Visiting guest engines appearing at next weekend’s spectacular Spring Steam Gala at The Watercress Line will feature two passenger express locomotives and an industrial tank engine.

The Spring Steam Gala is being held from Friday, 26 to Sunday, 28 April, and will see London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Jubilee Class No. 45690 Leander and Southern Railway Battle of Britain Class No. 34070 Manston, appearing alongside former National Coal Board ‘Lambton’ Tank no. 29.

Each of the locomotives will be sharing duties with the line’s home fleet operating services along the railway’s 10-mile route.

This will be Leander’s first appearance at a preserved line in Hampshire since being restored and will soon be withdrawn from operational service for an overhaul.

Leander is appearing at the gala with the kind permission of the Beet family and its operator West Coast Railways.

Manston was designed by Oliver Bulleid to work over the restricted secondary routes of the Southern Railway.

It was built at Brighton in 1947 and will be operating along the Watercress Line courtesy of Swanage Railway and Southern Locomotives Ltd.

‘Lambton’ Tank No. 29, was built in 1904 for the privately-owned Lambton Colliery in County Durham where it was the first 0-6-2 tank engine to be used on that system.

It is visiting the Watercress Line with thanks to the Lambton Trust and North Yorkshire Moors Railway, where it has recently been in operational service.

Among locomotives from the home-fleet locomotives are the fast freight engine Southern Railway S15 Class No. 506 by courtesy of the Urie Locomotive Society, former Southern Region Ivatt 2-6-2 tank engine No. 41312, and No. 1788 Kilmersdon which originally worked at Kilmersdon Colliery in Somerset.

Each day of the Gala, driver experiences will be available on Kilmersdon to give visitors the chance to find out how to drive a steam locomotive.

At Ropley station there will be society stands and displays and at Alresford the gift shop will be open.

Refreshments will be available from the West Country Buffet at Alresford and T-Junction at Ropley.

Further information and booking details can be at https://watercressline.co.uk/spring-steam-gala/

We are delighted to have these three special guest engines at our Spring Steam Gala.

It promises to be a memorable event – in addition to riding behind some wonderful locomotives along the beautiful South Downs National Park, visitors can explore railway exhibits and enjoy guided tours for a real insight into maintaining and running locomotives at The Watercress Line.

Make sure you visit the impressive restoration projects, enjoy free guided tours of the Engineering Works at Ropley and don’t miss exciting Queen Mary brake van rides on the Goods Train. There’s also rides on the delightful miniature railway, and a model railway on display in the Carriage Shed.”

Rebecca Dalley, The Watercress Line CEO