Watercress Line Spring Steam Gala: 29th April-1st May 2023.

4079 to resume duties again. Just moved off Ropley pit

 

4079 fixed and back at the head of the RAT set about depart Ropley.

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4079 sounded good on the climb up to Medstead just now, although so did 41312 on the first train out of Alton.

Edit: 4079 sounded even better on the return of that journey.

 

4079 in sounded lovely this morning....

Pendennis Castle at Bishop's Sutton by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

 

Yes - I'd forgotten how loud a Castle is, especially when going tender first up Medstead Bank and you're in the first coach. Altogether a most enjoyable day and good weather too. Just a couple of issues with Pendennis but neither of them show-stoppers. Pendennis was of course the star of the show but it was good to see "Goliath" as well. I'd never seen that one in action before. It looks great even if the nameplates and lined GWR livery are not authentic. The gala certainly seemed to be well attended - the 6 coach set was the most popular due either to Pendennis hauling it or maybe the real ale (that was nice too!). Many thanks as ever to those who made it happen - I'm sure there's a lot of work behind the scenes that we don't see
.

 

Had planned to be there tomorrow, but very glad I had not booked a ticket as yesterday I thought I may be getting Covid again when a cough suddenly appeared with a sore throat and aches, but felt a little better this morning and no cough. Good I thought until my wife rang and said she had a fall and a broken shoulder was suspected. Turned out to be a broken arm, and as I have just had to feed her the morphine and undress her do not think I will be going anywhere for a while.
Sometime not booking in advance (which I only do if there is a big discount) does save money.

 

I had a very enjoyable day at the Gala today.
My first Gala since 2019 and it was great to experience the sights, sounds and smells of these wonderful events again after a few difficult years.

4079 sounded awesome on her first run out of Alton, the delayed 11.00 departure. A phenomenal noise experienced from the first coach. I think 4079 was louder than 5029 in 2014. 4079 was so loud that a large group of people playing tennis all stopped their matches to watch us pass. Later on approaching Ropley it was announced that 4079 would be removed from the train due to a problem with the Castle. Cue a mass exodus of the RAT set on arrival at Ropley platform behind the Class 47.
With 4079 sent to the wheel drop road for attention, swift work by the folk of Ropley MPD sorted the injector problem out and 4079 was ready to return to the RAT set when it came back up from Alresford. I joined the train again for another thunderous ascent of Medstead bank.
After the delays with 4079 encountered earlier in the day the timetable slipped further behind and I left 4079 at Medstead.
I opted for a run behind 53808 which was on fine form after her recent repairs.
I abandoned plans to catch the last train with 5239 due to the delays and chose to travel behind 41312 back to Alton on the heavily delayed 16.10 from Ropley. Had another very spirited run behind one of my favourite locos. The Ivatt Tank never disappoints.
A superb finish to a great day blessed with excellent weather. My wallet was much lighter at the end of the day due to purchasing items from the 34058, 34007 and the 80150 stalls and my backpack was much heavier as a result!


Thanks to everyone involved for a brilliant day.


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Njgel Stinchcombe was driving 4079 all day. He told me that having got to Medstead on the first trip up from Alton he realised there was a problem with a gadget on the injector so phoned the Didcot people at Ropley and they got busy making up a new one to minimise delay at the ‘quick pit stop’

 

4079 still on shed with 30506 taking charge of the 9.50 ex Alresford

 

S15 in place of Pendennis, and Ivatt currently in place of S15. Hope the Castle makes it out today, though nobody I've asked yet knows the issue.

 

Leaking tubes apparently from one of my mates who's there today

 

It should of course have been gasget. Bl……dy predictive text!

 

There was also a problem with the vacuum brake connection at Alton on the 1530. Solved by engine crew and train and platform staff so well done to them. Added about another 15 minutes delay but 4079 then stormed up to Medstead at a steady 25 mph. Not bad with 6 on for 213 tons tare and about 230 tons full. We could hear the roar from 6 coaches back. 5239 was also very good on both climbs with 5 coaches and a van, about 205 tons. It actually gave me one of my fastest times Alton to Medstead where the 13 minute standard booking is very difficult to keep, but this engine did it. Altogether superb warm day and I got some excellent images especially early on. Great stuff by MHR people so thanks to all those who worked so hard

 

Announced on Facebook and Instagram, 4079 to resume booked duties from 14:20 ex-Alresford

 

Will top and tail to Arlesford and back with 506. 506 will then detach at Ropley and go to shed.

 

Despite the delays it was a very enjoyable day yesterday, my first visit since 2017.

4079, despite it's various issues, was definitely the star of the show. After it was reattached at Ropley, the run up to Medstead was fantastic, but the return run was something else in terms of noise.

41312 also sounded very good on the first trip out of Alton, managed to get behind 53808 and took the last trip from Alresford with 4079 and 5239 and the latter solo to tick that off. The Kilmersdon driver experiences seemed popular as they'd sold out by mid afternoon.

 

Here are some more shots from a most enjoyable day out yesterday.
Once again I say thank you to everyone involved for a sterling effort in operating a superb Gala. I hope that the railway does well out of this event as it was certainly well attended yesterday.

 

Despite the showers, Ropley was an enjoyable day on the ERPS Sales stand. Plenty of people we knew stopped for a chat.
We were well positioned for passing trade to Tea Junction and to hear the block bells from Ropley SB. Just a pity our sales didn't match our expectations!
Thanks to all the MHR volunteers but especially Richard who let the Eastleigh Flyer headboard have a run on 506.
Thanks to Shoddy127 for the photo of 4079 and 506.

Cheers, Neil