Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

No leak just the ash pan spray being used.

 

45379 was in fine fettle over the weekend, as witnessed by Duty Druid and myself from lineside and QMB

45379 at Northside by Arle Images, on Flickr


45379 on the freight by Arle Images, on Flickr

Hampshire Unit at Alresford by Arle Images, on Flickr

 

The Hampshire Unit came past me while I was working on Saturday. It looks rather nice after its repaint, mostly carried out by George A'Court. It will be out again on the 30th of this month, when the Hastings Unit is due to bring in a Railtour.

 

That's nice Dave, I managed to miss the sun on Sunday evening....I was working (proper work not my volunteering) on Sat afternoon. Next month sees the 2H timetable (one steam, one Hampshire unit) on 1st, 7th/8th and 15th/16th

 

The 9F was on the freight on Saturday.

 

I'll say thank you on behalf of all in the group & all so say a big thanks to all who came and supported us over the weekend.

 

Cant use all of the rake in one train....too long for the loops!

 

What a nice problem for a heritage line to have!

 

One of these days I'd love to see us run everything we have including ones we're asked to look after run non stop from Arl to Alt non stop double headed, ideally next year behind the S15 & 9F.......

Doubt its ever going to happem though.

 

Never say never. I would rather run it with just the 9F or just the S15. I suspect you would hear me coming off the Butts though. It is doable, just that the train engine would have to be shunt released at each end, and if there was a problem it couldnt get out the way except by reversing into an empty headshunt at Ropley perhaps. It is doable with planning....

 

The Class 27 has emerged from Alresford Head Shunt.

Class 27 27 007 (D5353) - Ropley Yard by Tim White, on Flickr
Work is evidently on-going.

 

Just the S15 would suit me, Coming off the butts, i bet you will be heard leaving Alton The run through Ropley on the up would be interesting, as i think you would not closing the regulator till your at the platform at M&FM If at all before thank christ bridge

 

It's heading for Brechin by road.

 

On a completely different tack to loco rosters and stripped diesels...

Can anyone remember when Alresford signal box was reclad? I remember hearing that the asbestos cladding was replaced by painted marine ply, sometime before 2012. I have looked back through Mid Hants News magazines to 2006 and can't see any reference to it. (The query was also placed with the MHN editors.)
The answer has a bearing on how Romsey signal box replace the incorrect vertical cladding which is showing signs of decay after 15 years.

Thanks, Neil

 

Why is the date important?

 

According to the MHR web site Hàstings unit will be visiting this coming Saturday.

https://www.watercressline.co.uk/pr...-diesel-tour/175d92ec8d27f01d30c7c2879902b783

 

To get some idea how well the marine ply survives and to narrow down searching through MHN and volunteer briefings for notes on the work and any problems that were experienced.

Before anyone suggests that Romsey or Alresford boxes should be restored to 1960's external condition, I should point out that the external cladding was asbestos sheeting. When and why that was applied is as far as we know unrecorded. ( Yes we have tried SRS, South Western Circle and local history sources and the earliest pictures of Romsey SB date from the 1950's when it had asbestos cladding.) Our only surmise is Romsey (and probably Alresford) originally had horizontal weatherboarding like Netley, Medstead and Crediton and it was replaced by asbestos at a time of timber shortage during WW2.

If anyone can provide a photos of Romsey SB or Alresford SB before about 1940, it would fill gaps in quite a few historical records.

Cheers, Neil

 

33202 and 03197 confirm for diesel gala

 

Great, the SI's office at Alresford didn't have details this morning

 

Wow - a 600-odd mile trip and they'd better not hit any potholes or they'll be finishing the trip by sweeping it up into a succession of wheelbarrows!