Urie society

24/05/2026

Check out this month's ULS blog for the latest progress on boiler No. 799 and our new tender tank.

Plenty to see on 499's boiler and new tender this month with new steel in place on both. Our team are making excellent progress. Find out how you can support us.

24/04/2026

A tribute to a classic rail tour and to preservation's pioneers. Celebrating today at with our take on the 1963 Locomotive Club of Great Britain's 'Hayling Farewell', adapted to recognise our 50th anniversary at the railway. We want to take this moment to recognise the many dedicated people in our 50 plus years that have contributed to keeping LSWR and Southern steam alive in Hampshire and beyond.
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24/04/2026

We're set up and ready for the first day of The Watercress Line's Spring Gala!

Come and say hello, we're in the society marquee in the orchard at Ropley.

22/04/2026

Ropley won't have quite as many engines in steam as Feltham (shed 70B) this weekend but the South Downs atmosphere will be full of the sights, sounds and smells of steam. Tickets for The Watercress Line's Spring Gala are still available: https://watercressline.co.uk/special-days/spring-steam-gala/
We'll see you there!

10/04/2026

This month marks a historic milestone for the Urie Locomotive Society as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of 30506 at . The locomotive will feature at the Spring Steam Gala, taking place from the 24th to 26th April 2026.
The Urie S15 Preservation Group rescued 30506 from Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, South Wales after a determined fundraising effort. The engine arrived at the fledgling Mid Hants Railway in April 1976, becoming a cornerstone of the line’s heritage fleet when it returned to steam in 1987.
We invite all gala attendees to visit our sales stand to learn more about our work on 499 and contribute to the “final push” to return this second Urie S15 to steam. Tickets for the Spring Steam Gala can be booked via the Watercress Line.
See our latest progress in this month's engineering blog: https://uriesociety.co.uk/celebrating-50-years-of-30506-at-the-watercress-line/

08/03/2026

Well, what a sight this is! They may have been from two regions, but together they make quite a sight here during 60103 The Flying Scotsman’s visit to The Watercress Line.

Photo: Matt Bentley

28/02/2026

It’s Urie S15 499 tender time again, and time for some details.

Find out more about our two engines on The Watercress Line by visiting uriesociety.co.uk

21/01/2026

January is here and work continues on our Urie S15 499. If you are looking for an evening read our latest Engineering Report has been added to the website.

Read it here: https://uriesociety.co.uk/new-year-new-metal/

04/01/2026

As we step into the New Year, everyone at the Urie society are pushing forward with determination and optimism as the next two years will be absolutely vital in our journey to return Urie S15 No. 499 to steam!

The next couple of years will shape the future of 499. Key restoration milestones lie ahead, and the progress we make now will determine how soon she will once again be seen, heard, and even felt doing what she was built to do. It’s an exciting time—but also a challenging one.

That’s why your support matters more than ever. Every donation, no matter the size, directly helps move the project forward. Equally important are offers of time, skills, and enthusiasm—volunteers are the backbone of what we do, and your involvement truly makes a difference. Finally, becoming a Urie Society member supports us and helps you up to date with all we are achieving.

As we begin this New Year, we invite you to be part of 499’a history. Together, over the next two years, we can turn dedication into progress and progress into steam.

Visit uriesociety.co.uk and be part of what we do!

26/12/2025