Dear Mummy, we were invited down to the Watercress Line in Hampshire to spend a day with Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. Nothings better than working on the railway, we had a spring in our step while whistling a happy tune!
I think my folks were more excited than I was! You see my folks grew up with Thomas the Tank Engine so the idea of seeing him and the Fat Controller in a real setting was a massive draw. The event was on for 10 days during the Easter holidays and part of several special events that happen across the year on the Watercress Line. The Halloween events (Harry Potter themed) and meeting Father Christmas on the railway are also very popular.
The Watercress Line is the marketing name of the Mid Hants Railway, a heritage railway in Hampshire, running 10 miles from Alresford (near Winchester) to Alton where it connects to the National Rail network. The line gained its popular name in the days that it was used to transport locally grown watercress to markets in London. The railway currently operates regular scheduled services, along with dining trains, real ale trains and numerous special events throughout the year.
The highlight of the Watercress Line were the steam locomotives. But the setting is also very beautiful. Old fashioned platforms like something out of Harry Potter or Downton Abbey really transported us back to the golden age of steam. Staff were doned in traditional uniforms and we even saw a bobby on the beat in dress uniform.
As well as the two main stations, Alton and Alresford, the railway also has two other stations in between, one at Ropley, where the main locomotive shed and workshops are located, and the other jointly serving the villages of Medstead & Four Marks. The section of line between these two intermediate stations is known as the ‘Alps’, due its steep gradients.
We set off from Ropley as that’s where the free car park is located in a large field next to the station. It’s a perfect base for families as there are lots of facilities there. We were greeted by friendly staff waving flags and ticket masters who gave us our stickers and timetables.
Entrance to the Watercress Line was £18 for an adult, £12 for a child (age 2 – 16 yrs), £54 for a family (2A+2C) and children under 2 yrs were free. There was a wealth of things to do once we got there.
There were so many highlights of our day on the Watercress Line. We had the opportunity to meet the real Thomas the Tank Engine as he chugged down the tracks. See our video
I had my passport stamped by The Fat Controller and took part in free Thomas The Tank Engine themed activities in the Imagination Station. I enjoyed colouring in and listening to stories. I even earned myself a A Day Out With Thomas certificate to take home and cherish. There was a children’s entertainer who was very funny and played magic tricks on people and had us all rolling with laughter.
At Ropely Station my eyes popped out of my head when I saw all the free rides like the Bouncy Slide and the Tea Cup ride and I also enjoyed riding on the Miniature railway. There was a fab cafe and a burger van where we could get hot tea and ice creams.
But the best bit was the unlimited rides behind Thomas the Tank Engine and Toad the Brake Van. Thomas gave short rides at Ropley Station chugging back and forth up and down the platform. When I wasn’t riding the trains I loved watching them race up and down the platform. Every 45 minutes the steam trains would also stop at Ropley station. Nearly every train had a large moon face from the Thomas the Tank Engine show.
We had the opportunity to ride on the BIG steam locomotives for free which spanned the whole line and took a trip from Ropley to Alresford and back to Ropley onto to Alton. It was really strange seeing old trains pass new ones at Alton where we met the National Rail Lines! I enjoyed my picnic lunch on board, while my folks had a drink from the onboard bar. The trains ran approximately every 45 minutes from 9:45am to 4:45pm and we could have spent all day just sitting on the trains it was so relaxing.
We watched all the beautiful scenery whizz past, stunning yellow rapeseed fields and rolling green hills with little houses dotted on them. The seats were old-fashioned and very springy and the carriages were immaculate and clean. Brass sparkled on window latches and clean air and bright sunshine filtered through our carriage windows. We sung and played games on our journey up and down the track and never once did I appear bored. My daddy even managed a snooze as the carriage gently rocked him to sleep.
Even though I’ve never shown interest in visiting a railway before I certainly will want to again in the future. We all had a fab time and two weeks later I am still talking about it. We made some wonderful memories together as a family.
Love Bella x
Disclaimer: We were gifted our tickets for the purpose of this review, however all words are our own.
Sounds like a lovely day out with plenty to keep little ones amused! #TwinklyTuesday
Oh what fun! This is just wonderful for bringing a favourite character to life and experiencing life on the railway. I remember taking ours to a travelling Thomas years ago and even that was exciting, things have really come on since then. #TriedTested
Omg my boys were obsessed with trains particularly Thomas and friends. This seems fun and a lovely day out. I can see you all enjoyed it. We would love to go there as well one day. #triedtested
This looks brilliant! We were down in Hampshire over Easter and we missed this!
This sounds really good! They do this at South Devon railway by me too and we’ve been thinking about going as my little girl loves trains #TwinklyTuesdays
It’s really made us want to go and visit more UK heritage railways…. while we still have them! Storms and funding is really causing a challenge for future generations x
Wow you lucky thing what a gorgeous treat for any Thomas lover and their family! I also have a little girl who would love this x
Looks like you had an amazing time can’t wait to take my boys on there first train ride
What a great day out for any Thonas fan, one of my boys was obsessed with Thomas and would have loved this when he was younger x
Oh my youngest has just got into Thomas the Tank Engine – she would’ve loved this! How lovely that you could have unlimited rides on Thomas, as well as the free ride on the steam engine. Looks like a lovely family day out #dreamteam
How fun! I think next time Thomas pops by my station I will need to go and see him with my Thomas obsessed little cousin. Also, how alike does the fat controller look!
My nephews would have loved this when they were younger. The children looked like they really enjoyed it too. Lovely memories and photographs.
Chelsea
such a cute blog! Hope you had fun playing with thomas and friends!
What an amazing day out seeing Thomas the Tank. My son was a massive fan when he was younger, he would have LOVED to have gone here
Awww .. how fun is this for kids?! When my kids were little they would have loved it! I remember once I took a train ride and loved watching the countryside pass by. Thank-you for sharing photos of your day .. you have such a beautiful family!
Aww this looks like a child’s heaven – so much to see and do! I love that they’ve bought Thomas the Tank Engine alive for children. I remember it from my childhood too 🙂
What a fabulous day out, this is somewhere we will definitely be visiting! #TwinklyTuesday
What a great day out. My eldest son love Thomas when he was little. Looks like a magical day for any Thomas fans:)
What a lovely place. So well recreated. Look at your smiley faces
I can’t believe you and mummy got to visit Thomas the Tank engine! I used to watch it when I was little and am so jealous! x
It was a blast from the past for my folks! They couldn’t believe their eyes!
My youngest would go absolutely CRAZY for this!!! He is Thomas mad!! What a lovely day out for you!
How fun! I wish we had something like this here, my son would love that! #TwinklyTuesday
We used to go to a day of with Thomas every year when it was in Swanage and Kian was little, he was Thomas obsessed, just like Sebby. I really want to to take Sebby so will have to keep an eye out for the next one
Sebby would love it!
I remember watching Thomas the Tank Engine as a kid, I bet it was fun for everyone x
Ah I wanted to take Ben here when he was little but it’s just a bit too far away for us.
Thanks for linking up with #TriedTested this week x
I went here as a child and loved it – looks like you had a great time! x
Looks a fun place to bring my kids I bet they enjoy to go there and they love Thomas so much. Glad that you share this post
Aww what a lovely day out for the kids…and the parents too. I remember Thomas the Tank and would have loved this as a child 🙂 x
What an amazing adventure and what a cheeky charming smile your daughter has!
Thank you. I have a cheeky persona to go with that smile 😉
Omg I loveddd Thomas the Tank Engine when I was a kid! I had no idea he was even still around!
This place is really fab both my boys loved Thomas so it was a very big deal!!! Glad you enjoyed x
What an amazing day you look like you had! I love how the trains Have faces, and the controller looks just like in the books xxx
I know! We couldn’t get over meeting the REAL characters 😉
We’ve done Thomas at the Watercress Line and had a fab day. It has a special place in my heart as my granddad worked in the Alresford shop for the 13 years before he died and loved getting all the merchandise prepared.
I bet you have some wonderful memories too x It is a fantastic place x
We love The Watercress Line too, they put on some lovely events and this one looks so cool for Thomas fans!
This would have been my absolute DREAM as a child, I loved Thomas The Tank so much xxx
We’ve done a day out with Thomas before, and it was a fantastic experience. Love your photos. Thanks for linking up with #TriedTested
The Fat Controller!! He is awesome. This sounds like such a great day – I’m interested in the Harry Potter one for October too.
What a wonderful day out. How much does the conductor look like the real thing too. My daughter has just started to get into trains and it is her birthday soon, this is certainly a contender for her birthday.
Holly would LOVE this! It looks like so much and lots to do. This isn’t too far from us, I will have to see if they do it again x #TriedTested
Sounds like such a lovely day, my son adores Thomas at the moment so would love to go to something like this.
I would have LOVED this as a child! What a fantastic day!
Zach would absolutely love this- it looks fab 🙂 Thanks for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday
Awww this brought so many great memories for me! I miss enjoying Thomas! So much fun!
Oh I love the look of this, what a wonderful day out! My little girl loves Thomas and I can’t wait to start doing things like this with her. Thanks for linking up to #dreamteam x
This looks BRILLIANT! my son would love something like this! Wish it was closer!
We went to Thomasland at the start of the Easter hols – definitely worth a visit! #twinklytuesday
Reading this took me right back to when my son was little. When Thomas the Tank engine came to our local steam railway we always used to go and they were a great day out
What a fun day out with Thomas the Tank Engine and such great memories to share together! Looks like meeting Thomas and Friends made one little girl very happy! 😀
Oh Bella, it looks like you all had a fun family day together, but I reckon I would be like mum and dad and be a lot more excited, because I used to love Thomas the Tank Engine when I was your age x