Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

I was right, my Ropley Spy has been putting Quill to Parchment!

He shoved the following ramblings under my nose t'other day......

The words and pics are his not mine.

"Time for a quick, but significant, update regarding our activities within the ULS. Whilst Flying Scotsman was visiting the MHR we managed to get as far as securing both motion brackets on 499 in readiness for riveting, but couldn’t actually undertake the process due to proximity of the support coach to our loco. Instead we moved all the kit down to the main shed and made a start riveting up Canpac’s tender chassis on behalf of the MHRPS. Good progress has been made but there is a fair bit to do so we’re probably a couple of weeks away from getting back onto 499. In the meantime however, we have been planning to make a major statement of intent and yesterday it happened…with a crane on site at Ropley, boiler 799 was lifted onto trolleys and moved into the boiler shop. It’s been very difficult to keep quiet about this impending event but we didn’t want to put any unnecessary pressure on the mpd guys as they have had their work cut out over the past few months. Anyway, with the move completed, I can now let you all know that this is not just a ruse to help us stay dry during the winter; MHR and ULS have negotiated a deal whereby the boiler will be worked on by both paid staff and the Urie engineering team. I recently said that we won’t achieve a return to steam in 2020 but 2022 is very much in our sights…..and what’s now in place is why I’m so confident! These are exciting times for the ULS and over the coming weeks there will be more to announce! If you want the photographic evidence, have a look at our Twitter page, @UrieSociety


Now for a bit of a reality check. Those of you who are members of the ULS will be aware that we had arranged for this year’s open day to be held on May 2nd to coincide with the centenary of 499 first entering traffic on May 6th 1920. However, with the temporary closure of the railway and in line with government advice this has now been postponed until further notice. At this stage it is impossible to specify an alternative date but rest assured we definitely hope to do something special later in the year. The engineering team will continue to work at weekends whilst it is safe to do so, subject to official guidance and advice.


Finally I hope you will allow me a little personal indulgence. Railway preservation is very important to all of us, it’s why we do what we do, but right now what’s happening across the country is far more important than anything I can think of. Please stay safe yourselves and keep an eye out for any relatives or friends who may be ‘at risk’; and as someone who works closely with the NHS I ask a favour…..if you see any idiots overloading their shopping trolleys with greed, just remind them that their selfishness might just be preventing the very nursing staff we are now relying on from buying food for their own tables! With a bit of care, compassion, thoughtfulness and a lot of common sense we will get through this and the country, including the heritage railways we all love so dearly, can begin to get back to normal.


Thank you, as ever I appreciate your support."

 

Thats great news, for my mind you can't have too many of those fine locos.

 

Amazing work - I was down on the line last spring and saw what seemed to be some very rusty bits of metal that the shed guide (seemingly to me optimistically) referred to as the S15 lot... love to see the reports

 

So as someone who is actively looking after people in these unfortunate times what do I do when I am shopping for many who cant or advised not to go out and someone one who "reminds me" that I am selfish and greedy?

Some of us are doing more than pontificating on the internet and actually helping people overloading their shopping trolleys, cooking for people, delivering food and yes toilet paper for those who are in need.

Duty Druid - Thanks you for your updates and in no way is this annoyance is directed at you or the ULS of which I am a member.

 

Where did that Warwell appear from?!

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I think it used to have a crane on it when it arrived on the line in the 1970's.

Cheers, Neil

 

I have a feeling it might have come from Marchwood military railway

 

I think you are referring to the Atlas crane fitted wagon, which is used by S&T (painted bright green. The one carrying the boiler could have come from Marchwood, as it has a TOPS code (PFV). There is (or should be!) another which we got from the King George V Dry Dock (still lettered 'On Loan to GW Railway'). Unfortunately none of them seem to be identifiable any more, having been used as mobile dumps for 20-30 years.
Pat

 

The boiler then, is the one from 825 taken from when the loco was still in Barry because the original Urie Boiler was at the time deemed unrepairable, because of copper plate cracking its a later Maunsel pattern boiler .

 

Martin,
The pictures show 2 different boilers. The one on the Warwell is the one carried by 506 when withdrawn (No 451). The boiler in the shop is the one to be carried by 499 (No 755). The third boiler (No 799) is currently mounted on 506.
Pat

 

I was told by Graham, that the boiler for 499 was the one that 506 was restored with, and ran its first 10 year ticket with, which makes it the later one from 825, or has graham got it wrong? I thought that the plan was to rebuild 506's original , Urie pattern boiler to go on 499. if I read it right a case of boiler merry go round happened, 506 was purchased from Barry with boiler 451, this was deemed un repairable, and replaced with 755, until its ten year ticket was up, this then was replaced with the boiler from 499, ( 799) have I got this right? the urie pattern boilers were pressed to 180, rather than 200 of the later ones .

 

Martin,
Borrowing (very) heavily from Peter Swift's history of H15s and S15s:
Boiler 451 was carried by 506 when purchased from Barry; in store since as requires major repair.
Boiler 755 was carried by 499 when purchased from Barry; served as replacement on 506 after Boiler 799 did 10 years; now in boiler shop.
Boiler 799 was bought from Barry (ex-825); carried by 506 for first 10 years; replaced by Boiler 755; repaired and carried by 506 from 2019.
If I've got any of that wrong I apologise. (Blame my 25 years away on the Big Railway.)
Pat

 

Most people in supermarkets are buying for more than just themselves. Most of us have families and elderly relatives. If someone is doing weekly shopping for a family or for an elderly relative you can tell - everything is in proportion. You also tell when somebody is panic buying. In all my time shopping I never saw anybody need to buy 3 x 24 packs of toilet rolls. Who uses that much?! That is not buying for someone else - that is selfish cowardly harmful panic buying, and yes if I see somebody doing it I am with Dirty Druid all the wayt and I will let them know how much they are hurting others - including many carers who are looking after the people you refer to all day and night.

 

Didn't think it was.

Any road, your comments have moved my Ropley Spy to put Quill to Parchment again!

He proffers the following in reply (his words not mine.)

"The difference is that you fill your trolley with kindness and people like you should be applauded for what you are doing. My aim was at those who are purely hoarding for themselves and I apologise if my comment was misconstrued and upset anyone; there have been more than a few incidents around Southampton which are just appalling, I guess my frustration is showing through. Anyway, lesson learned, Nat Pres is a forum for us to share our passion for heritage railways so I’ll keep my input to progress made by the ULS as we work toward the return to steam of 499. 2022 is the target, hopefully that’s something positive for everyone to look forward to when the country eventually comes out of the current crisis.


The warwell on which boiler 451 is sitting came out of the Ropley headshunt, but I don’t suppose that’s the question Sem34090 was asking!! I’ll have a word with Barry as he’s been involved with the MHR since the beginning of time, I’m sure he’ll be able to enlighten us all regarding its history. Watch this space!


….and finally, to clarify the boilers. Boiler 451, ex Sir Lamorak, is the one which arrived from Barry on 506. It has cracks in the radius of the copper crown which have been tested and are irrepairable, therefore the crown needs replacing. That boiler is ‘stored’ on the warwell being discussed separately in this thread, the stovepipe chimney and dome cover are up there for safe keeping. Boiler 799, ex Sir Ironside, is the one we are currently working on and now resides in the boiler shop; it was purchased from Woodhams off 825 for use during the first part of 506’s last ticket. Once that boiler required withdrawal for overhaul it was swapped with boiler 755, ex The Red Knight, which had arrived from Barry on 499. Boiler 755 is the Urie 180 boiler, the other 2 are both later 200; yes we do need to do a boiler swap to get the project spot on…..I just need to continue ‘negotiating’ with the MHR engineering team!!!!


Thanks for all the comments of support, they mean a lot to us in these surreal times.


Stay safe."

As for the Warwell, it's been up the Meon for God only knows how long & only came over the hill befoe the line was severed & if memery serves is genuine LNER circa 1942 vintage.......

 

Firstly - it DUTY DRUID!

Secondly, they are my Ropley Spy's words not mine.

 

Is it really only 3 weeks since we were last able to enjoy travel on our heritage railways. It feels far longer.
A reminder of happier times on a charter with 506 just outside Ropley.

506 on 6 Bulleids on the climb towards Medstead.


Southern Railway S15 - 506 by Tim White, on Flickr

 

Great picture! She was making a tremendous racket too

Feels like a lifetime ago.

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Mind you dirty Druid is more interesting, but why? is it the lack of showing facilities at Medstead, ? and he goes home a very dirty druid? or is it the stories he tells of past solstices' and the goings on, when the buxtom wenches sacrifice was not deemed worthy , and the all night feasting and drinking, ?
Has the wagon yard at Medstead got its own stone circle, hidden from the eyes of the unbelievers ?

 

An interesting and positive step:
https://www.watercressline.co.uk/article.php/1359/learning-on-the-line

 

Great idea!

Keith