The Mid-Hants Railway "The Watercress Line" has run a series of Steam Illumination trains during Christmas 2023.
Thursday 21st had two round trips for each service departing from Alresford and Alton.
| Alresford | Alton | |
| Trip 1 | 16:10 | 16:25 |
| Trip 2 | 18:50 | 19:05 |
The locomotives were resident Southern Railway Urie S15 class 506 on the Alresford services and visiting Southern Railway Battle of Britain class 34070 "Manston" from the Swanage Railway on the Alton services.
The services pass at Medstead on the outbound journey of each trip and at Ropley on the return journey.
SR S15 506 arrives.
Visiting 34070 "Manston" arrives with 506 waiting.
506 passes on the way back to Alresford having run round at Alton.
34070 passing on the way back to Alton.
When I arrived at Medstead and Four Marks, D8188 was in Medstead sidings. Between the two trips, it came into the station to collect a token for the single track section between Medstead and Ropley before returning to Ropley.
D8188 arrives into the station from Medstead siding, before heading back to Ropley.
506 arrives after working up from Alresford.
34070 arrives alongside 506 waiting at the station to continue to Alton.
I didn't stay for the return journeys of the second trips, as I had to get the 64 bus back to Winchester.
Friday 29th had the same two two round trips for each service departing from Alresford and Alton, with S15 506 on Alresford services and 34070 on Alton services.
| Alresford | Alton | |
| Trip 1 | 16:10 | 16:25 |
| Trip 2 | 18:50 | 19:05 |
S15 506 arriving at Ropley under the footbridge and then pulling away from Ropley after taking on water.
34070 steams through Ropley on the way down to Alresford.
506 arriving at Ropley for its second water stop on the second and final round trip of the night.
34070 passing Ropley again.
Like at Medstead and Four Marks, the station has been decorated for the Steam Illuminations event.
