A day with Thomas on the Watercress Line

We've just arrived home from a fabulous day. James has been beside himself! Although a little wet a gloomy, we spent the day on the Watercress Line with Thomas and some of his friends: steamies and diesels alike.

We told James about the adventure over hot eggs this morning. He couldn't wait to see the engines. Of course, they had to travel all the way from Sodor Island to the Line in Hampshire. What a journey!

Arriving at Ropley (you can see all the stations on the line here) we bought our all-day tickets and jumped on the train that was waiting at the platform about to depart for Alresford. This train was Daisy - a diesel. After a 10 minute journey through the fields - and with the sky a little threatening - we arrived at our destination. Crossing over the footbridge to the opposite platform we met Donald - a big black steamie. He was offering short rides down the line in his brake-van (or caboose). After our short ride I showed James the signal mounted on the footbridge. Donald passed beneath us and we were immersed in a huge steam cloud.

We spent a little time at Alresford seeing Bulgy (a double decker bus with Windor as the destination) and George (a steam roller) before getting aboard for a return trip to Ropley. There we met Thomas - and James was in heaven. Thomas was offering short rides so in we hopped. On the way inside James stopped at Thomas to show him his little toy Percy. For those not acquainted with Thomas - Percy is one of his best friends. James told me that Thomas was very happy to see Percy!

We jumped aboard Henry - a large express steamie - for a longer run to the end of the line at Alton. We shared a table with another family and James and the other little boy played with their trains all the way to the destination. James and I watched Henry shunt back to the front of the train - with a top up of his water tank - before re-coupling to the carriages. Henry was an impressive steamie - and let off huge bouts of steam before departing once again for Ropley - and our final destination today.

It was raining when we returned. But that didn't damped James' spirit. He was keen to ride on Diesel - a cheeky character in Thomas. We got to ride in the driver's carriage for our short trip. Then one last ride in Toad (a truck I think) that was hitched to Diesel. Then it was time to leave. James was asleep before we left the carpark. His favourites: Diesel, Douglas, and Thomas!

Photos are here.