Along the Watercress Line

And so to Hampshire for a meet up with the Brighton branch of the family, this time on the Watercress Line, a steam railway that runs from Alton to Alresford and back.

We met up at Alton and started our journey from there: not a long train ride, but pleasant.

The engine pulling our train had been painted to resemble a popular literary character. (Yes, it's 'The Thomas in the Iron Mask' by Alexandre Dumas.)

It was raining when we got to Alresford. We never seem to have much time to look around these towns we visit, by the time we've had our pub lunch, but spending time together's really what the trip's about.

my travelling companions

Despite the appearance of a hare making its way slowly up a field as we passed, I didn't feel quite as bowled over by the journey as I did by the trip up through the Severn Valley this time last year, which was glorious, but an excellent day all the same.