Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

Thanks Andy

Sadly, unless you count the last up Satan at the weekend as night running, that's it for evening trains until late Feb!

 

Sunset is approx 16:00 26/12, so whilst it's late afternoon really, it should be quite dark for the last trips on Christmas Leave.

 

Depends on the weather....taken at 16:09 on Dec 31st last year

Twilight steam 2016 by Arle Images, on Flickr

 

Thanks for info regarding dining trains and 'Christmas Leave' traffic. I do find there's something really atmospheric about steam at night! Hence my early morning starts at this time of year!! The zenith must be the SVR ASG. I got off and spent an hour at Highley in October and it was absolutely wonderful. So quiet apart from bells ringing in box and sound of locos in the valley miles away! The owls were out in force too!! Magical.
Merry Christmas to all!

 

For those of you who like dieseasels, here's an early Xmas prezzie........

They've got the Duff up & running (not my photo) it was out & about shunting stock t'other day.

 

From 26th December to 1st January it will be 45231 and 76017, with Cheltenham as standby loco.

 

I love black & white, I started out with that before moving on to slide film. We used to use different coloured filters in those days. A yellow filter slightly darkened the blue sky, to make the clouds stand out, an orange filter gave a much more dramatic effect. There was a green filter, but I can't recall what it was used for.

 

So the Mid Hants is up the duff so to speak...

 

I agree, it’s great to see black & white photos from time to time.

 

With any luck it won’t be to long before we see 47579 storming up Medstead bank from Ropley with a rake of coaches behind it.

 

A couple from me from yesterday, which was pretty dull and damp.

 

It was even more Drismal today & I only popped up the Triple fff for some Xmas Cheer!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/39238301132/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/39267128861/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/39267136841/in/dateposted-public/

 

I see from a post on Facebook (Stanier Locomotive Appreciation Group) that 45231 is not working today - seen sitting in Ropley yard. Does anyone know if she is still due to run over the next couple of days?

 

It (45231) requires a little attention. 76017 and 925 will be sharing duties for the remainder of the season.

 

2018 season kicks off with the Spring steam gala in February.

 

Spring gala in February? Has the seasonal calendar been altered yet again?

 

Summer comes soonest in the south Steve (so by definition, so must spring ...)

Tom

 

I think you will find this Gala is now marketed by the railway as the "Pre-Spring Gala"

https://www.watercressline.co.uk/product.php/21/pre-spring-steam-gala

 

And so must winter.......

 

It certainly felt like it today...

A couple of soggy shots of a pair of 5s of different vintage in Ropley yard today.

Black 5 - 45231 Sherwood Forester and Standard 5 - 73096 by Tim White, on Flickr

Black 5 - 45231 Sherwood Forester and Standard 5 - 73096 by Tim White, on Flickr