Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

Don't let Wallace and Gromit near the trains though, we don't want this sort of thing happening!

 

Many thanks.

I rang the Watercress Line not long ago and I think it was Richard who was very helpful when I asked about the roster for this weekend; it hadn't yet been updated when I rang. And he very quickly rang me back with the above information. So, very many thanks to Richard, and for Stinch too in posting it here.

I was actually after getting 30506 this weekend away from the crowded Gala weekend. But hopefully the S15 will operate on a normal service day at another time in October.

And, by the way, I do plan to be part of the crowd at the Gala next weekend. Only one loco for me to avoid, and no prizes for guessing which one that is.

Bryan

 

Yes the magnificent post war steam speed record holder!

 

Do as I suspected it will face towards Alresford

 

Equalled by German 18 201 on test Don!

WEDGIE aka Bryan - B

 

Don't think so - it will run around its support coach and then run tender first to the Mid Hants so it will be facing Alton for the gala won't it?

 

Updates on Facebook today show that 34059 has arrived at Alresford on a lorry. Will she be in the yard tomorrow or hiding in the wheeldrop shed? We are attending the Wallace & Gromit event.

Sent from my XQ-BT52 using Tapatalk

 

Yep. Should face London.

 

We visited for the excellent Wallace and Gromit event yesterday which proved to be really popular as the railway was very busy.
The West Country Buffet was doing very well and they were selling a lot of the Wallace and Gromit themed Cheesy Afternoon Tea boxes which looked to be a hit with the customers. Both trains were well filled all day and Ropley was a hive of activity.
The miniature railway was also carrying lots of passengers over the newly extended line. In the afternoon we met Wallace and Gromit as they wandered around Ropley delighting their many fans with photo opportunities with the duo. Wallace appeared to be a big fan of 35005.
The Wallace and Gromit themed Lego display in the old goods shed at Alresford was brilliant. The attention to detail was superb and we spent a fair while trying to spot all of the different Film and TV characters portrayed on the layout.
Hopefully further events in the future can be held in association with Aardman.

The yard at Ropley was also busy with staff and volunteers engaged in various activities. It was good to see 850 back out in the daylight and finally reunited with her tender after the loco had been residing in the carriage shop for some time. We were curious as to what is going on with Lord Nelson. Is there an overhaul pending or cosmetic restoration perhaps before returning back to the NRM?
34059, recently arrived from the Bluebell was hiding between 850 and other rolling stock in the yard.
41312 and 35005 were both on great form again. A delayed departure from Alresford with the 13.45 service encouraged the crew of the Ivatt into a spirited run up to Ropley where we left the train to explore. We later joined 35005 on the last round trip of the day to Alton for another wonderful run behind the mighty Merchant Navy. She sounds absolutely spot on and how a Bulleid should sound. The cracking climb back out of Alton was certainly turning the heads of dog walkers as we passed by the sports field.

Thank you to everyone involved for another very good day on the Railway. We are really looking forward to the Gala next weekend.
Below are a few shots from the day.

41312 tops up before heading to Alton:


41312 lifts her train out of Ropley as 850 and 34059 rest in the yard.


Wallace and Gromit posing for their fans:


Wallace is impressed by 35005:


850 Lord Nelson back in the yard:


CanPac rolls into Ropley with the last round trip of the day:


We finally meet Wallace and Gromit (yes, we are all big fans of everything Aardman!)

 

It’s been sometime since I’ve seen a photo of 30850 . Is there any news whats happening with 30850.

thanks

 

Oh no, look what happened at Alresford!

The Wrong Train by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

 

35005 hauled the RAT on Saturday

35005 takes the RATinto Ropley by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

Saturday Night at Ropley by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

Steaming into the night by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

 

Well, Muggin's 'Ere is back from his Holibob........ not the best, but he did manage to get up to Lancaster to see home town Lads, Massive Wagons become the first band in forty years to headline the Great Hall at Lancaster Uni, supported by Life in Neon & The New Roses, the place rocked & the live album of the night has already been pre-ordered!!!

Any road, we didn't have a working party atop the hill yesterday as it's gala time, plus we've currently got nothing in the yard to play with, as LMS van M517317 was rapidly finished & passed it's FTR to join the demonstration rake, as plans for it changed at the last minute.

So, Muggin's 'Ere spent the day in the company of @Hampshire Unit ballast yomping in challenging conditions....... things we do for our 'hobby'!

It was good to see the gala well patronised, as trains and platforms were full.

Normal service, should hopefully resume atop the hill this coming weekend...... that's assuming at least one of the requested vehicles turns up in the yard...... if not, there's bound to the demonstration rake to give the once over to......

So, a few pics from yesterday....

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54833714029/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54833714374/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54833806090/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54833806510/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54833732348/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54833807240/in/dateposted-public/

 

So soon after that amazing Gala and here I am wanting yet more information!

Of course I accept that the Blue Sharp-Pointy loco is a tremendous draw for 99.9% of visitors and hopefully a really decent money earner whilst at the Mid-Hants. But it being there still, means I can only make an educated (subject to the limitations of dinosaurs' schooling) guess at the timetable due to operate over the next weekend - as the timetable only mentions the runs by the aforementioned Sharp-Pointy steam loco.

I would like come down again when the S15, now running as 30506 , is on the roster hauling a passenger train. It's probably a bit early to know if it's on the roster for this coming weekend and I will come back here later to check on that. But is it the standard two train timetable that will operate on the 11th and 12th please? With autumn racing past I am planning my trips carefully and the Mid-Hants and the Swanage Railway look to be the only two heritage lines in the South East (ish) that are most likely to see loco and rolling stock combinations that I'd like to see.

With thanks in advance for any help.

Bryan

 

Hello Bryan. The timetable page on the Watercress Line website has this note on it for next weekend:

"Due to the Sir Nigel Gresley Experiences, there is a One Train Service without a shuttle running on 11th-12th October – the standard travel service will depart from Alton at 10.50am, 12.50pm and 2.50pm, and departs from Alresford at 11.45am, 1.45pm and 3.45pm."

Looks like it could be very busy again as the trips behind 60007 on Saturday are now sold out. We are travelling on the 15.00 departure.
No news on the loco rostered for the other service yet but I would imagine it will be either 30506 or 35005 if they are expecting a lot of visitors again.

 

Many thanks. I have made a note to myself to not just click the coloured panels on the timetable, but to sometimes scroll that page down as well!

I'll come back here later this week to see if 30506 is on the 11.45, 13.45 and 15.45 services - unless it appears on the Watercress Line Roster page before then.

Bryan

Edited to add that I see 30506 is on the roster for tomorrow and Thursday this week. I'm far from keen to brave the M25 again on a weekday, but maybe it will be kept warm on Friday so as to work on Saturday.

 

I believe it will be 60007 with 41312 as banker and 35005 for weekend services

 

Great to see Lord Nelson outside for the gala. I appreciate that the locomotive is normally tucked away under cover as part of the conditions of the loan agreement. I am not sure of where the locomotive sits in the overhaul priorities.

I also took a photo of a Bulleid through a Bulleid a complete fluke that the locomotive and window lined up.

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OK, thanks for that. I'll have to think about Thursday then. If it is 30506 tomorrow and Thursday.

Bryan.