MHR Autumn Gala 23rd - 25th October 2015 - LMS theme

There's still time for the T9 to be fixed - I hope!

Fingers crossed, the Ivatt tank makes it, and can be paired with its tender counterpart.

As for Bittern, yes it will be - whether she heads to Crewe for overhaul under her own steam or is dragged or ends up on a low loader, remains to be seen.

 

looking at the Ivatt today it will be tight. I hope i don't sound pessimistic as i really like to see it run for the first time in my case

as for bittern my guess would be that she would be towed to Crewe.

 

Or you could just enjoy seeing steam locos on the Hampshire gradients.

 

Any news if 30120 and 1312 are going to not make it to the gala

 

I believe its mainline ticket has expired, low loader or somthing with a Sulzer or EE Power unit to get to Cheshire.

 

So with only around five weeks to go all we now need is a time table and possible loco roster.

 

If you don't know the drill by now, there is no hope!..................

From a purely wagon group biased point of view.......... I damn well hope that the freight does at least one full line return trip each day........... the Arl - Rop 'shuttle' was as waste of time at the Spring Gala, considering we have our sales stand at M4M, and for those attending a gala not to see the fruits of our labours probably doesn't help our efforts to raise funds!!

As for the freight runs, I'd be more than happy to see the 9F & Wadebridge share the honours........... and maybe let the Crab (assuming it does make it) do one run nose first, as that would look good - heck if it was an express vans, even Bittern could do a turn............. and then let the guests pull the passenger turns, so that those attending can experience them!

 

30120 seems to be back in action at last as there is a picture in the latest issue of Heritage Railway of her at Swanage station. She passed a steam test and was declared fit for duty for use during the steam rally weekend. So fingers crossed she is fit for next month.

 

A further update on the MHR Autumn Gala page now has the full line-up for the Gala:

Visiting Loco's:
LMS Ivatt Class 2 No. 46521
LMS Crab No. 13065
LSWR T9 Class No. 30120

Home Fleet loco's:
LNER A4 Class No. 4464 'Bittern',
SR Lord Nelson Class No. 850 Lord Nelson,
LMS Black Five No. 45379
BR Standard Class 9F No. 92212.

Looks like 41312 won't make it for this event.

 

Looks like it won't make it, she has been booked for a photo charter in November and " it won't be receiving a fresh coat of paint before the charter so will be in a very worn BR black."

 

You doing it?.......

As for the gala, is there any point in raising folks expectations when its going down to the wire?.......... I think not!

If she makes it, then bonus.

 

Still a pretty decent line-up even without 41312. No complaints from me - I'm looking forward to it.

 

Indeed.

As said having 413212 would be a nice surprise.

For me, its the Crimson Crab that I'm looking forward to seeing.

Be interesting to see what noise 46521 makes going up the banks - gotta be noisier than on the GCR!!

Don't forget, it'll also be the last time folks get the chance to ride behind one of Gresley's finest for a while......... and the same goes for 850 at the gala.

 

And the nice thing about this decent line up is the variety of liveries!

Where else can you find a Garter Blue A4, running alongside a Crimson Lake Crab, a Malachite Green 'Nellie' and a BR Black T9, 2MT and Black 5?

Still, I can't wait to see the T9, though I hope it faces Alton this time... I don't mind about the other visitors, but would quite like to get some shots of her working up the hill to Medstead from Ropley!

James

 

It would be nice......... though I can see it being paired at some point with 850....... they made a fine sight at the spring gala in '13!

And this was going down hill..........

 

I notice 30925 isn't in service for this event. I presume it's going to be kept at Ropley to cover any failures over the gala unless it's already been transported to the Bluebell railway for their gala the week after.

 

Maybe gone before?........

 

Does anyone know why Wadebridge wont be out this time?

 

I'd hazard a guess that 7 locos in steam would be enough to fill the timetable.
Many more and you'd struggle to find work for them all to do.

 

She will probably be the spare engine (standby) as 925 did this duty last Autumn IIRC.