Mid-Hants Railway Ltd > Terms And Conditions Of Use

SCHOOL VISITS

Download Leaflet here (2MB)

More than just a train ride!
The Mid Hants Railway, also affectionately known as the 'Watercress Line', is a great place to bring groups of children to experience a living, moving piece of Britain's railway heritage.

Open for school visits Tuesdays to Thursdays from May to September.

NEW for 2009! On Thursdays during May, June and July you can treat your school group to a free vintage bus educational experience for up to 30 pupils in a stationary bus at Alresford station, supplied by the Working Omnibus Museum Project (charity). Includes hands on experience with the controls, fact sheets and opportunity for drawing. A months' notice is required to organise these visits. This is available on Thursdays only during May, June & July at 9.30am, 10am or 10.30am.

Highlights of your visit may include:
Travelling by steam or heritage diesel train through 10 miles of beautiful Hampshire countryside.

Seeing the interpretive displays of The Old Goods Shed (Alresford) and a 1950's Station Master's Lounge (Ropley).

Pre-booked guided tour around the engineering yard (subject to volunteer staff availability).

Authentically restored ticket offices (Alresford and Medstead & Four Marks stations).

Picnic areas overlooking Alresford and Ropley stations.

Gift shops at Alresford, Ropley and Alton stations.

Education Pack
A specially prepared education pack is available for Key stage 1 & 2, covering History, Maths, Science and English. A free CD of this education pack is given to you when booking a school visit. This pack can be teacher or volunteer led.

Victorian and WWII visits

Although our railway is set in the 1950's/ 60's period, many schools dress up as Victorian children or WWII Evacuees as part of their curriculum studies. Special arrangements can be made to include a free volunteer re-enactor for WWII visits (subject to availability).

Teaching Facilities
A teaching room can be booked for free at Ropley station and can fit up to 30 children if you wish to use it for your own teaching or for covering the teacher/ volunteer led education pack.

Risk Assessments
We strongly advise that you carry out your OWN risk assessment before you visit. We can provide FREE tickets for you and a colleague to visit the railway to carry out your own assessment, please specify you require these tickets when booking.

Toilets are available on all trains (except diesel trains) and at each station. A disabled toilet is available at Ropley, Alton and inside the Old Goods Shed at Alresford station.

Disabled Visitors
Please advise us of any wheelchair users or limited mobility persons when booking. An adapted carriage called the 'Bulleid' can accommodate up to 8 wheelchair users who are confined to a wheelchair.

FREE pre-booked coach and mini-bus parking available at Alresford station.

Please see the timetable page for times of trains.

Please see below for an example itinerary:

9.30/ 10am until 11.00am Arrival at Alresford station car park.

11.00am Depart Alresford station for round trip to Alton.
11.55am Depart Alton to travel to Ropley station. 12.21pm Arrive at Ropley for a guided tour of the engineering yard

and see the interpretive display o 1950's Station

Master's Lounge. Lunch and activities can take place on

the picnic area overlooking the station.

1.16pm or 2.21pm Return from Ropley to Alresford station.

1.24pm or 2.29pm Arrive at Alresford station.

Tel: 01962 733810 to book your school visit NOW!
or email reservations@watercressonline.co.uk

The Ultimate Gift!