Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

92212 working the Alresford set and 45379 working the Alton set.

 

The inaugural Watercress Line Gin Train, hauled by 45379

LMS Black 5 - 45379 by Tim White, on Flickr


LMS Black 5 - 45379 by Tim White, on Flickr

The RAT ran with 92212

British Railways 9F - 92212 by Tim White, on Flickr

From a running fleet perspective, 47 579 took it's first test train from Alresford to Alton and back.
Here we have it returning to Alresford

BR Class 47 - 47 579 by Tim White, on Flickr

And resting light engine at Alresford once the Gin Train had departed.

BR Class 47 - 47 579 by Tim White, on Flickr

Finally, a couple of gratuitous low light shots of the RAT

British Railways 9F - 92212 by Tim White, on Flickr

And the Gin Train

LMS Black 5 - 45379 by Tim White, on Flickr

 

Having now re-hydrated from melting up at Medstead on Saturday, here are my efforts - not the best weather for photting with the sun high & harsh, and always in the wrong place!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/41890244302/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/41934572111/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/41934324001/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/28062925008/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/28063113938/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/27064324067/

 

Things went completely pear shaped at the end of today's services due to a major Signalling failure at Alton.

I visited with my family today and we really enjoyed the day. We took my Dad out for a while as he still recovering from his brain haemorrhage.
We had some great food in the West Country Buffet. I highly recommend the sausage bap. My Dad cleaned his plate of chips, ham and egg!
After a stroll around Alresford (with the occasional vintage bus passing through) and a visit to Ropley we caught the final train from Alresford at Ropley. All was well until Medstead where we found out there was a major problem at Alton. The 9F and her train were stuck in Alton station unable to leave and we were stuck at Medstead with the Black Five simmering in the heat. Fair play to the MHR who gave us complimentary drinks from the buffet as it was so hot waiting at Medstead. It was a gesture that was greatly appreciated by the passengers.
We eventually got back to Alton just after five, about half hour late.
Still, it was a good day and nice to see the Black Five running with the Pines Express headboard alongside the 9F. When we got home my Dad said it was like being back on the S&D today.


Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

 

Gin Train
Juniper Express by Arle Images, on Flickr
Ginny McGinface.... by Arle Images, on Flickr
Rat
Ratty McRatface.... by Arle Images, on Flickr

Diesel
A Brush with evening.. by Arle Images, on Flickr

 

How remiss of me - forgot to put up one pic!

So here it is.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/28088847858/

 

Fantastic pics all round. Thanks for posting.

 

I’ve copied this from WNXX forum.

 

Class 24 5081?

 

Just seen announced on the Diesel Gala Facebook page that the visitor will be D5343 (26043) from GWR. this completes the line-up:
03197
08377
D8001 (20001)
D8059 (20059)
D5343 (26043)
33202
47579
50027
1125 (205025)

Anybody know what the latest is with 33053?

 

The last I heard was that it was going to have a bogie swap with 33208. That was a few months ago. There's a lot fewer diesel people at Shackerstone than there used to be and they have commercial work so this could take a while depending on how it fits with the other priorities.

 

Cheers for that.

 

With only a few weeks until the diesel gala 20059 has arrived at Ropley and faces nose end towards Alresford.

 

Yesterday should have been the first running day for 47579, unfortunately in spite of a vast amount of volunteer effort it wasn't ready in time. However, it will be ready for the Diesel Gala in two weeks. Yesterday featured the 9F on the Alresford set and the Standard 4 on the Alton set.

 

A few from today's visit for the watercress festival.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/28364556158/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/41336651795/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/28364704498/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/41516491874/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/41337242375/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/42238429931/in/dateposted-public/

 

Anyone who wants to experience what it must have been like on a busy summer Saturday in the 1950s, could perhaps do worse than visit the MHR at Watercress festival time when the park and ride for Alresford operates.

Yesterday between 0800 and 1820 there were 28 departures and 28 arrivals of a passenger train at Alresford. 5.6 trains per hour over the single line (3 miles) between Alresford and Ropley. Or if you stood at a point in the section a train past you every 10 minutes. The Hampshire unit plays a big part, but there were also two steam locomotives and a diesel hauled set out as well running to and from Alton from Alresford. Most of the trains ran fully loaded.

 

It must be one of the most intensive and heavily used non-railway Gala services out there

 

It was standing room only from Ropley to Alresford in the morning and the same in the afternoon on the return trips to Ropley. The car park field at Ropley was almost full. Must of been getting towards eight hundred cars in the field. I can’t remember it being so busy. A good day out and well worth going to.

 

After visiting the festival I spent a pleasant fternoon gardening and all I could hear from about 13:00 to 16:00 was "please do not board the train at Platform 1 as it is full!" from the station announcer at Alresford. 47579 was out on test Friday night, its last arrival at Alresford was 22:50 or so!

D8059 arrived on Thursday

Chopper at Alresford by Arle Images, on Flickr

 

059's a cracker! Really is a well maintained machine inside and out, have lovely memories of powering up to Foley Park Tunnel inside that cab!