Watercress Line
| Mid Hants Railway | |
|---|---|
| Watercress Line | |
 |
|
| 60163 Tornado climbs the bank heading towards Ropley during the Spring Steam Gala in 2010. | |
| Locale | Hampshire, United Kingdom |
| Connections | Network Rail track at Alton |
| Commercial operations | |
| Name | Mid-Hants Railway |
| Built by | Alton, Alresford and Winchester Railway Company |
| Original gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge etc |
| Preserved operations | |
| Operated by | Mid Hants Railway Ltd |
| Length | 10 miles (16 km) |
| Preserved gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | 2 October 1865 |
| Closed | 5 February 1973 |
| Preservation history | |
| 1975 | Line purchased from British Rail |
| 1977 | Re-opened between Alresford and Ropley |
| 1983 | Re-opened to Medstead and Four Marks |
| 1985 | Re-opened to Alton |
| Headquarters | Alresford |
| Website | |
| www |
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The Watercress Line is the marketing name of the Mid Hants Railway, a heritage railway in Hampshire, England, running 10 miles (16 km) from New Alresford to Alton where it connects to the National Rail network. The line gained its popular name in the days that it was used to transport locally grown watercress to markets in London. The railway currently operates regular scheduled services, along with dining trains, real ale trains and numerous special events throughout the year.
In 1861, the Alton, Alresford and Winchester Railway Company was authorised to build a new railway to connect to the existing London & South Western Railway lines at Alton and Winchester. It was opened on 2 October 1865 as the Mid-Hants Railway. Trains were operated by the London & South Western Railway which eventually purchased the Mid-Hants Railway Company in 1884.
Stations were initially constructed at Itchen Abbas, Ropley and Alresford. The station at Alton was already in existence. The station at Medstead and Four Marks was added in 1868. Just outside this station, the line is at its highest point (652 feet (199 m) above sea level) having risen from Alresford (263 feet (80 m) above sea level) and descending to Alton (339 feet (103 m) above sea level). The section of line became known as "the Alps", due to the steep gradients that exist there.
The line provided an alternative route between London and Southampton and, besides transporting locally produced watercress, was particularly important for military traffic between the army town of Aldershot and the military embarkation port at Southampton.
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Wikipedia