MHR Autumn Steam Gala 21-23 October 2016

Right, enough of the damn Gronk - go see the purported display as to why its encroaching, and so back to the LMS themed kettle fest!

Nobody, but nobody has yet picked up on the fact that the Medstead only freight is not only non stop but also banked by the Ivatt!

Been quite a while since we've had a non stop freight, let alone banked.

 

Thanks, was it an ECS move as strikes me as an odd passenger formation?

 

Like this from the February Gala? Only this had a clear run at speed whereas I think this time there will be a passenger train in the down platform so it will have to slow for the loop.

 

I assume it was delivering stock to the, then recently formed, MHRS if it ran to Alresford.

 

It was of course the last desperate attempt to get stock in by rail before good old British Railways sent in the contractors to rip up the track from Alton to Ropley. If that hadn't happened the history of the Watercress line would have been very different!!

 

The Pines will be 8 coaches and the CCT van - i.e. the RAT set and the Local set combined. The 08's "special" will be the Local set plus a Toad. I'm told that the 08 returns light to Alton at the end of the day, presumably with the Toad.

 

2 locos and technically 9 coaches - that'll be well past the starter signal at Alresford!

 

I was quite excited when I found this out a couple of weeks ago, but I didn't want to mention it! The 08 will recreate the last run of stock onto the MHR from the big railway, as mentioned earlier, and also gets over the problem of running round at Alton by removing the excess coaches! 53809's tender arrived a hour ago

 

Ropley has bi-directional signalling in both platform roads, so they could put the down passenger in the loop to give the non-stop a clear run through the main.

 

Are the Belle coaches being used ? and if yes will they : -
Be with the the RAT ?
Serving toasted bacon sandwiches ?

 

I should imagine that the Belle stock will be either the 09:30 or 10:05 ex Alresford trains, since the stock is stabled in the Alresford sidings.

 

I'm told that the Belle coaches will be included in the set that forms the first up train from Alresford. The RAT set is kept at Ropley overnight and forms the 0915 up from Ropley and the 2nd down train from Alton, as shown on the timetable. Not sure what the on-train catering arrangements are, though. There's normally a buffet on the 5-coach trains, but not, I think, on the "local".

 

Auntie Sandra will be doing bacon sarnies on the Belle....09:30 dep from Alresford, 41600 on Friday 5 coaches, three of which are the Belle set (no BG).7F delivered this morning, tender last night. Not been up to see if the mogul has arrived yet. Off to work now but may call in to Ropley (beware, ROADWORKS 20:00-06:00 will cut off normal access to Ropley) on way back to se if Royal Scot has arrived (or is it Flying Scotsman, I get confused with these engines from beyond Watford Gap)

 

46100 is on her way. Here she is at Guildford a short while ago:

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46100 arrived at Ropley about 10 mins ago, 53809 on pit road in light steam

 

Is it facing Alton, please?

 

Judging from the pictures on the MHR Facebook page, yes!

 

53809 and 46100 both facing Alton

 

Thank you.

 

43106 has made it to Alresford. Picture of her on low loader posted three hours ago on Twitter.

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