City of Wells set for Watercress Line’s Somerset & Dorset gala
A SOMERSET & Dorset-themed gala is being held at the Mid-Hants Railway on October 1-3 to welcome the S&D Trust to the line.
Bulleid West Country Pacific
No. 34092 City of Wells will return to its native Southern Region metals, visiting from the East Lancashire Railway. The other guest is still to be confirmed, with the possible contenders including BR Standard or heavy freight designs authentic to the Bath-Bournemouth cross-country route.
As this issue went to press, MHR general manager Simon Baggott told Heritage Railway: ”There will be a second visitor for certain, but there are three engines in the frame (there were four), all S&D types.”
The visitors will join the S&D Trust's 7F 2-8-0 No. 53808, now resident at the ‘Watercress Line' and two other Ropley-based engines of classes authentic to the S&D, Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T No. 41312 and BR Standard 4MT 2-6-0 No. 76017.
The line's ‘Thomas the Tank Engine', converted Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST Works No. 3781 of 1952, will act as yard pilot at Ropley, where shunting demonstrations will take place.
The event will feature the grand opening of a new display of S&D artefacts at Alresford, moved there by the S&D Trust following its eviction from its previous base at Washford on the West Somerset Railway. Some of the trust's collection of wagons will also be on display.
Each day will have a different theme, with Friday recalling ‘the S&D at work' with passenger and goods trains, the
Saturday having a holiday feel with frequent passenger workings, and the Sunday recreating the route's ‘Pines Express'.
For the latter, it is hoped to display the original platform ‘finger board' from Bath Green Park on the platform at Alresford, with a ‘Pines' destination board. Brake van rides may also be available, and a real ale train will run on the Saturday evening.
Unlike previous events under coronavirus restrictions, there will be no allocated seats and passengers will be free to move between trains, with all the stations open – although the railway states that advance booking is preferred at www.watercressline.co.uk