MHR Pre-Spring Gala, S & D theme: 17-19th February 2017

MHR website updated today:
17th-19th February 2017

Our Pre Spring Gala opens 2017 with a 'Somerset and Dorset' theme.

Steam crane demonstrations in Ropley

Our home fleet:

LMS Black 5 - 45379

LMS Ivatt Class 2MT - 41312

Class 9F - 92212

Class 4MT - 76017

 

Needs a Bulleid light Pacific imho!

 

Not a very exciting looking Gala.

 

Harry, in my view your short six word post shows the problem that gala organisers are facing now; most railways would be jealous of that line up! The MHR should be proud to have a home fleet line up such as above, and by adding one visiting engine will add interest but make this a lower risk event bearing in mind what the weather can do in February.

Its worth pointing out that most railways have now ceased running post Christmas, meaning that takings will have all but stopped. The problem being that cash continues to flood out the doors on wages, bills etc. Railways cannot risk having an event that flops with negative takings in early Feb or risk running out of money!

 

And of course there is the steam crane demonstration in Ropley as well.

 

While I'd never turn down a Bulleid, perhaps another attempt at getting a 7F in working order, if it's S&D theme?

 

Wouldn't mind seeing a small loco Working Alresford to Medstead shuttles. Which has been done before from memory with a GWR 57xx. It would be great to see a BR standard tank if that's possible and would be a great addition with the Ivatt tank and BR 76017.

 

An 8f would be a nice addition. If it's s&d themed does that mean the pines express will be running again like at the autumn gala?

 

What would be great is if the 9f could run on its own with load eight+pmv.

 

Unfortunately both 7F's are having maintenance and are, in any case, trapped at Minehead by the extensive relaying job over the coming weeks.

 

Well you can't have experienced 45379 getting away from the Butts Junction slack or 41312 knocking time off the schedule going up Medstead bank.
It doesn't need a visitor to make it a great day out, although it seems one is being sourced.

 

Well said! I was thrilled by 46100's exhilarating climb from Alton to Medstead at last October's gala but 45379's climb in the opposite direction (i,e., from Ropley) was just as enjoyable

 

We find ourselves in London again that weekend, national rail network problems and engineering permitting we intend to visit Sunday. We are more than happy to see home fleet loco's running, that's what attracts us coming down from the north. Wouldn't be overly happy if our Crab or Wells turned up, I only need to walk a couple of miles to see them regularly. Will be happy what ever they throw at the event, looking forward to it.

 

In the absence of a preserved 2P, the obvious missing classes are BB/WC, 4F and 7F. Sad to hear that both 7Fs are detained at Minehead in Feb. Something tells me we won't be short of Bulleids come the summer. Can someone lend us a 4F for the weekend?

 

It looks like there will not be a visiting loco for this event as the website has been updated.
No mention of a visting loco at all now on the Gala page.
Still a great line up though.

 

To be fair the railway have also reduced the ticket price by £5 which is great, really looking at coming to this.

 

Now changed on the Gala page: "Due to circumstances beyond our control, unfortunately we are now unable to have a guest engine. As a result we have reduced our entry prices."

Mixed traffic Gala perhaps?

 

I have to say, I'm afraid that I agree with Harry.
As I am a working volunteer on a loco which is being overhauled at the Mid Hants, the railway's own running fleet is very familiar to me as I see them most weekends. Whilst I can understand that some people will be attracted to witness the MHRs residents in action if they haven't seen them before, surely having a visiting loco is the carrot to pull the enthusiasts in? Although having said that, I can fully appreciate that there may be reasons outside the railway's control that preclude the appearance of a visiting engine (or engines).
As things stand, to me it looks like it will feel more like a normal running weekend with (possibly) a few extra trains rather than a Gala weekend.
And I seem to remember it was not so very long ago that the MHR previously held a S&D themed event? As an earlier post has said, if this is going to be another S&D Gala there are some glaringly obvious appropriate and relevant preserved locos of classes that were associated with that railway that won't be present for various reasons. Perhaps it may be an idea to rename the event?
I genuinely hope the event goes well and is a financial success for the railway, and I will be there as a working volunteer on our engine, but if that wasn't the case I have to say that as an enthusiast I'm afraid there is not a lot about it that would make me think "I want to go". Particularly as I'll be attending the Great Central's Winter Gala at the end of this month (8 available engines - 7 resident and 1 visiting) and the Severn Valley's Spring Gala in March which will have a total of 13 engines available (10 resident and 3 visitors).

 

Even if the MHR doesn't get a visiting loco it's still a good line up. Some railways would be jumping up for joy with our home fleet.