of the engine to overhaul - the wheels and running motion, the cylinders, the bearings... The list goes on and they all cost money. We hope you enjoy your walk - it is in a good cause.

In days gone by engine drivers using the route from Alton to Alresford said that they were going `Over the Alps', due to the extremely steep gradients on either side of Medstead & Four Marks station. Enjoy yourself and help your Railway prosper.

This is your opportunity to walk from Alton to Alresford, a distance of ten miles, to see the 'hill' from the site of Butts Junction, to enjoy the winter scenery normally only seen by the Permanent Way Gangs. You won't see the display of wild flowers unfolding throughout the year - you will have to join a permanent way gang for that. (They, between them, do a track inspection by walking the whole length of the line, starting from Medstead & Four Marks, every Saturday that trains run.)

You start your sponsored walk from Alton between 10.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m.

· Free orange squash, first aid facilities and toilets are at the intermediate stations of Medstead & Four Marks and Ropley
· A free bus for Alton leaves Alresford station at 9.30 a.m. ready for the start of the walk.
· Free return transport to Alton - by preserved bus - available from Alresford. (No walking back, please!)
Stout walking shoes or boots are recommended 

(No trains will operate on the railway on the day - for obvious reasons)

Further information from:

The Walk Administrator, Watercress Line,
The Railway Station, Alresford,
Hampshire S024 9JG
Telephone 01962 733810

   
 
"The sun shone brightly for all of the 180 walkers who took part in the 18th Annual Sponsored Walk of the Mid Hants Railway 'Watercress Line' on Saturday 10th November 2007. The walk of the ten mile track helped to raise £3938 which will assist the Mid Hants Railway Preservation Society in their efforts to raise the £30,000 plus, needed to restore the British Railways Standard 4MT  #75079 steam locomotive which has been purchased this year by the MHRPS.
"The locomotive was built in Swindon in 1956 and later, in 1957, it was fitted with a double chimney. This engine is very appropriate for our line as it spent most of its working life at Eastleigh and Basingstoke before being withdrawn in November 1966. The locomotive is ours, so we will have total control of its future working, reducing the dependency on other people's engines for which we pay a commercial fee every time we use them.
"Sue, a member of staff at the railway managed to walk the 10 mile track in 3 hours 10 mins. She commented: "I thoroughly enjoyed the challenging 10 mile walk of the line. It's great to see the line from a different perspective. I'll definitely be doing the sponsored walk again next year to help raise funds to keep our railway heritage alive!"
"The 19th Annual Sponsored Walk will be taking place on Saturday 8th November 2008.
"Sponsorship forms will be available from the Walk Administrator, Watercress Line stations and on our website later in 2008."
writes Louise Mackay,
Marketing Manager,
Tel: 01962 733810,
20th November 2007

 OVER THE ALPS

Sponsorship Form

for Walk of the Line on Saturday 8th November 2008

Please retain this portion and bring it with you on the day

Name  ................................................

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Full name & address of sponsor
(Please make cheques payable to "M.H.R.P.S.")

Post Code

Gift Aid ?

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I/we intend to take part in the walk on Saturday 8th November 2008