LED Lights World First On The Watercress Line
A world first LED lights being used on a UK heritage steam railway for its initial public run!
Called ‘Steam Illuminations’ it is a unique, world first, pixel mappable digital LED train running on the Watercress Line!
Watercress Line Illumination Special trips with 14,000 LED lights. © Watercress Units Film
The incredible computer controlled light show on one of their steam trains used 13,174 fully controllable colour mixing LED lights.
And, even the passengers can join in as they will all be issued with a wrist band that pulsates to the festive music along the famous Watercress Line.
This transformation of the whole train makes it look magical from both inside and out!
Lighting up the winter nights with an LED Lights World First © Watercress Units Film
Running from Arlesford to Alton on the Mid-Hants heritage line the LED flashing engine and carriages shone out as it made the 10-mile journey in the mid-winter darkness. Much to joy of all on board and those watching from the lineside too.
The whole process of rigging all the lighting along the whole length of the train has taken months.
50 Volunteers Worked On The LED Lighting Project
With some 50 volunteers involved in both the lighting and making the two train sets Covid-19 safe for passengers for its Christmas period outing.
This will be the highlight of the season as for much of the year the trains were not allowed to run because of the Coronavirus regulations and restrictions.
Many staff have been working over the past year. © www.thetraveltrunk.net
Although, numbers using the service have had to be cut because of Covid.
Even on a wet and rainy night for its first passenger carrying run it was without doubt an outstanding success for the railway. I suspect that other heritage railways will want to do similar once they see what The Watercress Line has achieved with this.
This Is An LED Lights World First
Jules Johns marketing spokesman for the railway said: “We are very proud that this is a world first!”
“There are heritage railways that have fixed lights to trains. However, the concept of the train running through the countryside covered with thousands of LED’s in original to us. Plus, the fact they also flash in sequences to the music being played throughout the train adds a totally different dimension to the whole experience.”
Steve Baggott Operations Manager said: “One of our volunteers was a profession lighting designer and he thought that he could us some of the ideas he had seen at different venues and apply them to his railway. The idea started as a small seed a bit over twelve months ago.
Steve Baggott General Manager of the Watercress Line. © www.thetraveltrunk.net
“We looked at what we could do as other railways in the past had and we thought it could be more spectacular and more illuminating!
“Each train consists five carriage with nearly 14,000 LED lights on each and as we have two trains so that’s 28,000 lights!”
“We will be running two trains one from Alton and one from Arlesford so the trains will pass each other twice on each trip.”
LED Lighting Designer Simon’s Flash Of Inspiration
Lighting designer Steve Horn who’s brought the whole idea to fruition said: “ I have been a volunteer on the railway and helped on the footplate for six years. And the idea of the lights on the train for me was an absolute pleasure.”
“The idea itself is fairly was easy. But how to attach all these LEDs to a moving train that can be very hot in places? That was a bit of a challenge.”
LED lighting designer for the Steam Trains on The Watercress Line. © www.thetraveltrunk.net
Controlling the train lights is done using a standard lighting control panel that would be used in a concert venue. However, because of the scale of the set-up Steve custom built a unit to help drive the lighting required. Along the whole length of the train.
The actual service starts today 4th December until 6th. Then restarts on the 11th-23rd reopens on the 27th-31st. And, finally running for three days in the New Year 1st Jan-3rd.
Passing through the countryside the train illuminates the embankments and cuttings with powerful light slung under the carriages. The bare trees along the tracks show up spectacularly and make a wonderful sight steaming along at nightfall. Inside the light show continues with different colours and flashing patterns.
Watercress Line LED Illumination Special trips. © Watercress Units Film
Socially distanced inside and sitting back relaxing as the steam train traveled up and down our 10-mile line. This was an enjoyable experience and well manged too.
Passengers will have a chance to see the outside of the train at times. Firstly at the start, secondly in middle and also end of each journey. Perfect chance to capture it by camera.
LED Lighting Wristbands For Each Passenger
Everyone is given an LED wristband (included in the price of the ticket) to wear on the train and take home after the excursion. These also flash to the beat of the popular and traditional music being played on the train. further enhancing the experience for young and old.
An LED Lights World First on the Watercress Line LED Illumination Special trips. © Watercress Units Film
Trains depart from either end of the Mid Hants Railway or ‘Watercress Line’ as its more widely known as.
Alresford or Alton are the boarding points and the complete a round trip, back to the starting station takes around 2 hours.
Certainly, this is wonderful and first in the world experience for the whole family. And one nice event to remember in 2020 !
Tickets cost:
Table for up to 2 | £45.00 |
| Table for up to 4 adults | £85.00 |
| Compartment for up to 6 | £140.00 |
| Family of 4 (2 adults & 2 children,1 adult & 3 children, 2 adults & 1 child) | £75.00 |
| Children under 2 years | FREE |
Watercress Line Background
The Mid Hants Railway started 1865 as the Alton, Alresford & Winchester Railway.
The 17mile long line went through the agricultural area around Alresford. This was used not only for transporting locally produced watercress but general farm produce. Hence the name the Watercress Line. During both World Wars it was used for transporting military traffic. Between the army town of Aldershot and the port of Southampton.
The line was absorbed when it became part of the Southern Railway and subsequently British Railways in 1948.
With electrification of the London to Alton line in 1937 the Mid Hants line was no longer part of a through route. Its steam services mostly ceased and the line became a backwater.
Survived The Beeching Axe
However, diesel engines took over in 1957. Although the line survived the initial ‘Beeching axe’. The electrification of the London to Southampton line again impacted the line and in 1967 closure notices were published.
A major campaign failed to retain the line. The line eventually closed in February 1973.
The Alresford to Alton line section was purchased from British Rail in 1975. And after much hard work the group of volunteers ran their first trains in May 1977 from Alresford to Ropley.
Sections were re-opened in stages, with the extension to Medstead & Four Marks in 1983 and final section to Alton in 1985.
The Mid Hants Railway Ltd (previously the Mid Hants Railway plc) operate the services.
Nearly all the engines in use there came from a scrapyard in Barry south Wales. They had been moved there by British Rail during 1962-68 when diesels engines replaced steam.
As well as running a range of steam engines they also operate a 50 year old Diesel Electrical Multiple Unit or (DEMU) passenger train. A range of shunter engines and a Class 50 Lion diesel that operated on the west coast main line north of Crewe.
