MHR Pre-Spring Gala, S & D theme: 17-19th February 2017

Especially considering the bigger event to come later in the year.

 

Yes, I am looking forward to the big event in July on the Mid Hants - I'll definitely be there over both weekends.
About the Gala in February - surely just having four locos running doesn't give much margin for things like loco failures and diesel substitutions?

 

While you say 13 locos, it's likely the SVR will have one or two not involved at all incase of failures/no shows/due to maintenance and probably one or two doing very little/a 'hot' spare. The Sunday particularly seems to be very little going on after 2pm local trains wise usually.

 

I don't agree on the locomotive line-up, but one thing I will say is that there are way too many "S&D" themed galas. It's a bit of a cop-out and normally just means "a Bulleid is coming".

 

If all goes according to plan I'll be there Friday & Saturday. I wasn't expecting the MHR to have any visitors in February considering the four they've got coming in July.
The MHR has an interesting home fleet and on some lines the 9F would be the star visitor.

 

I've nothing against the S&D, but when I heard it was to be an S&D theme I thought 'oh no, not another one!'

 

Does the MHR not have anything close to finish out of the works? What's in there ATM, 34105 / 75079 with 35005 off site?

 

30506 is also in there and should be the first to be completed. None are imminently close to being completed however.

 

Especially as the Pines Express headboard -the most overused one in preservation? - will probably get more outings.

 

Is this to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the year after closure?

 

Even without a visitor there is a lot the MHR can do with this line up.
9F on a big train worthy of its power, a 12 coach Pines is probably impossible on the MHR but 8 coaches and a van is do-able.
Banked freights.
Interesting train consists with a van or two added like cross country route railways used to have.

Although no visitor appears to be coming is it really that hard out of season to get something?
A BR liveried austerity or industrial could work the freight or do shunting at the stations.

 

What would you rather have though? A smaller visitor for this event or one less big visitor in the summer? Sometimes you have to think of the bigger picture.

 

I think the headboard has been used more in preservation than back in the 50s and 60s!

 

I am thinking of the bigger picture thank you, that's why I was suggesting doing the most with what's available in house. Presumably there is a budget available for this gala?
Last year there was the T9 and Q so I was thinking of the bigger picture that there would be a surplus budget if one smaller visitor was arranged, especially if bigger potential visitors were under winter maintenance.
I thought the big stuff for the Summer gala was arranged anyway?

 

Why not organise your own gala then?

 

With blackjack. And hookers.

In fact, forget the steam gala.

 

I'm in!

 

No its to mark the fact that there are only 49 years until the 100th.

 

Quite so. It only appeared on a very few occasions by all accounts.

 

Why the Rugby front row players? i prefer a second row myself.