Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

You forgot to mention the wagon group!

As for the blogs from the Wednesday gang - don't forget, they are mostly volunteers & may or may not be in attendance & they are under no obligation to write about the goings on - there was a post in this thread by one of the blog writers pre Xmas, giving the reasons why they are sporadic!

 

My apologies. Of course the wagon group as well. The work you guys do is a credit to the railway.

 

As a ULS member, you will also get the rather nice "Stovepipe" society magazine, a very decent publication, on a regular basis.

 

We reopened again today!

It was rather quiet, though I'm sure things will pick up soon. Of course, being the first day under the new arrangements, there were a few mild niggles to sort out but certainly at Medstead we had no desperately terrible issues.

 

It's amazing how quickly the bridge has gone - I passed last Saturday and it was a pile of rubble (as per the photos above) - today not only had the rubble gone, but so had half the embankment. It was also pretty strange pulling into the M4M forecourt and seeing a loco sitting at the down main starter, instead of the loop...

 

Time lapse footage has emerged on U-toob, filmed by the main contractor....... all I can say is, they've got some seriously good 360 drivers on the job!

 

It looks like the diggers are eating the bridge!

 

Thanks for posting Dave, I was just looking for something similar...the Other Half was debating whether to drive to Alton leisure centre on Monday so I'm trying to find out how the roadworks are going!

 

That was the easy bit - its the way they take the embankment apart that's the interesting bit!

 

Going by what a colleague at work told me last week the road works and the bridge works are proving to be really problematic. He lives in Alton and he said that the diversions are a nightmare. Apparently an emergency meeting was supposed to be taking place in Alton as residents have been ignoring the diversions, moving the signs and cones out of the way and going where they really shouldn't be, putting their lives at risk. Idiots. There was an update regarding this on the Butts Bridge website.

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

 

Ballasting works being carried out at Wanders - not my video.



Nice to see all the blood, sweat & swearing by the Saturday gang of the wagon group paid off! & boy did we swear!

 

Whilst fetching some axlebox oil at Ropley, to ensure the troublesome trucks run smoothly next weekend, I had a mooch around.....

The cladding on 506 continues to creep along the boiler, 92212 was having a tender spring changed & Urie lads at the far end of the yard were having a rivetingly good time on 499!

Some pics of yesterdays goings on.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/33392195318/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/40303314413/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/46544504764/in/photostream/

 

Dare I ask if you've taken the plunge & joined the merry band?....

 

No it isn't, but it helps that they are ballasting in the downhill direction...coasting with the brakes applied.

 

Yes I have DD! I put in for a 5 year membership and I've joined the 499 club. I am still working so can't yet do any hammering and banging but that day will come soon I hope.

 

Nice to see significant progress on conserving/cosmetic work on 80150 https://preservation.watercressline...-of-80150-delivering-the-goods-march-4th-2019

 

The guys were hard at work today again...I couldn't help as I was helping my Mother move from one side of the railway to the other, she now has a great view of the Alresford headshunt. Back to BOLSO, the fabrication of the new cab roof complete with sliding hatch is a real step forward, and once fitted will keep a lot more of 80150 dry as we edge forwards from conservation towards restoration.....

 

Blimey talk about jumping in with both feet!

I think you've just made the chairman of the ULS a happy man!

 

My footage from a very breezy Saturday. Featuring the three tank engines climbing Medstead Bank all day. The highlights include L92 volcanic departure from Ropley with the first train of the day, 300 and her lovely chime whistle and 41312 looking as good as ever hauling a freight train. Enjoy.