Mid Hants Railway Spring Steam Gala 2019: 8TH TO 10TH MARCH.

Plans are well advanced for this event which will see trains running between Alresford and Medstead only due to the Bridge/Road work being carried out at Alton.

Visiting Locomotives:
- Pannier Tank L92 from the South Devon Railway
- WD300 Frank S Ross from the Kent & East Sussex Railway

home fleet locomotives:
925
41312
76017
92212?

 

Oh that's good news - I assumed they weren't having a Spring Gala due to the works.

 

Even better news that it's in March next year not February as it was this year.

 

After a few years of February galas and having knackers frozen off pleased it's moving to March. Although car parking could be interesting if the Ropley field is out of action with no Alton taking some of the strain...

 

I wonder if this Gala will see the return of S15 506? Which I see had a warming fire in the boiler for the first time yesterday for the out of frames steam test due this week....

 

Alas, having attended the AGM of the Urie Locomotive Society on Sunday, it seems unlikely that 506 will be ready that early next year....

 

Thanks for the update... when ever it arrives its going to make a glorious noise on MHR metals!

 

Sunday?....

I was there Saturday , and so were you unless it was a CGI copy!

Any road - back to the gala........

From what I'm hearing it looks like it could be goodly fun - at least @sem34090 should be in the swing of things regarding terminating trains after this years Satan's........

 

Yes dude, it was my evil robot double there on Saturday!
It will be great for Medstead to take centre stage at a gala, it is such a lovely station. I'm looking forward to a most excellent gala!

 

The same weekend as Cardiff Film and Comic Con.
They may have to find someone else to man the bar...

 

Hey Man - do we call you Anna from now on - Anna Matronic?.........

 

Great news about the Spring steam gala. Just waiting to hear if there's going to be a diesel gala next year.

 

Had an email today from the MHR about special events for next year. Clicked on the link for the Spring Gala. Ticket prices have been increased to £30.00 for adults next year.

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

 

Ouch! That's a lot of money for two thirds of a railway.

 

But it's not how long it is, it's what you do with it that counts.
"The Management" are fully aware of the need to provide something special to compensate for the loss of line. Unfortunately hire fees don't go down because of the shorter each way trip!

 

Folks are forgetting, the price for the gala has been pegged at that price for many a year & the cost of the black stuff continues to go north along with other associated outlay.

What I don't hear is folks howling about the cost of, say a Swanage gala which is £30 a day for a five mile line......

 

People tend to Howl at Swanage for late running...

 

"Five mile line"? At galas trains run to River Frome 9 miles 30 chains.

 

Just had a reply from the railway stating there will be no Diesel Gala next year. No reason given, typical Mid-Hants Railway.

 

The early bird prices on the gala page seem at a slight divergence to the prices shown on the booking dropdown.
Whilst accepting costs continue to rise a shorter line and a price increase at the same time may not be the best PR strategy.
I am guessing the website must be in the midst of an update, as I notice a normal operating date next year offers tickets for between December 28 and January 1st, which people may not notice and just pay.