Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

Sunday...same timetable but the "wanderer' will be a demonstration goods train

 

Oh so the 20 also? I thought I read the 20 wouldn't be running Sunday but I may be mistaken

 

20059+20188 booked to work as a pair both days on the Wanderer diagram, (Sat Pax/Sun Freight)

 

Just saw that! Awesome!

 

20 +20 today

The Jolly Fisherman by Stephen Morley, on Flickr


20/20 vision by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

 

Need to take a leaf out of the WSR's book and do a bit of hand weeding.

 

The weeds were sprayed about 7 weeks ago, died down nicely the the last two week's of warmth and then wet have caused them to run riot again! Unfortunately I haven't got the required "ticket" to use the knap-sack sprayer, although one of the "Tuesday gang" at Alresford does...we've been a bit constrained by all the mid week running as well!

 

The wet spring meant we were late weed killing, this may be part of the reason for the regrowth??

 

Fantastic video here as ever from the Mid Hants team, really fancy having a go at this pulled pork recipe, how do I persuade the missus that a 7F is a must have kitchen gadget though?

 

They looked and sounded great

 

I would have thought the bigger question is how do you persuade the owning groups of one of the two surviving 7Fs that their loco needs to become your new oven!

 

On the Subject of the 7f,s whats the state of 53809? is it still in ticket, or now out of ticket ? If its still in ticket, or due back this year, before 53808 bowls out for her 10 yearly, wouldn't it be good to re-unite them, and any other surviving engines that had worked over the S&D In a final mega S&D gala .

 

She was out and about hauling trains on 30th August according to this post on the NNR thread: #1460

 

The gala coming up in a week or three at the Watercress Line will have a line up of ex S and D engines (and types). This would be a lovely opportunity to get both 7Fs together. Sadly I am not sure that the NNR can release the loco. A shame because this October is probably the last chance for the two to be together in steam probably in the lifetimes of those that can recall them in service.

 

Details my friend, mere details! In all seriousness, could there be a market for some sort of ‘footplate cookbook’? Although there could be some problems ‘For this recipe you’ll need a Black Five prepared and ready from Buckley Wells, don’t work it to hard and it should all be ready by Carnforth, if you want it extra crispy, take out the smoke box during a water stop at Carlisle’

 

Mr Bentley driving the 20's this morning

20's in tandem by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

 

Aha, will this lead up to an inter-railway Smokebox Chef Challenge............food for thought

 

Nice photo Steve, maybe a possible photo submission for One of the railway magazines?

 

A Pleasant day greeted the four mad souls of the Saturday gang, yesterday!

After the usual brew & catch up, we hatched a cunning plan........ but I'm not too sure which pairing drew the short straw........

One pair had the southside shootbolt to install, as well as the kick boards on frames #3&4....... they almost shot themselves in the foot with the shootbolt & drilling out the rebate in the roof beam....... it would've helped if they'd installed the kickboards 1st to bring the door into line - they realised their mistake just in time!!!

The other pairing were charged with sorting out the bodysides, as last weeks finish wasn't good & plenty of insects had also managed to compound it by becoming stuck on the panels!!!

The only solution was to flatten back the whole lot & so began an epic hand sanding session.

Once that was done, it was time to start glossing again, this time it went on like a dream!

Whilst the glossing was going on, the other two busied themselves with putting in the missing rebates above both doors.

After the bodysides had been done, all were up to 2nd gloss except doors 3&4, which are up to 1st gloss - we had hoped to get them up to 2nd gloss, but the paint hadn't gone off enough to allow this, and yet to be glossed are both reveals.

Next on the agenda were the solebar & axleboxes, the solebar needed toming down a bit as its too bright, so the right mix of gloss was made up and applied, whilst the axleboxes were in turn drained of water & gunk, with pads & journals checked, then filled with fresh oil, as it is due to be shunted during in the coming week into the dock road.......

The GPV will be in use by the Wagon Group in the dock bay at Medstead during the autumn gala for our sales stand, so if you're coming to the gala, please do come and have a look at our efforts...... and also see if you can pick up a bargain or stocking filler at the same time, as all monies raised are ploughed back into making sure our troublesome trucks are maintained (But I'm not sure if the world famous yard tours will make a comeback.......)

Not a bad days work in between watching the passing trains - we did think of having a day trip to Skeggy on the 'Jolly Fisherman' until a, we realised we have to change at Alton, as it wasn't book to go to Skeggy & b, if we had we wouldn't got home in time for dinner!!!

Still it was nice to see the two Choppers working in multiple for the 1st time on the line.

A few pics of yesterdays comings & goings......

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/51457364384/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/51454275777/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/51455035006/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/51455284178/in/dateposted-public/

The rebates fitted & the just visible kickboards on doors 3&4.


The bodysides now happy up to 2nd gloss & the solebar in a darker shade, which I'm now happier with!

 

Unless I've missed something the second guest engine for the gala has still not been announced. Any ideas on what it may be (assuming there is going to be one)?