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

OK, that was a bit on the pricey side but from the front window behind the USA tank as it bounced and shouted its way through the cutting up to Medstead it felt absolutely worth it. Having two smaller guest engines was a perfect choice for a gala when the bigger gradient was out of bounds. I imagine at a normal full-line event, the Pannier and USA tank may well have ended up on 2 coach Alresford-Ropley shuttles, which would've been fine - but 4 coaches to Medstead was so much better. The Pannier was doing its best to impersonate a volcano - such a contrast to its usual riverside trundle on the level back home.

Having so much going on at Medstead was great too. It would've been very easy to decide not to hold any galas till the full line was available again, but instead the Mid-Hants made an event that really made the most of its different circumstances.

If you've been on the fence about this one, can afford the £30 and can get there on Sat or Sun, go for it and get yourself up front behind one of the tanks, you won't regret it I'm sure.

 

May I ask exactly what was at Medstead? I think I know but it'd be nice to hear from a visitor before I head up there to work tomorrow.

 

L92 at Bishops Sutton this morning

L92 at Bishops Sutton by Arle Images, on Flickr

 

Yankee Tank at Medstead in foul conditions this afternoon (phone pictures). Better pictures are still on my camera.

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

 

I agree with @OldSchoolTrains , the tanks were great on the 1/80 to Medstead

A few of shots from the day. Loving the splashes of colour the two visitors are adding.

LMR 300 - USA Tank by Tim White, on Flickr


London Transport 57XX - L.92 (5786) by Tim White, on Flickr


LMR 300 - USA Tank by Tim White, on Flickr

The active locos from the home fleet today were 41312, 92212 & 76017. 925 will swap with 92212 tomorrow.

British Railways Ivatt 2MT - 41312 by Tim White, on Flickr

You don't often get access to the main workshop, but it was open today

Bulleid West Country - 34106 : Swanage by Tim White, on Flickr

You could also get into the wheeldrop for a view of 506.

 

I do like that USA tank.

 

The usual sales stalls, refreshment room, loads of people and lots of locomotives shunting stock around.

 

The main attraction there for me was the amount of activity and shunting with trains terminating there. Everything was moving ECS from the up platform to the down - hauled out into the Alton side cutting by the engine that had brought it in from Alresford, with the engine for the return trip then coming LE through the station from the yard to haul it all back into the down platform. Whereas normally Medstead's quiet between trains, there was always something moving and happening there this time.

 

Have to ask, knowing the new GMs thing for Panniers, when are we going to see a photo of him on the footplate of L92?

 

Two days down and pretty much all has gone to plan, no late running more than about 5 minutes, all engines working (touch wood) some storming departures from Ropley for L92 and 300...come along tomorrow for another great day!

L92 storms out of Ropley by Arle Images, on Flickr

Longmoor no 300 by Arle Images, on Flickr

 

Some impressive noises were heard coming up the bank towards Medstead and we did try and get Down trains out as close to time as possible (I was timekeeping for most of them and under supervision from the P.I.C. saw my first 'goes' as P1 on them as a a result! ) but it was certainly a challenge with people jumping from up to down trains.

 

The pannier tank at Ropley.

 

The USA tank at Ropley.

 

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.

 

The star of the gala, for me, had to be L92. So much so that she gets her own video. It's 13 minutes of Pannier action! I hope you enjoy it

 

I'm in no way affiliated to the MHR so no, it's clearly not.

 

Having spent the last two days lineside - I reckon I now know how a pea feels when its being freeze dried!

Those two tanks were indeed the stars of the show - watching & listening to them lift their trains up towards Medstead was very enjoyable.

 

Seconded....and apart from a 25 minute delay today caused by a tree down across the line at start of play, the trains ran to time. A relatively simple gala, but fun!

Yankee Tank at Bishops Sutton by Arle Images, on Flickr

 

Excellent gala IMHO despite the circumstances, and felt the coach link to and from Alton worked really well too

Some shots and a video as follows, more photos at https://railwaygalleries.smugmug.com/MidHants/Spring-Steam-Gala-March-2019/