THE Watercress Line’s Heritage Lottery-funded project to restore its flagship steam locomotive, Canadian Pacific (CanPac), has much to offer beyond the restoration work.

As well as all its outreach activities which touch the lives of people of all ages, apprenticeship schemes, dementia awareness training and oral history programmes, it offers a series of events, including behind the scenes tours.

A spokesman for the Mid Hants Railway said: “Why not do something different this spring, summer and autumn and join the CanPac team to explore behind the scenes at the Watercress Line’s engineering hub at Ropley station?

“Learn more about the railways in days gone by and find out just what it takes to restore and maintain steam locomotives, including the great Canadian Pacific. This is your chance to get up close to these unique engines.”

The initiative also offers project showcase weekends, celebrating engineering at the railway. Visitors can explore the many restoration projects under way at the Watercress Line and meet a range of different societies based at the railway, finding out from the experts about the engines and asking about their progress.

For more details, visit watercressline.co.uk.