MHR Autumn Steam Gala 21-23 October 2016

What's the point. You can't ride on the freight train and if you can you will need to pay extra. Keep one of the home fleet locos on the freight train. One of the main reason people attend a gala is to ride behind visiting locos and you can't do that if its on the freight train. You just see if trundling out the station towards the next station.

Gets my vote. Just hope it stays dry and doesn't become overcast.

 

I wonder if there will be another visiting Loco as I have been reading the latest issue of the MHR News which arrived last week and it seems we might be short of resident motive power. 925 is/was due to be withdrawn from service so that several repair jobs can be carried out; work to remedy cracks in the mainframes, driving wheel tyres turned and coupled wheel axlebox overhauls. 45379 is also due to be withdrawn to have work carried out on the driving wheel axleboxes. Plus the frames continue to be a problem with cracks. So will they be available in October?
If they are not the Gala line up will be:
41312
46100
53809
76017
92212

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I had enough of colder at the spring gala thank you very much!
28 degrees is perhaps unlikely at the end of October, but temperatures high enough to stand about waiting for the next train without risking frostbite would be welcome.

 

Yes, it was a cold one this year. I went home early on the Friday as I felt unwell in the afternoon. It didn't help that the heating on most of the trains was non-existent. I was wearing plenty of layers but I still couldn't warm up.

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You should be ok for next years end of Southern steam gala in July.

http://preservation.watercressline....nniversary-end-of-southern-steam-gala-in-2017

 

The weather will be too hot for that event Lee!

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On a positive note. With fewer locos running at the gala. There's more mileage to be had behind 46100 and 53809. Looking forward to seeing 46100. But if there's going to be another visitor please can we have a Bulleid Pacific.

 

43106 confirmed as the third guest from the Severn Valley Railway.

 

Potentially the best gala of the autumn right now. Smashing line-up which will be hard to top.

 

Can't be to long before they put the time table on the web site.

 

Excellent news. I have been praying for years that the Flying Pig would visit the MHR. A cracking LMS line up with 41312, 43106, 45379, 46100 & 53809 with a couple of BR Standards 76017 & 92212 rounding off the Midlands theme.

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I have to say that, given how disappointing the main line scene has been in the south east this year, the heritage lines in this part of the world are all doing their best to compensate. Some great galas coming up and the addition of 43106 to the MHR event makes a great weekend even better.

Interesting - 7 engines and not one SR loco among them (assuming 925 will be the spare). Admittedly, 41312 and 76017 were based at SR sheds throughout their working lives and 45379, 92212 and 53809 all ran over BR(S) metals at some point in thier careers. This year has been an LMS takeover and it has been fun. Anyone suffering from a lack of Bulleids will no doubt be compensated next year with the various events marking 50 years since the end of Southern steam

 

Not long to go now until this gala, with the great LMS line up thats planned hopefully the MHR will have the latest carriage finished and in traffic in time (in maroon).

 

45379 might not be ready in time according to a report in the latest Railway Magazine and I understand 925 won't be available anyway going by the Shed report in the latest issue of MHN.
Can anyone update the home fleet situation? Has 925 been allowed to run a bit longer?

 

Led to believe 45379 was in steam today out side Ropley station.

 

Something steamed underneath me as I drove over Sun Lane bridge this afternoon....45379 on a test???
Some quite outstanding consists planned for the weekend from what I hear, let's hope it comes together as planned!

 

45379 was out and about on The Belle last night. @Hampshire Unit's flickr also attests to this with her preparing to leave Ropley for Alresford last night.
No idea about Cheltenham.
From what I understand, the timetable is nearly ready to be published (I now know where and when I need to join the train for my duty on the Sunday, though I have no idea what we'll be behind).

 

That's great news about the Black Five.

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45379 was indeed out last night (and I think is due to be the service loco today, along with 1125 as the Alton set) The black five was used on a Foot Ex train on Thursday last, wich explains the steam I saw at Sun Lane bridge. Last night 92212 was on the RAT , 4132 and 76017 were in the yard - there was a diesel shunter in the wheeldrop shed with something behind it -possibly Cheltenham. Re the Gala, I would think a 53809/45379 double header would be a distinct possibility, as I believe the 7F has been requested facing London

 

I take the other two visiting loco will be facing out of Alton due to all the home fleet locos being used over the gala are facing out of Alresford.