4th October 2025
KVG invite to Watercress Line – Autumn Steam Gala 2025
I have arranged a visit for a few classic car owners, to the Saturday event on 4th October. We will have a reserved area at the TOP CAR PARK, off Bighton Road, Ropley, Hants for several cars. Take the Bighton Hill Road off the A31 at Ropley, top car park immediately you go over the bridge, on left.
Gates will be open from around 8:00am, the trains usually start running between 9:40 and 10:00, but the timetable is not yet been released. I would suggest arrival between 9:00 and 9:30 if you can. Please be in before 10:00am, so I'm not waiting around to park late-comers - or let me know if you ARE going to be later, with an ETA
For a fee of £35 there is all day unlimited rides on the steam trains, or you can just enjoy watching all the visiting Loco’s and locally owned Loco’s, and the main workshops events. Alternatively, you can attend for free and not take the train rides.
There are refreshments available at Ropley & Alresford stations.
Of special interest for those ‘in the know’ we have some historic visitors for the weekend.
60007 “Sir Nigel Gresley” An A4 Class Pacific engine – 1937 – and held a steam speed record of 112mph in 1959
34059 “Sir Archibald Sinclair” Battle of Britain class – owned by the Bluebell Railway and returned to service Nov 2023 after a major rebuild.
There will be more visiting and local engines, not yet revealed, including our own.
35005 – Canadian Pacific Merchant Navy Class – rebuilt here, back in service March 2025
(30)506 – S15 Class -Now in the final stages of some boiler repairs and should be running well before the Gala. Owned by the Urie Locomotive Society at Ropley, one of only two survivors of this class – the sister to this, no 499 is in the process of a total rebuild, which you will see on site.
A visit around the Workshops has been arranged, you will see the Carriage Shop, where some amazing woodworking skills are carried out, the Boiler Shop which deals mainly with the refurb/rebuild and testing of the heart of the steam engines, and the Engine Shops, where they are stripped, repaired, and re-assembled to better than new condition.
S15 – 499 partially rebuilt chassis being lifted onto temporary bogies to enter the Engine Shop, after many years work… Aim is to finish it 2028/9
It will be a great and enjoyable day out, whether an enthusiast, an anorak, or just along for the ride. If the weather’s good, there are ‘picnic’ areas, and there will be food and drink on site.
If you would like to attend, please contact me on 07411 238034, or through our TR Reg WhatsApp Group – ‘Who Is Going TR Events’ - There will be a limit to numbers, not yet determined, so put your name down early, if you wish to attend.
There is a limit of 16 Classic vehicles so book early to avoid disappointment.
Michael Field
Further details of the event - Autumn Steam Gala - Watercress Line