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Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by NightRail, Jan 11, 2017.

  1. Hampshire Unit

    Hampshire Unit Well-Known Member Friend

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    Two carriages arrived yesterday, much shunting at the bottom of my garden yesterday evening....will keep an eye out for the other coaches today before I go to work this evening
    Pity in a way that 30925 isn't 925 anymore;)
     
  2. 21B

    21B Part of the furniture

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    All present now. Not really a problem that 925 is now 30925....the Bluebell coaches are BR livery.

    Sent from my SM-A405FN using Tapatalk
     
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  3. Hampshire Unit

    Hampshire Unit Well-Known Member Friend

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    I did have my tongue in cheek on that post!
    6 Bulleids will look great behind both 30925 or 506
     
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  4. sem34090

    sem34090 Member

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    Am I correct in thinking that the Bluebell's brake is the same way round as 4211? A pity if so, but can't really be helped - I'm looking forward to this! Might make the effort on both days of the 14th/15th, not just when I'm rostered.

    I wonder if similar might be able to happen in the future with other coaches - It'd be interesting to see if there is any discernible increase in passenger numbers on 'Bulleid' days compared with comparable days when we don't have them. Maunsells in the future? (Into dream territory now, probably)

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  5. Nick C

    Nick C Well-Known Member

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    The photo of it leaving Sheffield Park shows the brake at the cab end of the lorry - which I think is the unloading end, so would be the London end at Alresford.
     
  6. 6026 King John

    6026 King John Well-Known Member

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    Good day at the Mid-Hants today. All steamable locos in action with 30925, 76017 and unexpectedly 506 on the service trains. The Ivatt 41312 was designated banker to give Flying Scotsman a push up the hills. I was a bit surprised that it needed it, but I guess a Pacific with big driving wheels on steep gradients and slippery rails would find things difficult over the Alps.
     
    Last edited: Feb 29, 2020
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  7. Wenlock

    Wenlock Well-Known Member Friend

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    How is that a goof?
     
  8. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

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    A very good day at the MHR today as Storm Scotsman blew in for the main event of 60103's visit.
    We arrived a little bit later than planned due to a very heavy hail storm at home delaying our departure and part of the bypass being under water slowing down our journey. We arrived at Ropley car park just in time to see 60103 rolling by on the delayed second round trip of the day with 41312 providing banking assistance.
    Good to see all available locos in steam and the trains were all well filled.
    It was a joy to travel in the freshly restored Bulleid open third coach behind 30925. A really impressive restoration and a credit to all involved.
    The West Country Buffet was doing a roaring trade today and we had a very enjoyable lunch. Thank you to all those hard at work in the Kitchen today for the great food.
    We followed this up with observing Scotsman depart on the delayed 13.50 service with very impressive banking assistance from 41312. To escape the dark clouds and bad weather they brought with them we travelled in one of the Bluebell carriages behind 506 and experienced a hail storm, snow, wind and rain on a journey to Alton and back to Medstead. There was certainly some interesting weather today which provided a challenge to the footplate crews. 506 certainly struggled for grip on the trip we had behind her with a very cautious climb through the cutting up to Medstead.
    At Medstead the foul weather passed and we were blessed with a sunset shot of Scotsman climbing the bank.
    A big thank you to everyone involved with this impressive event. My family had a very enjoyable day. We are back next Saturday for our trip behind 60103.
    I hope to go through my pictures tomorrow but here are a few phone pictures until then:
    IMG_20200229_134248.jpg IMG_20200229_135211.jpg IMG_20200229_135240.jpg

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  9. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

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    Here are some of my pictures from the very enjoyable day spent at the MHR yesterday (29-02-20):
    Flying Scotsman waits to depart Alresford with the delayed 13.50 departure as her audience awaits:
    Audience awaitsAudience awaits.JPG
    Bluebell stock in use behind 76017:
    DSC01076 (1)Bluebell carriages.JPG

    Waiting for the signal:
    DSC01082 (1)Nearly time .JPG
    76017 storms out of Alton trying to make up time:
    STD 4 dep Alton76017 powers out of Alton (1).JPG

    Awaiting the offawaiting the off.JPG
    506 rolls into Ropley:
    DSC01218506 Ropley 2.JPG
    60103 climbs to Medstead with her final roundtrip of the day:
    Sunset specialSunlight special.JPG
    60103 ease up for the token exchange....
    Scotsman sunset 1Medstead golden.JPG
    The golden token:
    Scotsman golden tokenGolden token.JPG
    And 41312 provides support at the rear:
    DSC01239 (1)Banking on support.JPG
     
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2020
  10. Hampshire Unit

    Hampshire Unit Well-Known Member Friend

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  11. 6026 King John

    6026 King John Well-Known Member

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    Very enjoyable event as I said before but couldn't help thinking it was all a bit low-key compared with the 2 previous Scotsman events I have been to (Severn Valley and Bluebell). Of course the Scotsman hauled trains were full, but the others were half full at best apart from when "feeding" people from the car park at Ropley to Alresford for their Scotsman run. I had the feeling that a lot were turning up, having their Scotsman ride and then disappearing, showing little or no interest in the other locos. I was surprised to find very few people in the yard at Ropley. Normally for a gala the fence there is packed with people wanting photos but this time there was no problem finding a spot. Maybe a lot of the general public don't realise the yard is open to visitors.

    Given the number of people there, the security arrangements were a bit over the top. Attempts had been made to seal off every entrance to the railway apart from the main ones just in case someone dared to get in without a ticket, while every station had a large posse of security guards who really had nothing to do all day. There was no trouble of any sort, and definitely less trespassers in the fields than there are at an average gala.

    Hope the railway is making a good profit on the event anyway.
     
  12. Nick C

    Nick C Well-Known Member

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    The normal service trains were certainly very full on arrival at Alresford on Sunday, and I did notice some people with '9:00' tags well into the afternoon. Sun Lane bridge and the picnic area were packed too. I didn't get a chance to see what any of the other stations were like though.
     
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  13. Dunfanaghy Road

    Dunfanaghy Road Well-Known Member

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    I have heard that the security people are the same for every Scotsman event. I and a few others have wondered whether the 'Scotsman effect' may be waning slightly. Any ideas on that, anyone? Personally, I was happy to see the Ivatt doing nearly all the work! :D
    Pat
     
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  14. Shaggy

    Shaggy Part of the furniture

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    Finally got round to logging in following an excellent day out on Saturday. Went with my parents (father is a volunteer), my wife, son and his best mate. The weather was typical. Hammered it down walking from the car park in the field at Ropley to the station, but once on Cheltenham, the sun came out and the sky turned blue! Thank goodness for the West Country Buffet who were dealing admirably with the hoards. Those hot chocolates went down a treat. It was then up to Alton on the 11:20 Scotsman service. Once back at Alresford we were all herded by the officious security over the bridge. I know they have a job to do but some could do with some people facing skills. It was only a few and most were very friendly and happy to chat.

    Anyway, managed to get away on one of the Bluebell's Bulleids behind the Standard 4 before the next torrential downpour finished us off!

    Did hear on the grapevine that the railway has done very well financially out of the visit so well done to all for putting on such a successful event.
    20200229_101240_024.jpg 20200229_123400_017.jpg 20200229_132521.jpg 20200229_133657.jpg 20200229_134620.jpg 20200229_134717.jpg 20200302_131639.jpg
     
  15. 73129

    73129 Part of the furniture

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    Steve,


    One of the best photos I’ve seen on this forum for a long time.

    Lee
     
  16. sem34090

    sem34090 Member

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    I certainly had a very enjoyable weekend, though can't say much about the railway beyond Medstead - Generally a good atmosphere about the place and we seemed reasonably busy, but not unduly so, atop the hill. The trains were reasonably loaded, and I would hardly say that the two security chaps we had at Medstead would be enough to constitute a 'large posse'! It seems to have gone rather smoothly so far, aside from a few delays.

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  17. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

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    Here is a short video I shot of 41312 stealing the show at Alresford on Saturday with impressive banking assistance. Both 76017 and the Ivatt tank have appeared to be doing most of the work when they have been on duty with 60103. Is the A3 not allowed to break into a sweat on the Hampshire Alps?


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  18. Duty Druid

    Duty Druid Resident of Nat Pres

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  19. BristolCastle

    BristolCastle New Member

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    Here's my footage from the event and includes more shots from the 23rd Feb visit too!

     
  20. nine elms fan

    nine elms fan Part of the furniture

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    Too much hype with Scotsman yes its a nice loco but give me an S15 anytime. :)
     

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