MHR Autumn steam gala 2011

A few today from the gloom :

http://simonwhittinghamphotography.zenfolio.com/p632853289

Unfortunately the weather and the timetable were both playing up today

 

Here are my best photos from yesterday. As I said it was a most enjoyable day with some good weather, certainly compared to previous galas I've been to at the Mid-Hants!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davestubbings/

 

A small selection of my Photo's from yesterday can be found at http://paulsimpson.zenfolio.com/p846347344

 

Today was certainly interesting but still 3 great days on the line. I managed to get 1744 on her run up to Alton then waited for 31806 to decouple from the freight. In the end 1744 went back down to Alresford without 31806 and a complicated (for me anyway) movement began to get the Engineers train cleared which eventually went out with 31806 and 92212 then took over from 45379. Lord Nelson turned up before and coupled to the Engineers Train but then came off and after going back through the station after 45379 arrived and after this was declared a failure (which wasn't told until sometime after and was still at Alton after 17.30). After the delays this caused the freight train didn't run again during the day although the Engineers Train was running.

I managed to get 60163 and 4492 down to Alresford (after deciding to wait for them to arrive) which was standing room only then took 60163 back up to Alton and had a lengthy stop at Medstead. I was very impressed with the N2 up Medstead bank but then again she was built to be able to get Surburban trains up Holloway Bank so she would be good at it.

But a great show by the MHR and 4 great visiting engines with a great homefleet. The only loco I didn't get a ride behind was 31806 but as she returned to steam this year I'll have plenty more opportunity to go behind her. Also because of her failure I didn't get my solo run on Nelson but did twice get behind her twice when she was double heading with 45379 from Ropley to Alton yesterday and Friday.

I'll try and post my images of the 3 days tomorrow.

 

Evening chaps,

Good gala, with an ambitious timetable and some cracking hill climbing, especially by Tornado in my experience. Some photos now up on the website from Friday and Saturday, with a video to come later in the week.

http://railwaygalleries.smugmug.com/MidHants/Autumn-Steam-Gala-October-2011/19816462_trhJTv

Cheers

 

Our image gallery for the event can be found here (sorry, it's only my stuff at the moment - please contribute!):

http://www.watercressline.co.uk/Your-Visit/Gallery/Event/77

If you would like to submit images for the gallery, please email me at info@watercressline.co.uk

Please note we will not publish images taken from inside the fence (unless you have a valid PTS) or from adjacent landowners property. Our thanks go to all those who attended the event and purchased tickets, taking notice of our request not to trespass. Thankfully, there were very few incidents of this throughout the course of the event.

Thanks again for your support.

Tim Beere
Marketing Manager
The Mid Hants Railway 'Watercress Line'

 

Attended the gala on Saturday and what more can I add that has not already been said. Absolutely brilliant from beginning to end and the trains kept to time even though pilotworking was in place the whole day between Medstead and Alton due to the cable theft. Sheer professionalism to keep the show going.

I was looking forward to the run up Medstead bank behind the N2 and to say that I was not disappointed would be the understatent of the decade. A great line up, excellent timetable, professional staff (as always) and unexpected dry weather. Can't wait until March to see what is on offer!

I hope to get my flickr page updated this evening (if possible) but have sent a few of my shots through to you this morning Tim. Hope they are of use.

 

My offerings from Saturday are here:-

Kent Yeti's Blurred, Dark and Out of Focus Photos of the Mid Hants Gala

Well at least that is an improvement from the days when they would be Blurred, Dark, Out of Focus and Scratched after the slide processors had made their contribution!

 

Well, Friday and Saturday proved to be my best Gala experience ever I think. Great weather on Friday and most of Saturday helped to make it a wonderful event. Best MHR Gala since the 2007 End of SR Steam event and the WR themed Spring Gala in March this year.

Highlights from Friday included the first run (9.17) from Ropley with 70000. The crew had to ease her out of Ropley on very poor railhead conditions before opening her out a bit more on the bank. On the return run from Alton the noise was spectacular although 70000 had to be shut off as I believe she started priming half-way up the bank. Later on it was great to stand at Ropley and listen to the loco's hammering up the bank to Medstead, in particular 45379 and 70000 on seperate trains. Another highlight was the round trip with 4492 at the end of the day with some nice A4 chatter up the bank. It was good to have Bittern back for a short while. I was missing that chime whistle!

Saturday was just as good as we had a cracking run from Ropley with 1744 up to Medstead. A gutsy performer. 45379 impressed when standing in for 70000 as I mentioned earlier. But the best part of the day was the solo run of 34007 from Alton. Lot's of lovely Spamcan chatter echoing over the "Alps". This was followed by the excellent recreation of the old Ilfracombe branch trains with 31806 and 34007 top and tailing from Alton. A wonderful experience to have the U barking away at the front and 34007 chattering away at the rear providing some enthusiastic banking assistance. And yes you could hear 34007 over the sound of 31806. That will stay long in the memory. The day ended with us watching 45379 storm out of Ropley from the car park.

Overall a great Heritage Railway Gala experience. A superb loco line-up, very friendly and helpful TTI's and station staff, and a very good timetable that didn't suffer too much when problems arose. Gala of the year for me!

 

Well!

What can I say!!!!!

Having just got back from deepest darkest Hampshire after three fun filled days, I can only echo what has been said on here already!!!!

That was three days of pure steam heaven which I thoroughly enjoyed, to say it was busy is an understatement! Even the field at Ropley was over half full before 8am on Friday morning- NEVER seen that before...

Out of the three days THE highlight HAD to be the N2!!!!!!!! (yes it was nice to see and ride behind the Brit, A1 & A4)

Can I just say thank you to whoever took the 'brave' decision to let her go solo up the bank - that faith was repaid in spades on Sunday when she did an impromptu round trip back from Alton, And I was lucky to be on it!!!!

For some reason they couldn't unclip the points to release the U boat at Alton, so instead of trashing the timetable (Nellie did that ALL by herself not long after!) they took the brave decision to let her go solo and she did it - I was at the front and Boy have I never heard such a sweet symphony from such a gutsy engine - expertly fired by the owner (I know this because the fireman was on the train with us!) she flew out of the blocks at Alton and made steady work of the bank until the gradient began to bite, but she remained sure footed and didn't slip once - superb handling by the crew - the looks on peoples faces when we emerged at Medstead was a sight to behold!

Can we have her back again please!?!

It was also nice to put a few faces to names Horace and gav106!

Finally - just a big thank you to every one involved for making it a superb event, you're going to have to go some to top that next year!!!!!

below are a 'few' pics from the three days including sunrise at Ropley Friday morning!

View attachment 3546 View attachment 3547 View attachment 3548 View attachment 3549 View attachment 3550 View attachment 3551 View attachment 3552 View attachment 3553 View attachment 3554 View attachment 3555 View attachment 3556 View attachment 3557

 

Oh yeah forgot about the points problem at Alton and was why 1744 ran back to Alresford on her own then 850 failed not long afterwards (what was the problem I only heard them say that she failed)

 

haven't got a clue!!!!!!!!!!

All I know is that once we got back to Alresford it was announced she'd failed - AND BOY did she put a Major spanner in the works - I really feel for the poor folks trapped on the trains trying to get back from Alton - nothing moved for ages!!!!!!!!!

Apart from Nellie doing what she does best - it was a seriously good Gala.

 

Evening chaps

As promised, video is now live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6BW7WvxLRA

Cheers

 

Flickr has now been updated although descriptions need to be added later: http://www.flickr.com/photos/salisburyasc/?saved=1

For more pics of the MHR: http://www.flickr.com/photos/salisburyasc/sets/72157605558035170/

Other Heritage: http://www.flickr.com/photos/salisburyasc/sets/72157605557737148/

 

Finally got round to uploading my images from Friday to Photobucket.

http://s818.photobucket.com/albums/zz110/DanHill1991/Mid Hants Autumn Steam Gala 28th October 2011/

Hopefully Saturday's and Sunday's will be up tomorrow as I just need to put them up on Photobucket.

 

Evening chaps,
as promised now video is live so cheers guys because i just told about video but haven't shared the link anyway i read this thread and it's pretty nice.

 

I must add to the complements already made about the steam gala. I really enjoyed it and thought it was fantastic.
The sound of the various locos working up the banks was a joy to behold. As I was out and about with my camera I
didn't manage to travel on the services but made sure that I handed a donation to staff at Alresford.
One question I would like to ask, did a 'spamcan' ever pull an engineers train in BR days, similar to the one that ran
from Alresford to Roley on Saturday morning? It sure as hell looked very good. TIA. <BJ>

 

Here are my photos from Saturday and Sunday

http://s818.photobucket.com/albums/zz110/DanHill1991/Mid Hants Autumn Steam Gala 29th October 2011/

http://s818.photobucket.com/albums/...011/Mid Hants Autumn Steam Gala 30th October/

 

Timings are now available on UK Steam info web site for the return working of 60163 & 60019 back to Southall. This only leaves 70000 at Ropley.



http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t11/t1109p.htm