Vitacress Ltd., Doddings Farm, Bere Regis, Dorset. formerly Sylvasprings Watercress Ltd.
6th September 2004

Laid down to connect the watercress beds alongside the Bere Stream (OS Grid Ref. SY852932) in a picturesque Dorset valley, to the Packing sheds (OS Grid Ref. SY847946) near Bere Regis village, this 18" gauge line ran quite some distance across fields, rivers, watercress beds, roads and even under a cattle bridge. In recent years the northern part of the system has been abandoned (although it is still laid but completely overgrown) between the Packing sheds and Doddings Farm (OS Grid Ref. SY851937), although the southern part of the line is still in use occasionally. Most watercress beds here are now accessible by tractors but a few beds remain inaccessible by road vehicles necessitating the retention if the railway and its single, homebuilt, locomotive.

Rolling stock today consists of the 4-wheel petrol-hydraulic loco built in 1948 by Bedford and Jesty, the original company, but has since been rebuilt many times since. It has recently had a new petrol engine fitted. There are four small 4-wheel steel flat wagons used to carry the crates of watercress once harvested. There were two 'Jubilee' type skip wagons and a flat wagon converted to a man-rider but these has long been scrapped.

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A general view of the Jesty loco.
A general view of the Jesty loco.
 Closer view of the loco, behind is the Bere Stream which feeds fresh water to all the watrecress beds.
Closer view of the loco, behind is the Bere Stream which feeds fresh water to all the watrecress beds.
 Side view of the loco, which is really quite tiny, the cab only just big enough for a man seated. Behind is one of the simple girder bridges crossing the stream and watercress beds.
Side view of the loco, which is really quite tiny, the cab only just big enough for a man seated. Behind is one of the simple girder bridges crossing the stream and watercress beds.
 The other side of the loco, showing the new Honda petrol engine and the machinery shed behind. This houses tractors which now largely carry out harvesting work instead of the railway.
The other side of the loco, showing the new Honda petrol engine and the machinery shed behind. This houses tractors which now largely carry out harvesting work instead of the railway.
Rear three-quarter view, previously the loco was named 'Watercress Queen'.
Rear three-quarter view, previously the loco was named 'Watercress Queen'.
 General view of the siding where the loco and wagons are kept since the line was severed near Doddings Farm.
General view of the siding where the loco and wagons are kept since the line was severed near Doddings Farm.
 The lines entire stock, the wagon nearest the camera is usually kept as spare.
The lines entire stock, the wagon nearest the camera is usually kept as spare.
 The stock siding with track to the left heading to the beds in the background and Doddings Farm. Off to the right the line forms an incomplete loop round some very large beds and once connected back to the system behind the loco in this view.
The stock siding with track to the left heading to the beds in the background and Doddings Farm. Off to the right the line forms an incomplete loop round some very large beds and once connected back to the system behind the loco in this view.
Running between watercress beds, the majority of the system runs on narrow concrete causeways like this.
Running between watercress beds, the majority of the system runs on narrow concrete causeways like this.
 Part of the old loop, curving round to pass back between the next couple of beds.
Part of the old loop, curving round to pass back between the next couple of beds.
 A really quite tight curve (not that apparent in the picture) plus a climb up from the beds.
A really quite tight curve (not that apparent in the picture) plus a climb up from the beds.
 The end of the line, with undergrowth slowly burying the trackwork. The line once curved just in front of the gate and continued to join the siding now used to store the rolling stock.
The end of the line, with undergrowth slowly burying the trackwork. The line once curved just in front of the gate and continued to join the siding now used to store the rolling stock.
Heading back to Doddings Farm and Bere Regis the line crosses an unsurfaced road which provides access to the cottages on the left. Also visable on the left is a ramp which allows tractors to carry the harvesting and transport work once the role of the railway.
Heading back to Doddings Farm and Bere Regis the line crosses an unsurfaced road which provides access to the cottages on the left. Also visable on the left is a ramp which allows tractors to carry the harvesting and transport work once the role of the railway.
 A closer view of the crossing. Although track is still in place and passable along the next section, the level crossing has for some years now been the limit of working.
A closer view of the crossing. Although track is still in place and passable along the next section, the level crossing has for some years now been the limit of working.
 The cottages overlooking the level crossing, watercress beds and valley, how pleasant!
The cottages overlooking the level crossing, watercress beds and valley, how pleasant!
 With the level crossing by the white hut, the line to the packing sheds snakes off to the left between the Bere Stream and watercress beds. The white building in the distance is part of Doddings Farm.
With the level crossing by the white hut, the line to the packing sheds snakes off to the left between the Bere Stream and watercress beds. The white building in the distance is part of Doddings Farm.
Looking back towards the cottages from Doddings Farm the reason why trains can't work back to the Packing sheds becomes apparant, the missing bridge!
Looking back towards the cottages from Doddings Farm the reason why trains can't work back to the Packing sheds becomes apparant, the missing bridge!
 A few slightly earlier shots, taken late 1990's just after Sylvasprings had been taken over by Vitacress, and the loco repainted to its present Vitacress livery.
A few slightly earlier shots, taken late 1990's just after Sylvasprings had been taken over by Vitacress, and the loco repainted to its present Vitacress livery.
 Stabled at the far end of the line with plastic crates loaded ready for the next morning's harvest.
Stabled at the far end of the line with plastic crates loaded ready for the next morning's harvest.
 Each wagon carried three or four crates, in which the watercress was packed in bunches.
Each wagon carried three or four crates, in which the watercress was packed in bunches.
Another few even earlier shots, quite poor prints to start with so these scans aren't brilliant at all. Taken in May 1991 still under the control of Sylvasprings. The loco before repainting, looking beautifully tatty!
Another few even earlier shots, quite poor prints to start with so these scans aren't brilliant at all. Taken in May 1991 still under the control of Sylvasprings. The loco before repainting, looking beautifully tatty!
 Loco and wagons opposite the packing sheds at the Bere Regis end of the line.
Loco and wagons opposite the packing sheds at the Bere Regis end of the line.
 Looking back towards the packing sheds. The bridges in the foreground are standard girder bridges crossing the Bere Stream. The white roof of the loco can just be made out in the distance.
Looking back towards the packing sheds. The bridges in the foreground are standard girder bridges crossing the Bere Stream. The white roof of the loco can just be made out in the distance.
 The cattle bridge looking towards Doddings Farm.
The cattle bridge looking towards Doddings Farm.
One of the two Jubilee skips dumped at the far end of the line, rather rotten. This overgrown siding is where the loco is now kept.
One of the two Jubilee skips dumped at the far end of the line, rather rotten. This overgrown siding is where the loco is now kept.
 For the modellers amongst us. Divisions on the scale stick are 3
For the modellers amongst us. Divisions on the scale stick are 3" each section.
 The other side, unfortunately I couldn't get the scale stick on this side due to the steep river bank!
The other side, unfortunately I couldn't get the scale stick on this side due to the steep river bank!
 Front view.
Front view.
Rear view.
Rear view.
 One of the flat wagons, this one sits lower than all the rest.
One of the flat wagons, this one sits lower than all the rest.
 A standard flat wagon.
A standard flat wagon.
© 1998-2009 James Smith - All copyrights rest with the Author
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