Incidents at the Watercress Line

On 25 July 2006, the leading bogie of the BR Class 117 DMU forming the 10:50 service from Alton to Alresford derailed on points approaching Platform 2 at Ropley Station. The train was stopped within 20 metres of the point of derailment by an instructor who was in the cab with the driver. There were no injuries as a result of the incident and the train and track suffered limited damage. The immediate cause of the incident was the reversal of the points by the signalman at Ropley Signal box at the same time as the leading wheels of the train were passing over them. Causal factors were the confusion by the signalman about the exact location of the train and the lack of train-detection on the points, allowing them to be moved under a train. == Passenger fatality at Alresford, 2007 ==

On 1 December 2007, a passenger fell from the platform at Alresford as he tried to board a departing train. It is believed that Michael Kerry, 62, of Redbridge, Southampton, fell onto the platform and was dragged under the train on Saturday night just after 10 pm as he was about to board the Real Ale Train. The PA system was not working in the carriage in which he was travelling. As a result, he missed an announcement asking passengers not to leave the train at the second Alresford stop as it was running late. == Fire in the Carriage & Wagon workshop at Ropley, 2010 ==

On 26 July 2010, a major fire occurred in the newly constructed Carriage & Wagon workshop at Ropley. The fire service found the cause of the fire to be an electrical fault and estimated that 50% of the building had been destroyed. Nobody was injured in the accident. A vintage wooden LSWR restaurant carriage, a British Railways Mark 1 carriage (Tourist Second Open, S4712), 12049 – a British Rail Class 11 diesel shunter, and the tender of U-Class 31806 were inside the shed at the time. The carriages and diesel shunter were irreparably damaged and were subsequently scrapped, but the tender was repaired and reunited with 31806. In addition, tools and equipment were lost in the fire. The Carriage & Wagon shop has since been rebuilt, the Boiler Shop repaired, and restoration work has recommenced. == References ==