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Location notes
Between Alton and Alresford on the Mid Hants Railway in Hampshire. This is the general area around Ropley station and the loco shed alongside. There are several good vantage points. Please remember to pop a small donation in the box at Ropley station as they are always willing for people to visit and take pictures but a small donation will help them carry on running a great line.
Railway type and traffic
The Mid Hants is an excellent preserved railway. There always seems to be something going on here, not just steam wise. In recent months I've witnessed Deltic 9016 in Porterbrook livery, a pair of Fragonset class 33 locos stabled and most recently a pair of Fragonset class 73 locos. This is in addition to the class 47 and Desiro unit that were resident here for a while in 2003 for testing purposes. The railway has an excellent set of events throughout the year and a very good website that gives details of all of these and more -
The Watercress Line
Environment
This is a rural area. North of the station is an embankment. You can walk from the station along this embankment to get to the overbridge on Bighton Hill or vice versa.
Road directions
The A31 from Winchester to Guildford runs right past Ropley. Ropley station is on the north side of the A31. There are two roads that lead to opposite ends of the station. Station Hill leads to the station itself with limited parking. Bighton Hill is a couple of hundred yards away to the east and leads up a narrow lane and over the railway, the car park is on the left.
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Parking
Parking isn't plentiful but there is a small car park at Ropley station and another small car park on the north side of the line off Bighton Hill.
Public transport
Mid Hants Railway operates trains on most days that connect with South West Trains at Alton. Please check the
website for details of MHR services.
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Amenities
Mid Hants Railway operates trains on most days that connect with South West Trains at Alton. Please check the website for details of MHR services.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
MHR, Ropley
Googly map
Streetmap links
MHR, Ropley general view map
MHR, Ropley close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
MHR, Ropley
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Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The embankment to the north of the line between the station and Bighton Hill affords good views of the loco yard but does get a bit obscured with trees in summer at the eastern end.
Links to photographs at this location
Northern Railways - Ropley
General views - All photographs © Carl Watson unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - From the embankment
Fig 2 - Looking east
From the Bigton Hill over bridge.
Fig 3 - Looking west
From the Bigton Hill over bridge.
Fig 4 - Looking east
From the station footbridge.
Fig 5 -Looking west
From the station footbridge.
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