Editing Watercress Line (section)

=== Heritage railway ===
[[File:Ropley Shunting Yard and 506 (30506) – LSWR URIE S15 CLASS.jpg|thumb|Ropley locomotive shed]]
The section of line from Alresford to Alton that can be seen today was purchased from British Rail in November 1975<!--by whom?-->. Reconstruction of the line subsequently progressed in stages<!--by whom?-->. The section between Alresford and Ropley re-opened on 30 April 1977. To provide engineering and maintenance facilities, the main locomotive shed and workshops were constructed at [[Ropley railway station|Ropley]]. The extension to Medstead & Four Marks opened on 28 May 1983 and the final section to Alton opened on 25 May 1985.<ref name=Butcher3 />

On 12 June 1982, a replica of ''[[Sans Pareil]]'' visited the Watercress Line, running successfully under its own power from Ropley to Alresford.<ref name=Butcher />

Some of the structures that can be seen on the line today were not part of the original railway [[infrastructure]];<ref name=Butcher /> they have been added to make the line serviceable again and to recreate the feel of a fully operational steam railway. The line is now maintained by a small base of paid staff (mostly in administrative duties) and a core of over 400 volunteers.

The railway is a [[Charitable organization|registered charity]].<ref>{{EW charity|284406|Mid-Hants Railway Preservation Society Limited}}</ref>