Mid Hants Railway Autumn Steam Gala: 19th - 21st October 2018.

I had a very pleasant day at the Mid-Hants but can someone conversant with GWR engines explain why 5199 makes a rather odd farting noise?

 

It was discussed fairly recently here (from # 105); https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/a-question-about-g-w-r-engines.1058926/page-6

 

Sat in the compartment next to the guard on the last down train after a thoroughly enjoyable turn!

Sent from my ALE-L21 using Tapatalk

 

Where else would you be?

Sent from my ALE-L21 using Tapatalk

 

Many thanks!

 

You are most welcome!

 

Excellent day at the Mid Hants today helped by the beautiful weather. Seemed to be well attended but not such a big crowd as I've seen in previous years - no problems finding seats on the trains today. Maybe it was the lack of large "celebrity" locos but who needs celebrities when you have a couple of GWR beasts barking their way over the alps. I thought they'd be loud and they didn't disappoint.

The timetable did slip again but not too badly (about 20 mins down by the end of the day). Not sure what if anything was to blame - just the effect of trying to run to some very tight schedules in various places. Only down side - not sure why they insisted on double-heading with Cheltenham - in its Southern livery it doesn't go well with anything else and having travelled up Medstead bank behind it on its one solo run it certainly didn't need any help.

Anyway, well done to all at the Mid Hants for another enjoyable gala.

 

Great day today.Timetable slipped a bit at the end of the day but for me that climb out of Alton with 925 was best of the day though the copper caps were good. Good to meet old friends again well.

Yes 925 best climb of the day by a mile. Copper caps ok though. Good to meet old friends. Best Gala this autumn in my view with beautiful weather.

 

Another great day at the railway. Seemed to be a fair few cars parked at Ropley yesterday and today. Plus the service trains I saw seemed to be reasonable full. A few photos from the last few days.

 

Brilliant photos

 

See this note from the MHR website....

"For the final day of our Autumn Steam Gala, 925 ‘Cheltenham’ will be taking a rest in the yard at Ropley, its diagram will now be worked by Standard Class 4MT No.76017.

All operating locomotives will now be in BR Black Livery, with the 10:00 & 16:25 departures from Alton double headed by two BR Standard 4MTs, 2-6-0 No. 76017 and 2-6-4T No. 80078. "

Looking forward to a Standard double header!
76017 was in steam in the yard at Ropley this evening

 

A very good day today.
5199 on very good form for her first solo run out of Alton this morning. Some great driving too as she lost her feet a few times but was brilliantly controlled near the summit.
Spent some time at Ropley today watching the activity. 92212 thundering through on the freight was a highlight as was the departure of 5199 on her way back to Alton. Fantastic bark from the large Prairie tank.
We decided to travel back to Alton on the delayed 16.00 from Alresford with 5199. It seemed to be a bit of a slog for her on this run. Don't know if she was suffering steaming problems but I saw one of the footplate crew tightening the smokebox door at Ropley earlier in the day. Also when we watched her leave Alton later on she left a black smokescreen over the town.

7822 was the star of the event for me. We must have another visit from her or one of her sisters in the near future. A cracking bit of GWR kit!

A great event. Thank you to everyone involved. Roll on the next Gala!

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

 

Excellent photos!

 

Another highly enjoyable day at the gala (OK, so the timetable slipped again, but not by much) the nice weather helped a bit of course.
Highlight of the gala for me was 7822 barking its way over the Alps on Friday.
All the staff and volunteers who worked so hard to organise the gala and run it should be proud of what they achieved.

 

More great weather and fine running from the locos at the MHR Gala today.
To spice things up tomorrow, it seems the Std4 is coming out to play. it was warming up on shed tonight.

A few shots from the day.

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


British Railways Standard 4 Tank - 80078 by Tim White, on Flickr


GWR Manor 7822 - Foxcote Manor by Tim White, on Flickr


British Railways Standard 4MT - 76017 by Tim White, on Flickr


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

And I'll get into trouble for this one 1024000 ISO (I might put the proper version on Flickr later).

 

Looks like weather will be OK today also....
Freight at Grosvenor Bridge by Arle Images, on Flickr

 

Thank you, nice to be appreciated

Interestingly, though she wasn't steaming nearly as well as she can after Butts, I think the fire had spent too long doing very little. Didn't make much odds though.

 

As a train timer I keep records of all my runs main line and heritage. One of my 'trial sections' is Alton start to Hants Hunt Bridge (MP 52.75 approx.). On Saturday the times were 5199= 10m/58s, 7822 =11m/13s, 80078 + 925 =9m/46s and 925 on the 1425 =9m/01s. This is quite exceptional and only beaten from memory some years ago by the two GWR 4-4-0s. Anything under 10 minutes is good. 925 is a very fine engine.

 

I only went down to Alton yesterday once but obviously chose the right train to do so on. I'm not a train timer like Don but have a gut feel for when something is a bit special and the run up the bank with 925 was just that. Actually the best run up the bank I can recall was many years ago with 5029 which was being run in after some repairs before returning to the main line. I've no idea how fast it was but it was quick (and loud!).

 

Arrived at Ropley on Saturday at just before the first departure there was a large crowd on the platform, too late for an arrival shot so went to the loco yard for the departure.

Then an arrival shot of 5199 & 7822 before joining the train for the run to Alton, and enjoying a toasted bacon sarnie and chat with Steve ( Hampshire Unit)


Returned to Alresford behind 5199, then after refreshments decided to see if the shot from the public footpath which head toward Bishop's Sutton was on ( Forgot to ask Steve or check on route) luckly it was and there was only one other person there.
I headed back to Alresford to join the 13.10 behind 7822, spending an hour at M4M before joining the 9F with the RAT for a pint, and so I could enjoy a run behind 7822 all the way to Alresford.
Returned to Ropley behind 5199 , and waited for 7822 for a final shot before heading home.

A very enjoyable day, thanks to all those involved.