Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

I went last weekend and had a very enjoyable day out on the line and behind Scotsman (and Cheltenham, 506, and of course 41312 ). The service seemed to run like clockwork all day, although one of the late trains did terminate at Ropley contrary to what was shown on the online timetable. Didn't affect me, but I'd have been a little miffed if the last couple of miles to Alresford on that train had been a cornerstone of my planning.

However, I was particularly pleased to see a fair scattering people out on the Butts in Alton to see Scotsman pass. As an expat Altonian I keep an ear to the ground, and my perception has been that, through absolutely no fault of its own, the railway has ended up being associated with mostly negative stories in the town of late. First there was the folorn hope that somehow the railway would refuse to have its bridge replaced and thus stop further development beyond the bridges, then the bridge replacement ended up over-running hugely, causing considerable inconvenience to everyone on the rather circuitous diversion routes (a fine illustration of why the bridge needed replacing to be honest).

In light of that, for the railway to be able to say: "Yes, we're back, here's the most famous steam engine in the land, come and see it pass," was a nice way to bring it back into the local consciousness for good reasons.

 

A few from Scotsmans last Sunday......

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/49656167152/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/49655889971/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/49648932746/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/49649202627/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/49648417293/in/dateposted-public/

And now to look forward to seeing the 6 Bulleids run behind 30925 & 506 this weekend!!

 

Alton footbridge in ther news

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-51852823

Patrick

 

As someone who follows the MHR from afar can I just say that I miss the blogs being regularly updated. It was a really useful way for me to know what was going on. The pway one was interesting but then it stopped and the Ropley blogs have dried up.

 

Not really operational news but Life Member number 1 passed away yesterday. I hope that he's looking down on the railway with his ever present cheeriness. RIP Mr Fuller.

 

Yes I too miss the blogs. There hasn't been an update on 35005 since last Autumn and the Wednesday loco gang blogs have all but disappeared.
Thankfully reasonably regular updates on the wagon group and carriage workshop still appear and updates on 80150 are available on Facebook if that is your thing.
I really wish that at least a once fortnightly update appeared on the MHR website about the loco works it really isn't too much to ask, is it?

P.S Andy Ford does at least give an up to date account of the MHR Bulleids on the: Everything Bulleid: Oliver Bulleid Appreciation Society Facebook page of you sign up to that group.

 

Even a monthly update or a quarterly update for things like 35005. I appreciate that they can be time consuming to write and I guess maybe some writers feel in the end that it isn’t worth the effort.

But a Ropley round up of news from say 499, 35005, general news, the diesel groups, etc would be really nice.

The wagon and carriage blogs are really good and welcome.

 

To see the updates on 80150, you have to join the group - not really sure why you would go to the trouble of setting up a Facebook page to promote your loco and then close it off to anyone who might be casually interested!

Keith

 

A few stills from the videos I took earlier today. Videos can be viewed here (for those that have Facebook).
https://www.facebook.com/groups/115894965143355/permalink/2909174702482020/

Cheltenham made a lovely sight hauling the 6x Bulleids. Southern Splendor.

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

 

The footbridge looked very sad last week. Seems there might have been bad communications between contractors working for Network Rail and Freind's of Aton station as to what could be saved. At least the top part of the foot bridge is safe, but the stairs and end supports will have to be rebuilt from scratch.

 

Is there not enough fragments to make a pattern so replacements can be made? rather than having to make from scratch, or is it a case that the bottom supports and stairs will have to be made to fit its eventual new home?

 

I got the impression, from what NR said, that they thought the ends were so bad there was nothing salvageable, and so they told the contractors to trash them. I wouldn't be surprised if that was too pessimistic, though. Well, at least the main span was saved, and hat's off to NR for their part in that, even if they were too pessimistic on the ends.

Noel

 

Totally amazing timing on that shot, to catch that bird like that!

Noel

 

To be fair to Network Rail I think the step structure was very very rotten. I think the friends were upset that these parts are not available as a pattern, but the steps seemed to fall apart once the rest of the structure was removed. NR had a schedule to keep and whilst anything can be salvaged you have to have the time and the money in sufficient quantities to do the work.

Sent from my SM-A405FN using Tapatalk

 

First recorded sighting of a Phoenix!

 

Middle Son (11) & I went to Alresford today to have a ride on The Bulleids.

To date the Mid Hants while I have always enjoyed it, never excited me. Perhaps this was the day it changed.

Allthough ten miles further than the WSR, the journey only took a fraction over an hour for 60 miles - staying within the speed limit compared with an hour and a half to the WSR.

With teas & cake we boarded the leading coach - an excellent piece of work, sorry that was son said about the Victoria Sponge, but the coach was an absolute delight. Cheltenham then went on to prove that large wheeled 4-4-0's can go uphill in grand style.

What was fascinating was sitting on the benches at Alresford and looking at the detail differences on the coaches, the windows on the Bluebell ones have deeper opening sections, more like a MK1 & a rib on the side.

In a sector dominated by MK1's it was wonderful to be able to enjoy a complete train of pre nationalisation vehicles and I can only hope that more similar events are run on both the Mid Hants and other lines in future

 

See here for an explanation of the differences in side light (which are both date-based and constructor-based).

http://www.rasalmon.co.uk/r/semg/bulleid_sidelight.html

Tom

 

How is that amazing timing if it's from a video?

 

My video of 30925 and 506 today

 

Thanks for that Tom, answered my question too.
Had a great time over there today, did two return trips so sampled four different coaches, just such comfortable rides. Got myself re-aquainted with 5768, which IIRC was the go to 'sleeper' when I did weekends at the Park back in the day.
That begs the question of what next.......... Lord Nelson and his 7 (I think???) Maunsells, that I would pay good money for...........
@johnofwessex, didn't she just go once she found her feet, the original Cheltenham Flyer.
Chris