MHR Autumn Steam Gala 21-23 October 2016

Loco and tender now in cattle dock at Alresford, facing Alton

 

Is this likely to mean problems during the gala outside those times?

 

No. The posted times for closure are 20:00 - 06:00. It should only affect the first couple of crews to arrive.

 

..and the road is fully open outside those times, just a bit of rough surface/ramps to negotiate. I supposed to be for 5 nights from Monday so should be finished Saturday morning...I got in and out of Station Road, Ropley at 18:30 last night with no problem

 

Any idea what the field is like?

 

No, sorry. Hasn't been particularly wet here over the past week....sharp showers rather than long periods of rain. The latest forecast I have looked at shows it dry from now until Sunday lunch, then showers so Friday or Saturday your best bet for dry parking

 

Here is my short video of 46100's quick visit to Guildford yesterday on her way to this event:

 

Shameless plug time!

On behalf of all of us Wagonista's..................

Don't forget to come and visit us & our sales stand at M4M. where we will have a wide range of second hand goodies for you to get your hands on I'm reliably informed that we have some very good quality/ condition books up for grabs - also we still have a few of the current limited edition wagons for you to get your hands on in time for c h r i s t m a s.....................

Along with all the goodies we will also be conducting our (world famous?) yard tours for a small fee though I'm not sure just what is in the yard as there's recently been a large shunt!

On top of all that we shall also be manning the model railway PMV in the cattle dock at Alresford AND being minders on the freight**, which you can ride for a suitable donation and numbers are strictly limited!

** I'm working on the premise that it is the full line run only & not the shuttles.

So, please come & see us where ever we are & dig deep to help us keep the wagon rake you all love to see up & running!

And above all. enjoy the gala, it promises to be a cracker!

 

***************UPDATE ON QUEEN MARY BRAKE VAN RIDES**************

There will be a supplement of £10 for a ride in the Queen Mary Brake one way from Alresford to Alton one way.

For a ride on the QMB on the shorter runs between Alresford & Ropley & also the Medstead working, there will be a lesser charge of £5 one way.

Hope that clarifies things!

 

53809 on shed by Arle Images, on Flickr

 

Sadly, 53809 has failed. I don't know the nature of the fault, but loco allocations for today's trains were being altered in the early hours of this morning. I know of only one change to the timetable: The 14:40 freight will terminate at Ropley, not Medstead - and presumable return to Alresford from Ropley

 

She is rumoured to have a leak (boiler...?) somewhere. Failure confirmed on Ropley service board

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I spoke to the very disappointed guys on the 7f footplate. She has a steam leak and won't be running over the weekend

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Car park looked full this morning. Let's hope with 53809 now out of action it doesn't put people off from coming.

 

Trains reasonably full and the sun is out. Trains are now running to time.

 

Still very much hoping to come tomorrow. OK. no working 53809, but never mind; 46100 and 43106 are still a big draw, not to mention newly-restored 41312 and 76017. Weather forecast doesn't look to bad either.

 

43106 pauses at Medstead with the vans:

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The Pines Express just went through Ropley Awesome!!!

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Just one photo from this morning.

 

An excellent half day spent at M4M and Ropley. Plenty of folks about although no problem getting seats on the trains I traveled on. Usual friendly, enthusiastic, volunteers etc at MHR.
As Green Five notes, the DH 'Pines Express' (76017+92212) absolutely blasted non-stop through Ropley, whistles screaming, towering exhausts and showering us all on the Kings X footbridge with cinders! Probably the most spectacular preservation era display I have ever experienced! Fantastic sight!! Sincere thanks to the crews for such a 'hairs on back of neck' moment.
If you get a chance I urge you to go tomorrow or Sunday!