Page 34 • The HERALD • 29th January 2026 v SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES v * Digital Aerial & Satellite Installation, Re-sited & Serviced * Freesat HD / Freeview HD * TV Distribution Points * TV Wall Mounting & Installations * SMATV / IRS / Communal work * DAB / FM Aerial Installed * Wi-Fi Signal Problems Humphries Digital Aerials Keith Humphries & Son All Areas Covered • Tel: 023 8066 7362 Email: humphriesaerials@btconnect.com Website: www.humphriesdigitalaerials.co.uk A Family Firm Est 1971 CAI Company of the Year 2014 DECORATING Interior and Exterior Established 1985 07867 528307 mark.blake.decorating@gmail.com A.M.H. Handyman Services Internal & External Painting All aspects of DIY Work • Flat Pack Assembly Power Washing: Driveways, Patios, Paths & Decking, Gutters, Fascia Boards Call or email Andy for a free estimate Tel: 07961 443623 handyandyharding@gmail.com Local and Reliable The Watercress Line Welcomes Arrival of Class 150 Sprinter Unit Into Its Running Fleet e Watercress Line in Hampshire has become the rst heritage railway in the UK to take a Class 150 Sprinter Unit into its running eet, marking a signi cant milestone in the preservation of modern railway heritage. e second-generation Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU), numbered 150231, has been donated by rolling stock leasing company Porterbrook. Built in 1987, the Class 150 is part of the iconic Sprinter family, a new generation of trains introduced by British Rail to replace rst-generation DMUs. Sprinters featured engines and passenger across multiple regions, including Regional Railways Central, BR Anglia, Silverlink Trains and Arriva Trains Wales. In September 1994 it was named King Edmund at Bury St Edmunds station, a title it carried with pride throughout its service life. Its nal working passenger service ran on Wednesday 9th July 2025, operating the 18:35 Shrewsbury to Swansea service, before moving to Derby to take part in e Greatest Gathering celebrations. It will now begin its next chapter in preservation with e Watercress Line, becoming the rst of its class to enter heritage operation. Richard Bentley, Operations Manager at e Watercress Line, said: “If the Line had stayed open through the 1980s, this is exactly the type of unit that might have run here. The Class 150 will enable an earlier departure from Alton, improving flexibility and enhancing the visitor experience on operating days, while complementing the railway’s iconic steam services.” Trustee and Alton resident Jonathan Morris said: “It’s extraordinary to think that more time has passed since the Class 150 entered service than between the building of Canadian Pacific and the reopening of The Watercress Line. My children can enjoy this train today, and in years to come they will see it preserved as part of living railway history. “We are hugely grateful to Porterbrook for their generosity and to the Greatest Gathering team for restoring it to its original livery.” To celebrate the arrival of 150231, e Watercress Line Heritage Railway Trust is launching a new supporters’ scheme - e 150 Club - to help fund the ongoing restoration, maintenance and long-term care of this important unit, ensuring it remains part of the working heritage eet for future generations. Find out more by visiting: https://watercressline.co.uk/ our-trains/diesel-locomotives/class-150-sprinterunit-no-150231 New arrival to The Watercress Line: Class 150 Sprinter Unit accommodation within a single structure, alongside modern power-operated sliding doors - a major step forward in design and passenger experience. e Watercress Line team will receive an operational induction and sta training before the 150231 enters public service. e train has been repainted in its original 1987 external livery, commemorating the introduction of the Sprinter type and lling an important gap in the historical timeline of multiple unit development. is took place at e Greatest Gathering in Derby, a ‘Railway 200’ celebration showcasing Britain’s railways, from the National Railway Museum’s Locomotion No.1 through to the very latest highspeed trains. e arrival of the Class 150 150231 will address a longstanding operational gap for e Watercress Line, particularly for visitors travelling from Alton and the London end of the line. Rebecca Dalley, CEO of e Watercress Line, said: “We are delighted to welcome this iconic unit to our fleet. Since our previous multiple unit, the Class 205 Hampshire Unit, came out of service in 2004, we have been looking for an opportunity to fill in the service for our visitors from the Alton and London end of The Watercress Line. We hope to start restoration of the 1959 Hampshire Unit to be our mainstay for the Alton service, with this Class 150 in support. With the Class 150 joining our fleet, and the restoration of the Hampshire Unit planned, we can once again provide a service that connects perfectly with our steamhauled trains.” Stefan Rose, Chief Investment O cer at Porterbrook, said: “The Watercress Line is a fitting new home for this Class 150 unit that has served communities reliably for decades. We are proud that this train will continue to be enjoyed by the public and play a role in educating future generations about the UK’s railway heritage.” Unit 150231 was delivered new to Newton Heath depot, Manchester, in February 1987 before operating New Forest Militaria Fair e next New Forest Militaria Fair will be on Wednesday 4th February from 7pm to 9.30pm in the Colbury Church Rooms, Deerleap Lane, Colbury (near Ashurst) SO40 7EH. ere are stalls o ering a variety of militaria items, and these events are an ideal venue for dealers, collectors and enthusiasts to get together to buy, sell, swap, exhibit and talk about all aspects of militaria. All are welcome and admission is £1. e fairs are held on the 1st Wednesday of the month. Anyone who would like to pre-book a table at £8, should call Dave Curtis on: 07903 600865 or: 023 8178 1324.
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