The Mid Hants Railway (more commonly known as the Watercress Line), was a 17 mile line in Hampshire, UK, opened on 2nd October 1865 between Alton and Winchester. Initial stations were constructed at Ropley, Alresford and Itchen Abbas, with an additional station at Medstead & Four Marks opening in 1868. The line was single track, with passing loops at each station, however the infrastructure (bridges, tunnels etc) was generally built to allow for the route to be doubled in the future.
| Mid Hants Railway (Present) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Description | A representation of the Mid Hants Heritage Railway, also known as the Watercress Line | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Time period | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Train Operating Company | Watercress Line | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Simulation difficulty |   | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Author | Oxalin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Repository | Mid Hants Railway (Present) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | Mid Hants Railway (Present) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Following electrification from London as far as Alton, the line was downgraded to an hourly diesel shuttle between Alton and Southampton. However, it was heavily used for diversions while the South West Main Line was closed between Woking and Winchester for its own electrification. Additionally, the line was used extensively by goods trains, particularly for the locally grown Watercress (from which it gained its name). However, the freight traffic ceased in 1964, and as the passenger service was becoming increasingly financially unviable, the route south from Alton to Winchester eventually closed in 1973.
Following closure, the stretch between Alton and Alresford was gradually reopened in stages between 1977 and 1985, operating today as the Watercress Line Heritage Railway.
This is a representation of the Mid Hants Railway as it is today - a single line running from Alton to Alresford, with passing loops and stations at Medstead & Four Marks and Ropley.
Timetable
A standard "two train" timetable for 2023 is included. For ease of operation, the trains start and finish in the stations rather than the sidings and shed. Each train runs three round trips, each taking two hours, which provides a total service of 6tpd.
Operational Tips
- Trains passing alternates between Medstead & Four Marks and Ropley - make sure not to route the train too far ahead to block a route.
- The locomotive will detach at each end to run around the coaches.