Editing Watercress Line (section)

== Infrastructure ==

=== Stations of the Watercress Line ===
[[File:Alresford Station in 2000.jpg|thumb|Alresford Station from the footbridge]]
The Watercress Line has four stations on the site of former [[British Rail]] stations. Each features a passing loop, allowing trains to pass one another, or locomotives to run round trains for a change of direction of travel. Alton station has three platforms, platforms 1 and 2 being operated by the national rail network, and platform 3 by the Watercress Line. The other three stations each have two platforms with connecting footbridges.

*{{Stnlnk|Alton}} – at the north-east end of the line. Alton has one passenger platform (two others are assigned to [[South Western Railway (train operating company)|South Western Railway]]), with a cross-platform connection to the town and onward services to [[London Waterloo]]. Alton has two passing loops, one within station limits, and another just outside, allowing trains to pass outside the station, thus reducing the impact of the single platform during intensive operations. There are several additional [[Siding (rail)|sidings]].
*{{Stnlnk|Medstead and Four Marks}} – the highest station in Hampshire, fully restored in the style of a quiet 1940s [[Southern Railway (UK)|Southern Railway]] station.  The line's Signal and Telegraph department, [[Permanent Way]] group, and Building department are all located here, in and around the station yard. There are several sidings. This is where the greatest number of trains pass each other on standard running days.
*{{Stnlnk|Ropley}} – the engineering centre of the line and the location of the locomotive maintenance and running sheds. The station has flower beds and [[topiary]], and the largest of the line's four [[Signal Box|signal boxes]], controlling movements through the station, as well as much shunting to and from the locomotive yard.
*[[Alresford (Hampshire) railway station|Alresford]] – at the southern end of the line is the top visitor station and has the most 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 of the carriages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://watercressline.co.uk/Your-Visit/Guide |title=Railway Guide |publisher=Watercress Line |date=1999-12-04 |access-date=2010-08-13}}</ref>

=== Imported structures ===

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto;"
|-
! colspan=3|Imported structures
|-
! Station
! Structure
! Original site
|-
| rowspan="4"|Alresford
| Footbridge
| {{Stnlnk|Uckfield}}, East Sussex<ref name=MHRGuide >{{cite web|last=Pearson|first=Mike|title=Mid Hants Railway (The Watercress Line) – A Guide|url=http://www.watercressline.co.uk/mhrguide.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224160319/http://www.watercressline.co.uk/mhrguide.htm|archive-date=2008-02-24|work= (Original, detailed version, now at the Internet Archive)|publisher=Mid Hants Railway|access-date=2 June 2010}}</ref>
|-
| West Country Buffet (building)
| {{Stnlnk|Lyme Regis}}, Dorset<ref name=Butcher >Mid-Hants railway in colour. Alan C Butcher. 1996. {{ISBN|0-7110-2465-0}}.</ref>
|-
| West Country Buffet (counter)
| {{Stnlnk|Okehampton}}, Devon<ref name=Butcher />
|-
| Platform Canopy Columns (now supporting upper floor in Former Goods Shed Visitor Centre)
| {{Stnlnk|Ringwood}}, Hampshire<ref name="MHR Preservation News Website">{{cite web |url=http://www.watercressline.co.uk/article.php/461/building-group-report-25-november |title=Building Group Report 25 November « Mid Hants Railway Ltd 'Watercress Line' |website=watercressline.co.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307035539/http://watercressline.co.uk/article.php/461/building-group-report-25-november |archive-date=2016-03-07}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="8"|Ropley
| Platform Canopy Columns (Heritage wrought iron stanchions incorporated into new waiting room building)
| {{Stnlnk|Ringwood}}, Hampshire<ref name="MHR Preservation News Website"/>
|-
| Signal box
| {{Stnlnk|Netley}}, Hampshire<ref name=Butcher />
|-
| Footbridge
| {{Stnlnk|North Tawton}}, Devon<ref name=Butcher />
|-
| Footbridge near picnic area<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-15555990 |title=Watercress Line gets Kings Cross 'Harry Potter' bridge |date=2 November 2011 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=2 November 2011}}</ref>
| [[London King's Cross railway station|Kings Cross]], London
|-
| Water Tank
| [[Longmoor Military Railway]], Liss, Hampshire{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}}
|-
| Ex-LBSC Platform Water Column <br />(Reputed to be from Christ's Hospital Station)
| {{Stnlnk|Christ's Hospital}}, West Sussex.{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}}
|-
| [[Wheel Drop]]
| [[Bricklayers Arms railway station|Bricklayers Arms]], South London<ref name=MHRGuide />
|-
| Groundframe Hut<br />(formerly used at Ropley in two locations as a signal box for many years)
| {{Stnlnk|Dean}}, Wiltshire<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fluidr.com/photos/50576141@N03/5572625622 |title=Fluidr / 11-043 Blakes Crossing, Ropley by Clive G' |publisher=Fluidr.com |accessdate=2022-04-12}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="3"|Medstead & Four Marks
| Signal box
| {{Stnlnk|Wilton South}}, Wiltshire<ref name=Butcher />
|-
| Footbridge
| {{Stnlnk|Cowes}}, Isle of Wight<ref name=Butcher />
|-
| Signal box <br />(recovered by the Mid Hants Railway in October 2010 for use as a display)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.watercressline.co.uk/News/Building/View/292 |title=Great Missenden Signal Box moves to MHR |author=John Wright |date=27 October 2010 |publisher=Mid Hants Railway : Watercress Line }}</ref>
| {{Stnlnk|Great Missenden}}, Buckinghamshire
|-
| rowspan="2"|Alton
| Signal box
| [[Bentley (Hampshire) railway station|Bentley]], Hampshire{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}}
|-
| Water Tower
| {{Stnlnk|Aldershot}}, Hants{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}}
|}

=== Signalling and safety systems ===

*Alton signal box – A new [[Railway signal|signalling]] installation has been commissioned at Alton.<ref name=MHRGuide /> It is a colour-light system, running from the [[signal box]] control panel; this contrasts with the mechanical [[Railway semaphore signal|semaphore signals]] used on the rest of the line. The new system allows a more intensive train service, making use of the [[passing loop|loop]], and allows shunting within the station, operations which the previous manual flag signalling did not allow. The new installation makes use of [[track circuit]]s to detect where the train is situated and can change points and signals accordingly. It can run fully automatically, so there is no need for a [[signalman (rail)|signalman]], unlike the other signal boxes on the line. When there is no signalman, all Signal Post Telephones are diverted to [[Medstead and Four Marks railway station|Medstead & Four Marks]] signal box. It works on a system where a member of the locomotive crew inserts the [[Token (railway signalling)|token]] into a token switch, to allow the system to take the next steps.
*Ropley signal box – Phase One of the Ropley re-signalling project, construction of the new signal box, has been completed. Phase Two was expected to be completed in 2012. Phase Two will include installation of working distant signals, in place of the existing fixed distant signals. The new signals will be motorised semaphore signals as they are too far from the signal box to be operated mechanically without considerable physical effort by the signalman. The scheme will also include installing Advanced Starting and Outer Home signals in both directions.<!--these terms could do with links to a page on British signalling practice!-->
*AWS (Automatic Warning System) – The Watercress Line is currently the only heritage railway with a complete [[Automatic Warning System|AWS]] system.{{Citation needed|date=April 2018}} It is used on all distant signals on the line and at all signals in the Alton colour light area, until an AWS gap is reached before the Meon Loop due to the large number of signals. Almost all of the locomotives and multiple units are fitted with it, apart from a couple of steam locomotives.{{Citation needed|date=April 2018}}
*Train Protection & Warning System – [[Train Protection & Warning System|TPWS]] is not used by the Watercress Line, however the [[British Rail Class 205|Class 205]] Hampshire Unit has TPWS fitted.