This event is a chance to see and ride behind special guest engines and our home-fleet locomotives. This ‘gala of firsts’ is also joining Railway 200 in celebrating 200 years of train travel with our exciting line up of guest and home fleet locomotives. Enjoy an intensive operating service running each day.
Explore all of our heritage stations along the 10 mile line, get up close to some of our locomotives, find out more about our restoration projects and enjoy guided tours and various exhibits.
First guest locomotive announced
On her first visit away from her home railway, we welcome London and South Western Railway T3 class steam locomotive No. 563, with thanks to our friends at Swanage Railway Trust and the 563 Locomotive Group.
Built at Nine Elms works in 1893 to a design by renowned engineer William Adams, No. 563 was donated to the Swanage Railway Trust by the National Railway Museum in 2017 in a non-working condition.
No. 563 was withdrawn by the Southern Railway at the end of world war two in 1945, after running more than 1.5 million miles in service. 563 was used to help celebrate the centenary of Waterloo station in London during 1948, and as a result was thankfully saved from being scrapped with the rest of the class members. Lined out in 1890s Drummond passenger green livery – the 81-tonne T3 hauled its first passenger train since 1945 in October 2023, and is now one of the oldest locomotives still in an operational condition.
Plus more guests and details to be announced!
What else is going on:
• Enjoy FREE guided tours of the Engineering Works at Ropley (need to pre-book).
• Limited number of Queen Mary brake van rides available on the Goods Train (operators discretion & guidelines apply).
• Miniature railway with steam locomotive on display.
• View our Goods Shed exhibition ‘Delivering the Goods’ at Medstead & Four Marks Station, as well as tours of the yard.
• Society stands and displays at Ropley station, as well as railway art stalls upstairs in the Goods Shed in Alresford.
• West Country Buffet at Alresford station and Ropley’s T-Junction will be open for you to enjoy a selection of hot and cold meals, snacks and drinks.
• Alton Kiosk will be open serving hot & cold drinks.
• Check out the gift shops downstairs in the Old Goods Shed at Alresford Station, selling gifts and mementos of your day, and sales stands on the platform at Ropley Station.
Also check out other Workshops in New Alresford, Exhibitions in New Alresford, Arts events in New Alresford.
