The Mid Hants Railway in Hampshire, also called Watercress Line, is inviting people to be among the first passengers to be hauled by newly restored Merchant Navy Class steam locomotive Canadian Pacific when it returns to service.

Built in 1941 at Eastleigh where many of the workers working for the Southern Railway were women, Canadian Pacific has been restored to its former glory by the dedicated efforts of expert staff and volunteers at The Watercress Line and generous funding of £1,254,400 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

On the weekend of Thursday, 20th to Sunday, 23rd March 20 to 23, the glamour of the 1950s golden era of travel can be enjoyed by the first passengers experiencing nostalgic rides on The Watercress Line hauled by Canadian Pacificafter its return to service.

In a monumental 14-year project, The Watercress Line’s skilled volunteers spent over 10,000 hours restoring Canadian Pacific and two Bulleid carriages, 4211 and 1456.

During its restoration, Canadian Pacific underwent saw a complete overhaul, including the reconstruction of its boiler, frame repairs, and meticulous restoration of intricate mechanical components.

Among the milestones reached during its restoration was in 2017 when its frame and driving wheels were reunited, and in 2019 when Canadian Pacific’s bogie and trailing truck were reunited with the frame to form a 4-6-2 rolling chassis.

Canadian Pacific will now take its place in the Railway 200 campaign celebrating 200 years of railway travel in the UK.

Further details about the weekend and information about booking tickets for the heritage train journeys are online at https://watercressline.co.uk/special-days/canadian-pacific-launch

Among the volunteers working on Canadian Pacific was Steve Wilson, whose parents both worked at Eastleigh Works. His father was a blacksmith before the war, and was captured by the Japanese and put to work as a POW on the Burma Railway.

During the war, Steve’s mother worked as a machinist on a capstan lathe, and may well have made studs that are still in Canadian Pacific’s frames today.

Steve was taken to an Eastleigh Works open day in the early 1950s when he was about five years of age, and he was hooked.

He agrees that seeing it return to steam is a dream come true for everyone who has been part of the team.

It’s a true labour of love, and he can’t wait for the public to experience the magic of Canadian Pacific once again.

“This fantastic restoration of the historic locomotive Canadian Pacific is a testament to the dedication of our volunteers and the unwavering support of our partners. Canadian Pacific is not just a locomotive; she represents the rich heritage of British engineering and the enduring spirit of our railway community. Over the past decade, the commitment from our volunteers has been nothing short of extraordinary. This project not only breathes new life into a historic locomotive but also helps us inspire future generations to appreciate and preserve our railway heritage.”

Rebecca Dalley, CEO of The Watercress Line