UK: BR Class 20 (no. 20059), onboard between Alresford & Ropley on the Mid Hants Railway

UK: BR Class 20 (no. 20059), an onboard clip recorded on the 1345 Alresford to Alton service showing the journey between Alresford & Ropley stations on the Mid Hants Railway - Watercress Line.
One of the diagrams on this day (and preceding Saturday) were diesel worked due to steam locomotive unavailability.
Clip recorded 9 June 2024.
The British Rail (BR) Class 20, otherwise known as an English Electric Type 1, is a class of diesel-electric locomotive. In total, 228 locomotives in the class were built by English Electric between 1957 and 1968, the large number being in part because of the failure of other early designs in the same power range to provide reliable locomotives.
The locomotives were originally numbered D8000--D8199 and D8300--D8327. They are known by railway enthusiasts as "Choppers", a name derived from the distinctive beat that the engine produces under load which resembles the sound of a helicopter.
The Class 20 saw only limited service on passenger trains. A small number were fitted with a through pipe for steam heating, primarily for use in conjunction with a Class 37 locomotive on the West Highland Line. Otherwise their use was limited to summer relief services, particularly to Skegness often under the adopted title of The Jolly Fisherman starting from various places including Burton-on-Trent, Stoke-on-Trent, Derby and Leicester.
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The Watercress Line is the marketing name of the Mid-Hants Railway, a heritage railway in Hampshire, England, running 10 miles (16 km) from New Alresford 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 line is also well known for its extensive facilities, friendly staff and the quality of restoration work performed at Ropley.
The section of line from Alresford to Alton that can be seen today was purchased from British Rail in November 1975. Reconstruction of the line subsequently progressed in stages. The section between Alresford and Ropley re-opened on 30 April 1977. The main locomotive shed and workshops were constructed at Ropley. The extension to Medstead & Four Marks opened on 28 May 1983 and the final section to Alton opened on 25 May 1985.
The Watercress Line has four stations, positioned in the same locations as the former British Rail stations. All stations feature a passing loop, allowing trains to pass one another, with all but Alton station featuring two platforms connected via a footbridge.
Alton -- is situated at the northern end of the line. Alton is the only station that does not have two passenger platforms (two are assigned to South West Trains, with a cross-platform connection to the town and to onwards services to London Waterloo). Alton effectively has two passing loops, one at, and one just outside, the station, allowing trains to pass one another outside of the station and thus reducing the impact of the single platform during intensive operations.
Medstead and Four Marks -- is the highest station in Hampshire and a depiction of a quiet 1940s Southern Railway station building. The Signal and Telegraph department is based here, along with the Permanent Way group and the Building department.
Ropley -- is the engineering centre of the line and the location of the locomotive maintenance and running sheds. The station is famous for its topiary and houses the largest signal box on the line, controlling movements through the station, as well as much shunting to and from the locomotive yard.
Alresford -- is located at the southern end of the line. It is the main station for passenger facilities, including a museum, buffet and two shops. Most of the carriage stock is stored at this station, with Alresford Train Care performing day to day maintenance and cleaning to the carriages.
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Ropley is a village and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England.
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Ropley railway station opened in 1865, and has operated continuously since that date, other than for four years from 1973 to 1977. Originally opened by the London and South Western Railway, services ended in 1973, but were restored by a preservation society four years later, as part of the Mid Hants Railway, running heritage services between Alton and New Alresford. There is a 100-year established garden topiary by the station house side. The locomotive shed and engineering works are located adjacent to the station.
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