Mid Hants Railway - End of Southern Steam Gala 1-2, 8-9 July 2017

Although the actual anniversary of the end of Southern steam takes place tomorrow, as someone who will be otherwise engaged on the day, this may be the appropriate place to give a big thank you to everyone who organised the commemorative events, both the various heritage lines and the main line tour operators and promoters. By my calculations, the main line specials plus the commemorative events on the Swanage, Mid Hants and Bluebell lines from April onwards involved 13 locos in total (30541, 34046/53/70/81/92, 35006/28, 41312, 73082, 76017, 80078/104). Of these, only 35028 went direct from BR into preservation and only 35028 and 41312 lasted in service into 1967. How much we owe to Dai Woodham and to the volunteers, paid staff and owning groups who have restored these various engines.! If anyone can go back to the 10th or 20th anniversaries of the end of Southern steam, I doubt if even the most sanguine enthusiast could have predicted just how much Southern steam would be running 50 years on from that sad day on 9th July 1967.

Unlike our regulars Don and Al, I'm too young to have any memories of the last rites 50 years ago, but the Bulleid Gala at Swanage, the superb show put on by the Mid Hants over the last two weekends and Clan Line's stunning main line return on the Bournemouth Belle last Wednesday will stay with me for a very long time. I also have some more tangible souvenirs - a copy of Don's excellent book and the superb commemorative mug which the Mid Hants has produced, from which I guess the profit will go towards 35005's restoration given it is the engine depicted on it. Both thoroughly recommended, by the way.

Thanks once again to everyone for making this anniversary so special.

 

Well that's it for us. Off home now for a rest before tomorrows trip with 35028. The MHR staff and volunteers should be very proud of this magnificent event. For me it was the jewel in the crown of the Anniversary Commemorative events.
Thank you to all involved at the MHR and thanks to the visiting Loco owners. I will finish with this picture for today:

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

 

I will get flack for this, but how would people react if tomorrow all the steam engines were left uncleaned and dead on shed and the trains were hauled by the 33's and the hampshire unit? wasnt this the reality 50 years ago, The following day, Steam had gone, engines were dragged to collection points like Salisbury, Eastleigh, Bristol, before being dispatched to the South wales yards .

 

Nice to see the chalk writing on the smoke box door of 35006. Back on 9th July 1967 35023 Holland Afrika Line only had THE END on the smoke box door and THE LAST ONE on the smoke box outer ring.

 

Not on your nelly. We may be marking the end of Southern steam 50 years ago but these celebrations are also marking the rebirth of Southern steam and dirty, dead locos would not do justice to the preservation movement that has made this possible. There's a filthy "34019" in Ropley yard and that's enough IMO.

 

Even that's a sad sight to see this weekend.

 

Ah, now I know! Brilliant charter Sir, makes all your hard work worth it!

 

Southern Steam Sunset by Arle Images, on Flickr

One of the last trains today...Duty Druid and myself waited age for this!

 

Nice one Steve.

 

My final four photos from the Mid Hants' Summer Gala. Rather sad I won't be there for the big finale with the dragging of the 'to-be-scrapped' locos, but I've had a fantastic few days at the MHR.


35006 approaching Northside Lane crossing


35006 passing the Alresford outer home


The crew of 35006 look on as they pass Northside Lane


34081 approaches Ropley with the final service of the day to Alton

James... working into the early hours to get the video sorted!

 

That footplate crew shot is a cracker!

 

Visited again yesterday having also done so the previous Saturday, once again the locomotives were well turned out and sounded good, while the trains were full and standing, especially the Hampshire Unit! The freight behind the Ivatt 2 looked very nice, of course the credit goes to the Medstead Wagon Group for maintaining it, and additions such as the tractor tied down in one of the open wagons certainly added interest. The non-stop express was impressive; I saw it at Ropley in both directions, when SKP was really working to get it going on the Up run, then later when 80078 and P&O came powering through with some nice whistles. Some compressed images from yesterday are below, and a video, featuring the footage from both Saturdays of the event, is to follow. With thanks to all involved for organising, and executing, this amazing event!

A chalked up 35006 stands at Medstead on the second Up train of the day


80078 storms under Hampshire Hunt Bridge

41312 and 76017 cruise through the undergrowth at Hampshire Hunt Bridge


Sir Keith Park and 92 Squadron await departure from Alresford

92 Squadron smokes out Ropley


The diverted Bournemouth Belle accelerates away from Ropley

 

Glad you enjoyed it - you certainly got the last bit right!

 

We didn't wait 'that' long for it, it just seemed like it!

So my take on the passing train, though a different take from yours.........

The only real shot of 34081 I got solo yesterday.....

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/34976450234/

And before 34081 showed up, 35006 went the other way.....

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/35775750066/

I was all set to go today, but woke up feeling like crud, so driving, let alone going lineside were out of the question - I still feel like I've been hit by a brick.

 

Thank you for your kind comment.

But just to pick you up on a small point, its the MHR wagon group - Medstead & Alton are our two main bases, though we can be found at other points of the line.

Glad to hear that you enjoyed your time at the gala.

 

L.E. Drag.
80078 and 34053 being dragged off to await their appointment with the oxy acetylene axe.
(With Barry now closed, maybe the current yards will do a better job )


Off to the Cutter's Torch by Tim White, on Flickr

 

if you want a warts and all scrap train picture look for the one with 76017 minus connecting rods, sanswiched between two brake vans, with COND on the tender,

 

I do remember that, it was quite some time ago.

It was good to see Sir Fred in a viewable position. I took this one last Saturday of 41312 passing Sir Fred which I thought worked quite well.

Ivatt Tank 41312 passing Rebuilt Bulleid Light Pacific 34058 "Sir Frederick Pile" by Tim White, on Flickr

And also at dusk on the 8th

Bulleid Merchant Navy 35006 P&O passing Rebuilt Light Pacific 34058 Sir Frederick Pile by Tim White, on Flickr

 

I had a morning round trip with 35006, an afternoon 4TC ride from Wareham and an evening encounter with 35028.. now to be able to sit down and look at the photos and watch the videos...Hats off to all the crews and Vols at the Watercress, Swanage and MNLPS....