The Mid Hants Railway have announced that train enthusiasts at a nearby Hampshire care home have raised nearly £1,000 to help preserve it for future generations.

The appreciative senior passengers of the Mid Hants Railway (also known as The Watercress Line) live around seven miles away at the  Abbotts Barton nursing and residential home in Winchester.

As with all of the 20 homes run by the family-owned Colten Care, Abbotts Barton allows the residents to nominate a charity or worthy cause to support each year.

They chose the line as their preferred charity in 2017 and has meant that collections could be taken at community events in the home including a harvest lunch, barbecue, coffee mornings and Valentine’s raffle.

Their latest trip included presenting the railway volunteers, which included a platform guard, driver and stoker, with a giant cheque presenting the £980.60 raised through the homes campaign.

After the presentation, the visitors boarded a steam train for their return trip to Alton. The day ended with a picnic at the nearby Avington Park stately home.

What did the officials say?

Janet Orchard of the home’s Companionship Team said:

“Our residents are regular visitors to the Watercress Line. They wanted to do their bit to help keep it going and know that their grandchildren and great-grandchildren can enjoy it in future years.”

“We adore coming here,” said resident Joyce Malphus:

“Even though we live in an absolutely beautiful home, we all appreciate going out in the minibus for sunny day trips and having this fabulous railway line nearby is ideal. We’d love to know it can be preserved for younger generations in years to come.”

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