MHR Restorations and Overhauls

I did think of going to Northside View, but decided to go to "Freeloader Alley" instead!

 

Sounds good to me and I'm sure Mr Evans would make a guest appearance again if 33008 arrived.

 

The 27 - its closer to nature than it is to running & I haven't heard of much if any work being done to it lately.........

 

According to the Facebook page set up for it you are correct! It all looked so promising when the tent went up at M&4M and then down to the siding of doom at Alresford and nothing! Pity as it would be a great addition to the line.

 

When it went up to M4M, I "think" it was supposed to have been up & running after about six months....... then they opened a can of worms - most of the body work has had it along with god knows what else.... and that bloody tent really made life difficult in the yard!

So it was a great relief to turn up one day & see it had been moved back to Alresford - we can now actually get to & around our wagons!

What the future holds for it I have no idea............

 

Well the owner also owns 33008 and today Tony Jones who is involved in the Southern Sulzer group visited Cranmore where the bodywork restoration is being carried out and posted pics of the work so far on their Facebook page.
What I can say is it looks superb and will be a treat once resurrected, be it at the MHR or elsewhere.
As for 27007 there was a rumour that it too could be going to Cranmore once 33008 is done. Who knows what 2016 will bring regarding MHR paraffin cans.

 

Having seen the photos Tony posted on Facebook I concur that they have done a fantastic job. They seem to be really turning out some quality work on the diesel side. If the 27 were to go there, it will be turned from a tin wormed box to a quality addition to any diesel preserved fleet in good time.

 

Another update on 35005 has now been put on the MHR web site yesterday.

http://preservation.watercressline.co.uk/blog/entry/final-canpac-update-of-2015

 

34007 climbing Medstead Bank this morning... I'll upload a few more from today at some stage.

James

 

I was working today, had about 45 mins to spare, managed to get 92212 at Wanders, but the sun went in 2 minutes before the train arrived...had to laeave so was not able to get 34007 on the 11;45 ex Alresford, looks like the sun came out again!

Round Wanders Curve by Arle Images, on Flickr

 

So that's it then, Nellie's now officially retired......... I wonder what the NRM have planned for her in the short term before overhaul commences, when ever that is!...........

 

It will be good to see her coming back to the MHR along the ML when she is finished.

 

I paid a short visit to railway yesterday and was bowled out by cloud for 92212 at the "Harry Potter" Bridge as it departed Ropley too. Can confirm the sun did indeed come out for 34007 on the 11:45 though as I was at the foot crossing between Alresford and Ropley for it! Managed to get in some trips behind each loco, nice to enjoy a bit of post Christmas steam.

 

Three more shots from yesterday morning.

92212 climbs past Bowers Grove with the 11:00 from Alresford... just after the sun went in.

34007 arriving at Ropley in full sun with the 11:45 - a quick dash down the road got us to Bowers Grove in time for the shot I posted last night.

92212 climbing the 1in60 towards Medstead at Wanders Curve (taken from the roadside), again managing to avoid the sun.

The 9F doesn't like me it seems...

James

 

Just to put the record straight, I was one of the "two people in hi-vis jackets". FYI, we were working, I was there all day cutting back the vegetation, getting soaked for my trouble. I think you've got a bit of a cheek, taking advantage of all our hard work, and then complaining because we were in your way.

 

As this thread is really about MHR restorations, I was wondering whether there is an approximate projected return date for the mighty Swanage? Will it be a 2017 return? Looking forward to this!

 

Oh, my apologies - after a long day I didn't think about an alternative reason why you were there.

I'll edit my original post, and apologies once again.

James

 

The latest issue of The Railway Magazine arrived today with a few bits of MHR news.
76017 might be ready for the Spring Gala but they are not advertising it just in case she isn't.
30053 was requested for the Spring Gala but is required at Swanage.
34007 will be waiting for her overhaul until 2018 at the earliest due to the amount of work in the overhaul queue.
30120 is also up for hire for 2016 due to being too small for the B&W peak services.
The MHR have said they wouldn't have sufficient use for 30120 for a Peak season hire period but with the Diesel situation arising surely they could do with every loco available to them for 2016?
How about utilising the T9 on extra local services during the summer? She seems to be popular wherever she goes.

 

I don't think lack of steam locomotive power is going to be an issue in 2016.
You've got:
92212 and 45379(1) for the heaviest trains
925 for everything but the heaviest.
41312 for non peak services.
And then 76017 coming back in (which would complement 925) from March /April if not before.
Whilst the T9 would be great, it would be competing with the Ivatt for turns.

The potential problem I see is in the event of a hot summer (yeah right) resulting in a steam ban, which would leave only Lion and the shunters for the busy Saturday night services.
Therein lies the problem though, the Mid Hants is primarily a steam heritage railway and whilst there are scheduled diesel days and a diesel running weekend, the diesels get less running outside of these or thunderbird duties. How attractive is the MHR to diesel owners?

(1) What word is there of her maintenance over the winter?

 

Can't see 76017 coming back for the gala. The gala is only six weeks away. I could see the T9 and the Ivatt working the summer week day services between them if the T9 was able to stay for the year. With any luck 30506 will return to steam before the years end.

Just have to wait and see if 34105 makes it back to steam before the end of 2017.

Just have to wait and see what's going to happen with the diesel fleet. I'm sure the management are looking in what's going to happen when the two 37s leave the railway. I would think another diesel loco would be required just cover stock movements between Ropley and Alresford on a week day.

Well said that man. Some people forget how much work goes in to keeping the lineside banks clear. You only have to go back twenty years ago and you were hard press to get a good line side photo between Ropley and Medstead. Just look at the Line side between Medstead and Alton. Hardly a photo opportunity available.