Watercress Line Autumn Steam Gala, 2nd October 2026

A set of images from Ian Knight.

GWR 4247 (Swindon, 1916) at Ropley. Normally resident at the Dartmouth Steam Railway.

Also at Ropley, KILMERSDON (Peckett 1788 / 1929) owned by the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust.

S15 30506 (LSWR Eastleigh, 1920) arrives with a freight train.

GWR 6959 Modified Hall Class 6989 Wightwick Hall (BR Swindon, 1948), nomuinally based at Quainton Road, now running in a Harry Potter red scheme.

LMS Ivatt 2MT tank 41313 (BR Crewe, 1952) was visiting from the Isle of Wight. As shown on the headboard, its boiler ticket runs out next year.

LMS Ivatt 2MT 46447 (BR Crewe, 1950), seen at Alton, is also owned by the Ivatt Locomotive Trust, and normally kept at the East Somerset Railway.

Resident Ivatt 2MT tank 41312 (BR Crewe,1952) also runs out of boiler ticket in January 2027. The consecutively numbered locomotives are seen at Ropley. 

Mid-Hants Railway / Watercress Line