MHR Autumn Steam Gala 2014.

It still works for me.
Interesting to see the home fleet will be 850, 45379 and 92212. Will 45379 be ready in time? I hope she is. It seems like ages since she was last in use on the MHR.

 

Still works for me.

 

Facing London according to the timetable.

 

Now working for me too!

But, oh dear I know of one guard who's going to be more than a little miffed with the freight only doing one RT........

 

Is 45379 going to be turned? it is done as facing "TBC" at the moment- was facing London last time I saw her.

 

Still facing Alton when I saw it on Sunday and the 350 shunter was still in front of it in the wheel drop shed.

 

Looking around the railway over the past few weeks. There isn't that many places to take photos these days. Most of the Alressford area seems we'll over grown and Northside lane didn't look that good with bushes now obscuring the line.

 

W231 arrived this morning, and the tender from 6960 has arrived (still on the low-loader) and at present is facing Alton. Hopefully it'll stay this way!

James

 

I wonder if Jeremy Hosking will be attending the Gala as he will have four of his locos in action at the event (5029, 6960, 4270 & 92212) and another sitting in the yard (70000). Now that is some life size train set!

 

Didn't see those arrive an I was around and about in Alresford earlier on today....6960 turned up tonight, squeezed through the crowds and traffic for the Broad Street fair!

 

6960 and tender now in Cattle dock at Alresford, 08 and Green 37 ditto, Auto coach in platform two and "Pay and Play" in platform 1......6960 facing country

 

Pretty sure it is 6960 and isn't 6990 , as only last week I saw 6990 (Witherslack Hall) at the GCR still in pieces.... its yet another loco that is always just about steam again!

 

DOH!! Amended now, thanks! Only excuse, just been to the dentist. Anyway was fun and games watching the low loader steer around the cars last night, normally at 9 in the evening there are few cars parked, but last night it was full of people parked for the fair!

 

Looks like 5029 is staying at the MHR until the end of November. The MHR have announced some possible footplate experience days in November.

I wonder if any of the visiting locos will be used during the week after the Gala on Half-term services? I have a couple of days off that week..............

 

I'm working on the Belle on 22/11- we have had a Castle on the front before......

 

Well I have an inkling of just might be on the freight.................

 

We usually get the larger engines on the RAT. ;-)

 

Nothing to do with all that extra weight then?...........

 

So no Hall & Castle double heading next weekend, as its been confirmed the "plan" is for Nunney & the 42xx to face London.

 

That's interesting news about 5029. IIRC there was a gauging problem on the 'Big Railway' with 5029 last time she visited the MHR. She had to come in smokebox first from the Big Railway due to a gauging problem when travelling in the London direction (on the Up line).
She left the MHR on a Tyseley operated railtour (The Mid Hants Explorer 27-09-08) last time she visited and she had to be towed on the rear of the train to Guildford. I was told at the time that this was due to a gauging problem near Aldershot on the Up line. I guess this has been sorted now? I did find it hard to believe at the time, how could she fit one way around and not the other?
Any way the video below (not mine but I was standing with the guys filming it at Bentley) shows the Railtour and gives a taster of the sounds we can look forward to next weekend