MHR Spring Steam Gala 2015: 13th - 15th February

You mean that the Ivatt's ready Dave???!!!

 

If only!

 

Will they be running brake van trips in the gala? Always something I thought the railway should do more, would be a great money raiser for your group

 

Nope!

 

I seem to have an early start on Sunday !

 

A bit disappointing, the last train from Alresford 16:30, all the later trains are ex Alton!

 

???????

There's a RAT on the Saturday night.......

 

And they're t/f apart from one from what I can gather.........

 

Nah there isn't, the first RAT is 21/2 (don't believe everything you read).
I'm currently doing the Sunday daytime RAT (starts Ropley at 09:15)

 

Looks like a good timetable, should be able to visit everywhere hopefully. I shan't be printing it out just yet though, I think our one for last year got up to at least version IV! I'm hoping for Bittern on the freight.

 

Odd the MHR web site is showing a RAT for the 14th Feb and showing fully booked? Why put the date on the RAT web page for? Seeing you know what's going on with the RAT I'll take your word on it's an error on the web site.

 

Sounds about right!

Just remembered, things aren't as they should be, as the the new fangled web thingy isn't up & running yet - D'oh!

So, you've drawn the short straw on the "Beer Express" then?......... bit more sedate than the onslaught on the RAT..... who the hell would want a pint that time on a Sunday morning?....... no don't answer...

 

Can anyone explain how the freight set is going to be shunted at Ropley, as I would've thought the set would be too long for the Ropley headshunt? Or will the set be shortened so it fits in the H/S?

James

 

As I understand it, one loco takes it in, a n other takes it out, thus releasing the 1st........ so it looks like the boxes will be shunted to Alresford to facilitate this.......

Its become a rather Ropley centric gala......... the freight not even going as far as M4M where the wagon group will be conducting yard tours, as well as having our usual fund raising stand.

 

I don't think they were able to remove it, so it's marked fully booked to stop anyone booking it.
Originally the RAT and Gala weekends were the other way around and were swapped.

 

I (we all do ) enjoy the on busyiness of the RAT, but it's also good fun doing the gala bar, as you get more of a chance to chat to people.

 

So no doubt we have spoken many times then - some galas I spend as much time in the RAT as I can, and let the locos come to me!

 

Popped in to Ropley today. I hear 70000 was in steam the other day. Nice to see 60019 back at Ropley. I must say 60019 looks much nicer with the side wheel covers removed in Blue.

Just hope its a bit warmer than it is today for the gala and the sun stays out.

 

Hi Phil. Quite probably... I'll be there on Sunday, say hello @Duty Druid has outed me (well, my dodgy choice in Christmas T-Shirts anyway) somewhere in the MHR thread.
Can't wait for the allocations to see which locos we'll get.

 

Valance's Lee, Valance's!!

Though I agree, she looks much more the thoroughbred race horse she is without them.

Will be nice to see her storming the Alps again!