Watercress Line / Mid Hants Railway - 2025 Diesel Gala - 4K

With 6 visiting locomotives, the London Transport 4TC and the railway's home fleet to see, this gala was simply too good to miss. Another bonus was being there to witness the Ropley miniature railway finally extended into 'Four Acre Field'.
The day was hot, not a cloud in the sky, the sort of day when sane people stay indoors or go to the seaside to cool down, I couldn't help but be reminded of the Noel Coward song 'Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun'. The action on the railway made the event well worth suffering the extreme heat to see. With the exception of the Class 70, 66 and 20 the mainline diesel locomotives represented were once the mainstay of West of England services to Exeter, Plymouth and beyond.

Visiting Locomotives -
Class 52 (Western) No.D1015 'Western Champion'
Class 42 (Warship) No.D821 'Greyhound'
Class 46 No.46045 / D182
Class 50 No.50008 / D408 'Thunderer' - Static display
Freightliner Class 70 No.70002
Freightliner Class 66 No.66593

Home Fleet -
Class 20 No.D8059 / 20059
Class 20 No.D8188 / 20188
Class 47 No.47579 'James Nightall GC'
Class 11 No.12082
Class 50 No.50027 / D467 'Lion' - static display

Miniature Railway -
No.47834 'Jerry Lee'
American outline 'Patricia'

00:43 - Freightliner Class 70 No.70002
00:59 - Freightliner Class 66 No.66593
01:05 - London Underground 4TC – ex BR Class 438 EMU
01:27 - BR Class 20 No's D8059 / 20059 & D8188 / 20188
01:39, 02:34 & 04:11 - Class 52 (Western) No.D1015 'Western Champion'
01:56 - Freightliner Class 66 No.66593
03:12 - American outline 'Patricia' on the Ropley 10¼ inch gauge miniature railway
05:18 & 08:05 - Class 46 No. 46045 / D182
05:32 - Class 47 No.47579 'James Nightall GC'
06:12 - No.47834 'Jerry Lee' on the Ropley 10¼ inch gauge miniature railway
08:36 - Class 46 No. 46045 / D182 at Ropley MPD
08:57 - Class 42 (Warship) No.D821 'Greyhound'
15:57 - Class 11 No.12082

Track Gauge -
Standard gauge - 4 feet 8 ½ inches (1,435 mm)
Ropley Miniature Railway - 10¼ inch gauge