MHR Restorations and Overhauls

"Saddening as it is, not to see Nellie on the big railway at the moment, i look forward to her running on the MHR and other heritage railways other the next few years"

"Nellie???" "Her?"

<snorts and storms off in huff>

 

Two photos here of 76017 at Ropley from today. It can’t be to long before 76017 starts to be put back together again. The main driving wheels are now out and the front truck has also been removed.

http://lee.mediaobjects.co.uk/p67386756.html

http://lee.mediaobjects.co.uk/p67386757.html

 

Nice to see that the restoration of 45379, gets a three page spread in the latest edition of Heritage Railway No.142.

NOT!

Its a B****y disgrace that they cant even be arsed to give a write up about it, just a small picture and caption. With all the effort that the largely volunteer workforce have put in over the past 5 years, they deserve more coverage than this now lowly title gives.

But of course its the MHR and just another black five to join the massed ranks, hardly newsworthy i suppose, in their opinion.

 

Heritage Railway is just like SR or RM, it contains articles that hopefully interest its readership - trying to turn this into railway rivalries is just daft. Im afraid that a Black 5 whose overhaul has been completed during one of the busiest months for news stories, hasnt attracted many headlines, isnt going mainline and has been restored to pretty much the same livery as all the other operating Black 5's isnt going to get vast amounts of coverage or pictures.

Indeed, its not unusual for quite notable events to get barely a mention if they've fallen just after a publication date or have been extensively covered in another publication. Thats just the way it is - there's no need for people to get personal.

Chris

 

I have to agree with Andrew. 45379 is only the second ex-Barry Black 5 to have been restored to working order (the first being 45337). This is quite an achievement. It will be interesting to see how much page space is given to 45305's return.

 

To an extent though you get out what you put in. I have no idea how the MHR operates in terms of communication with the media, but how much did they feed the press with releases covering the return of 45379? If no one did anything then you can't really complain too much. If however the printed press has been hammered with pictures and articles from the railway for the Black 5 - and then nothing appears - you have a right to criticise the lack of coverage.

Personally I think the finish of 45379 is phenomenal and I very much look forward to seeing the loco in action on the MHR soon. It's an amazing contrast to the condition I remember seeing the loco in when it was parked in the bay platform at Bitton some years ago.

Now for a little dig: If the MHR made lineside photographic permits more widely available rather than just to the chosen few, then it doesn't take much to realise how that would benefit the media coverage with the amount of photos submitted to the magazines. End of dig.

 

MHR website is showing 45379 as running the goods service on sunday 3rd October with 73096 and 92212 on the pax services.

 

Just because, as a Mid Hants supporter, you have a particular interest in this loco doesn't mean it has to be automatically granted a three page spread. Arguably, the NYMR's rebuild of 45428, which involved a colossal boiler rebuild, carried out in house (as opposed to the contracted out repair of 45379's) was just as big an achievemet and didn't get three pages either. With so many black 5s returning to traffic this year it's perhaps inevitable that they are not attracting the attention that perhaps they should.

 

I think you will find that Andrew Stevens quote of a three page spread was more a figure of speech to raise the point that little had been written about the loco,s return to steam.

That said 61624 your point is taken and noted.

Regards
Chris:

 

Yes I think this is a very good point. Understandably the Mid-Hants wants loads of publicity for their gala and locos but they refuse to let photters have lineside passes, or at least open up courses to allow photters to obtain PTS which the Bluebell have done this year. The main problem is locos facing out of Alton as unless your around the Chawton area, which you have to be lineside, there is no where as far as I know that you can get a decent photo because the loco is just drifting down hill with no exhaust. If a loco faces out of Alresford then there's no problem as there's plenty of open fields where you can stand and get some good photos of the loco working up the gradient without the need of going lineside. Unfortunately the subject of lineside photography passes has been thrashed about time and time again on here regarding the Mid-Hants, yes there are some pretty dangerous areas on the line where photters shouldn't go as there is almost no embankment to get on if a train suddenly appears and your on the trackside. However if the ban continues then I guess photters will think twice about visiting for an enthusiast gala and thus the media coverage will be limited in the magazines. I personally have sent one shot of the Black 5 during the gala to SR mag, it's in nice sun and good lighting but with absolutely zero exhaust because it's drifting down hill south of Medstead going towards Ropley and I guess this will be a minus point and so may not get published.

 

Hi there, instead moaning about this, why don't you write an article about the Black 5 restoration work, take some good pictures and email it to Steam Railway or Heritage Railway magazine, especially if you are involved with the project or are friends with those involved.

I have written an article each, for both Steam Railway and Heritage Railway about my own Toplight project and both times it was published together with the photos I sent. (Steam railway was the following month and Heritage railway about 5 months later). I have also written plenty of articles for my railways own magasine. You have to understand, I am sure the staff of these magazines have limited time, so if someone sends them an interesting article it makes life easy for them and they can do a copy and paste. I think its also better too if those involved write the articles as then they tend to get the details correct and have the latest news. I might write another one myself soon about Czech steam.

 

MHR Roster until Jan 2011

http://www.watercressline.co.uk/The-Works/Loco-Roster

 

Seen it Lee, what does that tell you?

Regards
Chris

 

Not to sure Chris? But there's no U class (31806) being listed on the roster

 

Thats exactly the point i was trying to highlight, i think a three page spread would have been asking a bit too much, however a bit more than just a captioned photograph was definately necessary IMHO.

As far as railway rivalries are concerned, i have no problem with other railways getting their fair share of publicity/coverage, but the perception i get is that the MHR get less than there fair share at times in this particular publication.

 

Nor it seems 34007 after mid October.

 

Wasnt 34007 suposed to be going to NYMR for their gala?

 

She was supposed to but the visit was called off. As an aside was she meant to go alongside or instead of Manston?

 

Alongside AFAIK.

I take it that the non availabilty is down to the Boscastle people wanting their tender back, so that an overhaul can start on it and Can Pacs not being ready for some months?

 

What about the spare tender tank that Ropley have on the Fowler under frame?, could that not be utilized ?

it all goes to show that it is best to do a proper job in the first place rather than make do and mend.

Regards
Chris: