‘THE ALPS’ were partially transformed into the South Devon banks on October 4 ‐6, with a pair of Great Western Railway locomotives starring at the Mid-Hants Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala.
The Swindon-designed visitors were ‘Large Prairie’ 2 ‐ 6‐2T No. 4144 and ‘56XX’ 0 ‐ 6‐2T No. 6695 from Didcot Railway Centre and the Swindon & Cricklade Railway respectively, with the pair bringing a decidedly GWR feel to what is ordinarily a steadfastly Southern Region line. Western designs did not predominate, however, with a third visiting locomotive – air-smoothed ‘Battle of Britain’ No. 34072 257 Squadron, attending courtesy of Southern Locomotives Ltd and the Swanage Railway – staying true to the ‘Watercress Line’s’ 1950s Southern Region character, as did MHR residents ‘S15’ No. 506 and former Southern Region-allocated Ivatt ‘2MT’ 2 ‐ 6‐2T No. 41312. One interloper was the MHR’s Hunslet 0 ‐ 6‐0T Works No. 3781 (originally built as an ‘Austerity’ 0 ‐ 6‐0ST in 1952 but rebuilt in side tank form as ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’ in 1994). The former National Coal Board locomotive performed a single Ropley-Alresford trip each morning before providing driver experiences within Ropley yard during the rest of the day.
Visitors could also ride in the brake van on the demonstration goods train, while 257 Squadron hauled re ‐creations of the ‘Atlantic Coast Express’ each day.
