Mid-Hants Railway

From The Railway Magazine, December 1979: Bodmin returns to service on the Mid-Hants “Watercress” Line

by

Mark Lancaster

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28th May 2026

This verbatim article is taken from an old issue of The Railway Magazine and reports on a September 22 ceremony at Alresford Station. The extract covers the restored ex-Southern Railway express locomotive BR No. 34016, Bodmin, its renaming, return to service, and restoration background. Renaming at Alresford Station ON Saturday, September 22 (as reported on…
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Ivatt tank to attack Bodmin’s banks!

by

Gareth Evans

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4th August 2021

The Bodmin & Wenford Railway (BWR) has received a welcome visitor to assist with its peak summer timetable – Mid-Hants Railway-based BR ‘2MT’ No. 41312. The Ivatt 2-6-2T is set to spend around three weeks on the friendly Cornish heritage line before returning home to the Watercress Line. The welcome news will bring the sight…
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Railways returning to action!

by

Gareth Evans

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3rd July 2020

It’s been a long time coming, but the main 2020 season for a number of Britain’s heritage railways and attractions is springing into action following the gradual easing of Covid-19 restrictions. Therefore, we thought we’d bring you a list in alphabetical order of which venues are operating and when they’re set to recommence. Note however,…
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‘Chopper’ takes up Watercress Line duties

by

Sam Hewitt

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1st November 2019

CLASS 20 No. D8059 arrived at the Mid-Hants Railway (MHR) on July 26 from the Midland Railway-Butterley. It is owned by Somerset & Dorset Locomotives and is visiting the MHR on an extended stay, initially standing in for Class 50 No. 50027 Lion, which is receiving attention. The English Electric Type 1 entered passenger traffic on the…
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First trains for BR green Cheltenham since 1962

by

Sam Hewitt

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14th October 2019

THE National Railway Museum’s Maunsell ‘V’ class 4-4-0 Cheltenham has re-entered traffic at the Mid-Hants Railway following its repaint into British Railways livery as No. 30925. The refreshed ‘Schools’ made its Brunswick green debut on September 14, the first time it had hauled a passenger train in this guise since 1962. Cheltenham is pictured arriving at…
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Mogul and ‘Wells’ join the ‘Q’ at Severn Valley autumn spectacular

by

Sam Hewitt

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11th October 2019

A DISTINCT Southern Region atmosphere surrounded the Severn Valley Railway’s (SVR) Autumn Steam Gala on September 19-22, with five of the participating locomotives having a BR(S) pedigree. East Lancashire Railway Bulleid ‘West County’ No. 34092 City of Wells was surprisingly making its first visit to SVR metals. The air-smoothed Pacific proved to be a popular draw,…
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VIDEO: Hornby Margate open weekend

by

Gareth Evans

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25th September 2019

There were smiles all-round in a corner of Margate over the weekend of August 17-18 as the doors were opened to Hornby’s spiritual home.
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Cheltenham ‘resplendent’ in BR lined green at Mid-Hants Railway

by

Sam Hewitt

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23rd September 2019

‘SCHOOLS’ class 4-4-0 Cheltenham has emerged from the Mid-Hants Railway’s (MHR) Ropley workshops as No. 30925, resplendent in British Railways’ lined green. The repaint of the National Railway Museum locomotive was completed by Heritage Painting with assistance from MHR volunteers, transforming it from Southern Railway malachite green into the guise the loco carried during its final…
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BR Mogul and City of Wells confirmed for Severn Valley autumn event

by

Sam Hewitt

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11th September 2019

RIDDLES and Ivatt ‘4MT’ 2-6-0s will be open for comparison at the Severn Valley Railway (SVR) later this month when resident ‘Flying Pig’ No. 43016 is joined by the Mid-Hants Railway’s BR No. 76017 at the September 19-22 Autumn Steam Gala. No. 76017 is the first ‘Standard 4’ Mogul to visit the SVR since classmate…
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Urie 4-6-0 is the newest addition to Mid-Hants operating fleet

by

Sam Hewitt

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16th July 2019

THE Urie Locomotive Society’s (ULS) newly overhauled ‘S15’ 4-6-0 No. 506 became the newest addition to the Mid-Hants Railway’s operating fleet when it was formally handed over to the line’s operating department on June 2. The Eastleigh-built 4-6-0 last ran in 2001, and made its triumphant return to service resplendent in Southern unlined black with…
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Mid-Hants Railway

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