EbbwJunction1
Established Member
- Joined
- 25 Mar 2010
- Messages
- 1,565
I travelled on the railway on Sunday, and it was a good visit.
I had to book in advance (Senior Return, £16.00), which wasn't (to me) a problem, and I was restricted to one specific return journey. I read this as being from Alresford to Alton and back, but it wasn't as simple as that. We travelled out to Alton in one go, stopping briefly at Ropley and Medstead and Four Marks. When we got to Alton, there was a short break whilst the loco (BR Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T No. 41312) ran around the train. We then started our return journey, which took us as far as Ropley, where we had a longer break. This was, I think, to allow two trains to pass us in the Alton direction, although I'm not entirely sure of this. We then set off again, but this time retracing our steps to Medstead and Four Marks, where we paused again. The loco ran around the train and we were off, back to Ropley and then to Alresford.
There were three engines in steam, 41312, BR Standard Class 4 2-6-0 No. 76017 and "Thomas", although this was sans face and number (they can't use it as Thomas on general working days without paying a lot of money!). Southern "Schools" Class 4-4-0 No. 30925 "Cheltenham" was on shed at Ropley, looking immaculate, although not in steam. There was a walking trail from the up platform around the outside of the shed and back to the up platform.
I'm not an expert on rolling stock, so I'll just say that they were using Open carriages, some with tables and some without. The ticket bore a table / seat number, and I had a four berth area to myself. Opposite me, there was a family of four (two parents and two children) and there were other combinations throughout the train. No-one was allowed to share a table with someone not in the same family group. I had to wear a face mask whilst on the train, although not on the platforms.
None of the facilities on the stations (apart from the toilets) were open, although there was a "pop up shop" at Ropley with a separate refreshment area. Both of these were separated from the platforms. There were plenty of staff, and they were very friendly and helpful.
All in all, as I said at the beginning, it was a very good visit, and I had value for money. I'd have no problem in going on another line if this was the pattern there.
I had to book in advance (Senior Return, £16.00), which wasn't (to me) a problem, and I was restricted to one specific return journey. I read this as being from Alresford to Alton and back, but it wasn't as simple as that. We travelled out to Alton in one go, stopping briefly at Ropley and Medstead and Four Marks. When we got to Alton, there was a short break whilst the loco (BR Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T No. 41312) ran around the train. We then started our return journey, which took us as far as Ropley, where we had a longer break. This was, I think, to allow two trains to pass us in the Alton direction, although I'm not entirely sure of this. We then set off again, but this time retracing our steps to Medstead and Four Marks, where we paused again. The loco ran around the train and we were off, back to Ropley and then to Alresford.
There were three engines in steam, 41312, BR Standard Class 4 2-6-0 No. 76017 and "Thomas", although this was sans face and number (they can't use it as Thomas on general working days without paying a lot of money!). Southern "Schools" Class 4-4-0 No. 30925 "Cheltenham" was on shed at Ropley, looking immaculate, although not in steam. There was a walking trail from the up platform around the outside of the shed and back to the up platform.
I'm not an expert on rolling stock, so I'll just say that they were using Open carriages, some with tables and some without. The ticket bore a table / seat number, and I had a four berth area to myself. Opposite me, there was a family of four (two parents and two children) and there were other combinations throughout the train. No-one was allowed to share a table with someone not in the same family group. I had to wear a face mask whilst on the train, although not on the platforms.
None of the facilities on the stations (apart from the toilets) were open, although there was a "pop up shop" at Ropley with a separate refreshment area. Both of these were separated from the platforms. There were plenty of staff, and they were very friendly and helpful.
All in all, as I said at the beginning, it was a very good visit, and I had value for money. I'd have no problem in going on another line if this was the pattern there.