MHR Spring Gala 12-14th February 2016

T9 facing out of Alton as is the plan for the Q

 

Sorry my mistake in misreading - trying to get to the bottom of a picture puzzle!

I'm a bloke & my brain cant multi task - apparently.......

 

My (somewhat brief) experience of the Q is that it is maybe a bit under-boilered. So for example it has the same size cylinders as a U boat (and smaller wheels) but the grate area is only 21.9sq ft vs 25 sq ft for a U; and 1,432 sq ft of heating surface vs 1,804sq ft. So it is very powerful, but if you give it a big load for a sustained period, you have to be very much on top of the firing to keep up with the demands of the cylinders. Still, it has pulled six coach trains for us with no problem, so should have no problems on the MHR.

The other little visual oddity is that it has one of the Woolwich N class tenders, so it is a left hand drive engine but with a tender designed for a RH drive engine, so the handbrake is on the wrong side!

Tom

 

35011 General Steam Navigation Locomotive Group

Copy write colour rail
35011 General Steam Navigation Locomotive Group

This time in 2 weeks we will be hosting a stand at the Watercress Line Spring Steam Gala. It seems appropriate to share this great photo of a rebuilt 35011 being piloted by a U class number 31628 with a diverted Bournemouth Belle approaching Alresford in the early 1960s.

 

Good lord, I'd hardly recognise the spot today! Much growth of vegetation plus a bungalow(now house) directly behind 31628 (if this is the "Old A31" bridge)

 

I can see a few photoghaphers heading to Chawton woods for the gala.

 

With both guests facing out of Alton, there are not many other places to get a decent picture, even if the weather is good! If the timetable includes running into platform 2 at Alresford, there might be some action at the Alresford outer home mind....

 

Yes I can see Chawton woods being popular - depends if you can safely get up the bank........ it could be a mud slide!.......

As for me, I haven't made any firm plans yet - depends on what the weathers doing....... though I can see a ride on the freight coming on.......

 

The trouble with Chawon woods is the amount of undergrowth obscuring the running line.

 

Up by the Shrave didn't look too bad on Boxing Day....... the fun might be getting there!

 

Is that a publicly accessible area?

 

In a word - no.

But given the amount of tree felling that's been going on, there are opportunities...... though the shots would be quite tight.

 

Great, thanks.

 

What about Hampshire Hunt bridge, is that public? Also how do I get to it, been looking on google maps and I cant really see a way onto it?

 

I see the the Gala Parking has been updated on MHR website, http://www.watercressline.co.uk/article.php/1043/spring-steam-gala-parking
Good news for me, Alton brewery saves having to drive any further.

 

Keep up at the back - see post #95!

 

The new OO gauge wagon the MHR wagon group commissioned is a good looking thing. Bought one today at the Southampton model show and they should be available at the MHR gala.

 

http://www.watercressline.co.uk/shopimages/products/extras/Public Timetable Spring Gala 2016.pdf

Timetable is out. Good looking timetable with lots of different trains really liking the look of the Local and the Shuttle

 

I like the shuttle and local too, something a bit different.

Interestingly, the Q only seems to be solo on one pax train out of Alton all day. Might be one to avoid unless you want the haulage!

 

Hampshire hunt bridge is a public bridge and can be accessed between to bungalows. You can park on the service road called the shrave. There is a small public path that runs between two bungalows but its hard to see the path because it can be mistaken has someone's garden path.