Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

A couple of shots from me from Saturday's charter with 41312. Thanks to @Duty Druid and @Hampshire Unit and all at the Mid Hants for a really good evening.




James

 

Excellent images James, thanks for posting. Unfortunately, I missed the one of the 'Winchester Express' passing the local at speed in Arlesford....!!
Andy

 

I see the Urie group have a short video on the MHR web site about 30499 and 30506.

 

Important update regarding 2019 services now on the MHR Website:
https://www.watercressline.co.uk/article.php/1290/alton-station-updates

 

Totally agree. What were once weekly reports are becoming sporadic nowadays. Such a shame.

 

Am I missing something ? The link says train times between Alresford and Medstead but only shows the current two train service until Jan 1. Also mentions no trains to Alton from Jan 11 to end of July. I assume that should be Jan 1, or is the railway open the first weekend in January?

 

The last operating day for Allton station will be 1st Jan, and the line is due to be severed around Jan 7th. The basic pattern for the amemded timetable is agreed, but detailed times for trains Alr- M4M-Alr are not yet available, I believe the delay is due to negotiations with developers re replacement bus services Alt-M4M, but not entirely sure. In any case, the Mid Hants haven't run in January (part from New Year BH) for a few years now.

 

I checked the link last night. At the moment the only timetable available is for over the Christmas Holidays. As far as I know the last public services over the section from Alton to Medstead will be on 1st January 2019. The MHR doesn't run services in January anymore. I think the last time they did was when 60019 was still on the MHR. On the right hand side of the page there is a guide to the train services from February 16th to March 31st 2019. None of the links to the Alresford - Medstead services for next appear to be working yet. Perhaps the timetables are still being worked on?

 

Special events for 2019 are gradually being uploaded on to the MHR website. Currently up to War on the line in June.
Dining train and RAT dates for 2019 will be available for booking from 6th December according to an email I received today from the MHR.

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I thought that some members of the Wednesday gang had migrated to the 80150 project?, though I stand to be corrected on this?

Chris

 

It would be nice to see more volunteering in the Locomotive department at the Weekend, it certainly has gone down in numbers in the past few years - very few people there the last time I visited, and several years ago there was lots of people.

 

45379 now safely undercover at Margate with Bittern (picture from LSL Twitter account):

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Who could have predicted, how two engines which spent the best part of the last 10 years on shed at Ropley have now ended up in store together in Margate.

 

I just like the way they appear to have their backs turned on each other!


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Bittern is saying "Humph. Stuck in here with a lowly mixed traffic engine. The indignity!" *
* Apologies to Reverend Awdry and Gordon the big Blue engine.

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it's a wonderful photo. Wish I'd taken it!

 

While the Black 5 is saying "Oh great! I'm stuck here with a pompous express engine."

 

Whilst Bittern responds with, to the electric unit, you can stop giggling, when they told me I was going to the sea side, said the 5, I was just thankful it wasn't back to " that place" it was horrible, watching those wagons getting the chop, thinking, will they start on us next ?

 

BREAKING NEWS.

30506 successfully passed her boiler steam test today.

Not my photo's.

Images supplied by my Ropley 'spy' - who by the way is along with the rest of the team a very happy man - 18 years of graft in all weathers have led to this day - now all they have to do is put her back together!