Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

I took a few photos of Steam Illuminations from Horse Lane last night, just to see how they would turn out.
The photos are never going to win any awards but I thought I might share a few here to give a feel for the event

Alresford (18:05) departure
Alresford (18:05) departure
Alton (18:20) departure

 

BBC news have picked up on it as well now.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-hampshire-55246642

 

Yes, nice little article on BBC Breakfast News. Lots of praise for the line and all folk who work there. Well done Mid-Hants!!

 

Well, the website has crashed & it looks like its sold out............

Good news, even if not for me & my family

 

Register for updates. There may be some additional dates added.

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This was always going to be a risk, but one that looks like paying off, well done to all those who decided it was a risk worth taking, For years Santa Specials have been the money earner for many railways, But this meant many might be tempted to do for the same option, and not evolve their operation .
Modern electronics have taken over very much of our daily lives, but short of pre booking on line, railways have been slow to take up visual effects, up to now , it would seem, There are many themed events the railways do, that these will now transform, if used right,
I wait with interest what the organisers of this event on the MHR, will do with an after dark Wizards week end event, Dementors , theres dementors out there or a flashing light show as two Wizards dual with their wands, death eaters storming the train .

 

Surely Wizard Week(ends) are for small children, Dementors/Deatheaters are a tad on the dark side (though ghosts (Casper?) might be a thing...)

Edited following @jnc 's post.

 

Have you been reading ‘The Prisoner of Azkaban’ Martin?

 

I think there are a variety of possible events that could be done using the basic set up. However, this is not a cheap system to install or operate. Halloween could be a lot fun, but getting the balance of fun and fear right is tricky.

For the Watercress Line the old format Santa Train was impossible with Covid. The Father Christmas at the Watercress Line is possible and has been sold out for a few weeks.

Yes it was a risk to run Steam Illuminations, but a staged approach to the spend helped, and ultimately the grant awarded from the DCMS Recovery fund took the risk away. It is wonderful to be able to repay the confidence shown in us with that grant by putting on a show that is clearly bringing joy to lot of people. Next year is unlikely to be "normal" for all sorts of reasons and changing and adapting for the future is essential. The line has tried lots of new things this year, and there will be more next year. Bring it on!

 

Whoever’s in charge of marketing and events at the Mid Hants deserves a massive pat on the back for thinking outside the box. I really think other railways (not mentioning any names) could do with having a look and taking note.

 

There was even a feature in the Yorkshire Post, a bit out of your normal catchment area I think.

 

{Removed, since the post it was in reply to has been removed}

 

My partner works in marketing and she’s taken a bit of a professional look at what the MHR and she said they seem to be getting it it right.
Whilst typing the above I got this from a friend in Norwich https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-hampshire-55246642

 

And the Dundee Courier....apparently

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This is currently on the front page of the website too!

 

Meat Van working on Wednesday saw more grinding back the running gear and metalwork, and sanding and filling the good woodwork. Ali Wood Primer and Red Oxide was then applied on the areas prepped. At some point I will be getting between the frames and cleaning / treating all of that - that will certainly be a fun interesting job.

 

There was what was possibly the last working party atop the hill, on a Saturday, before Xmas yesterday......

At least for a change it was sunny & dry!!!

The vac cylinder for the model railway PMV finally made it back to the yard after overhaul & was duly fitted, though not without putting up a fight!

After that, it was a case of ticking off 'small' jobs & continuing with the overhaul of the gunpowder van......

The southside brakes on the LMS box van were attended to, as the brake handle would not drop into its hanger.. this was found to be bent out of true - so a scissor jack & brute force solved that one!

Painting of the roof hoops for the GPV were red oxided in the warmth of the chippies CCT, whilst the life expired wooden hoops at either end were removed to allow for trial fitting of new at some point in the new year........ redundant bolts were got rid of by angle grinders & overly long bolts newly fitted were ground back.

Oh, and the vac hose on the country end of the Tube wagon was replaced - but not without a struggle, as the damn thing put up one hell of a fight - so much for it being a 5 minute job!!!

We were of course interupted in our tasks in the afternoon by the 20 trundling by & then later stabling in the yard after line checks...... followed by the 76 on the ECS to Alton - the locals were also out in force to witness that!!

My efforts of the nocturnal happenings last night......

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/50714088702/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/50714086532/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/50714011061/in/dateposted-public/

 

Duty Druid and I shared nocturnal photo duties last night (though I won't be with him on the 21st of this month, in case he starts looking for virgins to sacrifice!) so here is on of the 76 leaving Medstead -as I type this I just heard it depart Alresford, although it is some 10 degrees warmer tonight-i.e above freezing
Medstead Illuminated by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

 

Hmm, how can you be 100% on that Matt? After seeing the event in person, I'd say the marketing department have had a very small input into getting this event up and running, granted they have got the events attention out to the media etc but that is probably as far as it goes. The thinking behind the event, man hours putting it into practice and the hard work of the staff and volunteers to get it going is where the credit needs to go. The marketing team may have just advertised an event that had already been put together. The coverage on the TV clearly shows one of the brains behind the operation and fair play to that gentleman and his colleagues.

 

Although the North Norfolk railway was a pioneer with iluminated trains, the BBC report shows the MHR has taken one step further with programmed multicolour LEDs, armbands and music.