Mid Hants Railway - End of Southern Steam Gala 1-2, 8-9 July 2017

Believe it was also the debut of Bittern as well?

 

Yes it was. She had a bloody Magazine headboard glued to the front of her IIRC.

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Superb pictures. I really like the Standard Five shot

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Thanks very much for your kind words. As for the debut of Bittern, you are correct, and about the headboard.

 

Soooooooo

The loco's start arriving tomorrow...........

Looking forward to see these scenes again.....

34046, which is already there & hopefully fixed.....

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/32497243176/

35028 - but this time it'll be 35006!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/32385774652/

34081 which I'm looking forward to actually hearing work!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/33777464346/

Not for getting a Std 4 tank....

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/32975078304/

Or the Ivatt 2MT

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/32133802694/

At last but not least 76017.....

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/32133810564/

 

Anybody who doesn't need to be in Alresford might be well advised to avoid it like the plague. There are at least 5 low loaders expected tomorrow, which might tie things up a bit

 

At least the weather gods have listened & the lineside wont be tinder dry come the weekend, which the forecast says will be sun & cloud & high teens.......

 

35006 just loaded at toddington so look out soon for her on the m5!

 

34053 & 35006 safely arrived yesterday. Pictures on the MHR Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/watercress...4225.264188103617160/1374293029273323/?type=3

 

34081 left NVR in the early hours of this morning and when I last heard from the hauliers, she was on the A31 between Winchester and Alresford. Hopefully there now.
Tender being loaded this morning so that should be on its way too.

 

33 pilot will do over the alps, authentic too

 

This will be 35006's first contact with Southern metals since being towed to Barry in December 1964.

I enjoyed a run behind her on the GWSR a couple of weeks back but will be keen for a second trip on more testing gradients and a more historically appropriate line. Also hoping for a few miles' travel behind 34081, which I missed at Swanage. This will leave only 34101 and newly-restored 35018 left for haulage. I'm not really a "haulage freak", but who would have thought when Southern steam ended in 1967 that, if all goes according to plan, by the end of the MHR gala, any enthusiast would have been able to travel behind NINETEEN different Bulleid Pacifics during the preservation era! We really owe a huge amount to Dai Woodham, not to mention the dedication of the many individuals and groups who have restored these magnificent engines to working order.

 

The scene at 12pm today...

James

 

Deleted

 

34081 drove past the office in Alresford this morning! 80078 safely unloaded at 15:30, topped up with water at Alresford and pushed to Ropley by "Lion"

Freddy Pile in the headshunt just past my garden!

 

Saw her looking very clean and shiny heading south on the m3 about 9.30 this morning.

 

Its gala time, so it must be shameless plug time on behalf of all the MHR Wagonista's................

Yes its me again.

Just to remind folks that we will have our sales stand at M4M all five days of the gala on the up platform, offering all sorts of goodies of a railway related nature.

We also have a limited number of our 2017 limited edition "BOCM of Farringdon" model vans, that we expect to (hopefully) sell out over the gala...........£12.50 per wagon or £24 for both differently numbered.

Pic below that isn't mine.

We will also be conducting yard tours for a small donation of £2 per head, where you'll be able to see the vehicles we are working on & should be some of the wagons that aren't out & about in the rake.

Also don't forget there are Brake Van rides to be had on the various freight turns on the QMB - 1st come 1st served, limited to a max of 12 each way unless the guard says otherwise - fares are £10 per head for the full line freight one way ARL to ALT & vice versa & £5 per head on the ARL - ROP shuttles & vice versa - a bargain, even if I say so.

Above all, please remember that without your generous support, you wouldn't be able to enjoy the sight of one of the finest freight rakes in the country, the we know you all enjoy seeing & we strive to maintain - remember that annoying TV ad "Every Little Helps", in our case it it certainly does!

So please take time to come and see us on our stand & enjoy the gala.

 

Looking forward to this, and I'll be sure to have a look round your wagon yard and see what's changed around in the last few years!

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Where is 34058 due to be displayed, in the cattle dock at Alresford?

Got tickets for both Saturday ad Sunday then hopefully see 34092 at the Bluebell on the Anniversary weekend.

 

Oh Dan, you'll miss a treat if you dont come back for the second weekend. Every day is different.

All locos now arrived. The residents of Alresford are getting used to being able to move around the town again. It was a bit fraught this afternoon when there were three low loaders present simultaneously, not helped by someone deciding that two yellow lines is a way of reserving a free parking space!