Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

Dave and myself worked tirelessly clearing the undergrowth between Rookwood lane bridge and Bowers Grove Lane bridge (Stable lane) for over twenty years. At one point the bank had become grassed over again which made the job of clearing the bank a lot easier and quicker to keep clear.

I can’t remember which year it was at the top of my head but myself and three other people had the line sided cleared from Ropley station to Grosvenor road bridge which is almost three miles from station to said road bridge from memory.

 

Forestry & clearance work seems to not be a popular volunteer activity. It's not just for the views (either from the train or of the trains), but on any line with crossings it is essential for sighting.
The F&C gang at KESR are often taken out to a worksite by the dmmu before the first public service and that helps them get tools to site for a fairly early start which helps keep up with the clearance task needed.

 

Another Saturday, another day atop the hill which saw the usual suspects gather for another day of banter & work between the arrivals & departures of the Santa specials.....

For once the sun actually shone But Jaysus it was a keen wind with a bite!

Those who were working on the gunpowder van definitely had the cushier time, than those giving the troublesome trucks some TLC in Bennett's!!!

By the end of the day, replacement steel to replace that cut out last week had been cut & welded into place, door skins prepped & given a coat of red oxide, and the centre section of the north side longitudinal beam fettled & trial fitted and down in Bennett's missing split pins had been replaced along with all screw couplings oiled & wound in & out & all vac hoses checked for splits as well as the coupling seals.

All in all a good day with progress made on the GPV & some mundane but essential tasks on the rake done & dusted & all this whilst waving at the happy passengers on the arriving & departing Santa specials!!

A few pics from the day.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/49223511941/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/49223521601/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/49223036583/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/49223738972/in/dateposted-public/

 

I might be interested in doing a bit, however I don’t have a chainsaw certificate (although I use one domestically on a regular basis) maybe if someone at the railway could help sort me out with that I could make myself and my chainsaw useful...

 

Sorry, I don't have the necessary contact details.

However I do believe that although chainsaws play their part, they are normally wielded by professional tree-surgeons who volunteer, mainly to deal with sick trees which pose a danger to the line.
Much of the day to day clearance is done with hand tools. Regular light trimming with hand tools keeps the undergrowth from over growing.
Most of the larger trees are off the railways property and are therefore normally dealt with by professionals employed by the relevant farmers. Obviously if a tree from adjoining property falls towards the running line then it's "all hands to the pumps" to dismantle them into logs and stack clear asap. (There are a few certificated chainsaw users who can cut on the ground, as opposed to the professional tree-surgeons who do the work at height.)

 

Lion was out and about on Saturday, acting as the "tail" bit of top-and tailed Santa Specials- only the first 1 1/2 of the day, when maximum slippiness is predicted

Lion drags Santa by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

92212 is also working its last few weeks of ticket

9F on Saturday Santa by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

Santa through the branches by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

92212 on Saturday Santa (2) by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

and Duty Druid and I were having fun with lights (loco crew forewarned and happy for us to be there, safe access trackside arranged, PTS in place!)
92212 rushes by by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

 

That first photo of 92212! Magic!

 

It certainly is. A majestic photo that captures the power of the 9F.

 

Seems to be very popular as a model at the moment:
https://www.bigjigstoys.co.uk/heritage-collection-black-5-engine

 

Whitedown lane has now reopened - I drove along it under the new bridge today...

 

Last days for 92212..... seen here with a Solstice Special (actually a Christmas Countryman diner)...as normal, all permissions obtained, Duty Druid and myself were quite safe!

Solstice Countryman by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

 

Great shot.
My family had hoped to be on this evening dining train but the Christmas Dining trains sold out in record time this year. The tickets were all gone by lunchtime on the day they were released.

MHR social media was updated today to state that 92212's last day in service is now 30th December and not the originally announced date of 28th December.

Sent from my I3312 using Tapatalk

 

That's a fantastic shot Stephen. Good to see the loco carrying it's 82F Bath Green Park shedcode plate.
After all it was one of the members of the 9F class that worked over the S&D. <BJ>

 

A nice sunny day they said, biblical rains not coming in until after dark, they said & no mention of howling winds with a bite on them either..... so much for an accurate weather forecast!!

So it was a day of mixed fortunes atop the hill yesterday..... but the (fool) hardy soles who gathered still managed to get the job in hand jobbed in between watching the passing Santa's - namely, replacing perished or soon to give in rubber seals on the vac hoses - nice & easy on a summers day, but a tad more difficult with ice cold metal making your fingers numb & new vac hoses putting up resistance.

Still, we persevered & by the end of play, it was another of those mundane jobs ticked off the list!

A few pics of the days comings & goings.....

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/49260706267/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/49260522676/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/49260530976/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/49260543206/in/dateposted-public/

 

Great image and love the title, handy having Duty Druid with you .

 

Taking inspiration from O Winston Link by any chance?

Great photo.

 

I reckon that O. Winston Link would be proud of them.

 

I had an unexpected day off today, so with nowt else better to do, I took me self off to the railway with the hope of photting some Santa's anywhere else other than Medstead bank - I think I achieved that.......

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/49270384961/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/49270390971/in/dateposted-public/

Oh, @CH 19 , 21.12 is also 'Rush' day...... geddit?... and no I did not have a hi-viz Druid out fit on! And. yes @45669 we do take inspiration from O Winston Link.

 

Yep got it

 

Great pictures!