Alresford
Travel east from Winchester for some seven miles and you arrive at the town of Alresford (pronounced Allsford), this historic Georgian town, mentioned in the ‘Domesday Book’ is home to Hampshire’s Heritage Railway the ‘Watercress Line’.
Some 800 years ago New Alresford consisted of a church, built on high ground, with the humble dwellings of its inhabitants scattered round it. Its swampy ground was eventually overcome by the construction of the Great Weir, a long, high embankment. Today it is an unspoilt, mainly Georgian, market town, rebuilt after major conflagrations in 1689 and 1736.
The first thing that strikes the visitor is the varied colour of the fine houses, giving the town a very pleasant, distinctive look. Alresford new and old is the perfect place to stroll and browse among the many specialist shops selling antiques, gifts, antiquarian books, pictures, china and crafts.
The Watercress Line runs through ten miles of rolling scenic countryside between the market towns of Alresford and Alton. Large and powerful steam locomotives work hard to haul passenger trains over the steeply inclined route, known to railwaymen of old as ‘The Alps’. The line has a ruling gradient of 1 in 60, which is pretty steep for a railway, so the
magical chuff chuff sounds from the engine can be heard all around the surrounding countryside.
A visit to the Watercress Line is far more than a train ride, it is a journey back in time to the working past of a railway which served the inhabitants of the grand estates, manor farms, smallholdings and scattered cottage communities through which it passed. It carried their produce, livestock and themselves to market, and delivered all manner of machinery
guest steam locomotives from around the country, a sponsored ‘Walk The Line’ in November, not forgetting the Santa Specials in December and much more! There really is something for everyone to enjoy at the Mid Hants Railway ‘Watercress Line’.
On selected Saturday evenings the Watercress Line runs its steam hauled Real Ale Train, or RAT as it is affectionately known, serving a range of quality local real ales. Sharing the line on these evenings is the steam hauled 5 course luxury dining service, The Watercress Belle.
On select Sundays, there is also a steam hauled dining train, known as the Countryman, serving a traditional Sunday lunch. All of these trains are immensely popular, and will require advance booking, often months in advance.
provisions and supplies. The watercress plant is still grown in large commercial beds around Alresford, fed by the pure chalk spring waters of the river Arle and it is from here that the line derives its name.
There are numerous special events throughout the year such as the very popular Day Out With Thomas™ events during Easter & August, War on the Line in June, Alton Bus Rally in July, superb Steam Galas in Spring and Autumn featuring
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Alresford, Ropley and Alton stations have interpretation boards telling the history behind the stations. Ropley station houses a 1950s Station Masters lounge plus an education room and gift shop.
Alresford station, with its well stocked gift shop, buffet on the platform serving a range of refreshments and picnic area is the perfect place to experience the sights, sounds and smells of the bygone age of steam train travel - it also offers free WiFi for those who can’t completely escape the outside world!
The Tourist Handbook Wessex 2011
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