Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

Bear in mind that No.1 and 41312 are our smallest serviceable steam locomotives, so with the requirement to get a decent number of crews familiar with new practices and back into the swing of it the loco choices make perfect sense to me.

I'm less sure about the Class 50, but I can't imagine there's too much to choose between the diesels for efficiency.

 

The 47 was in use recently so giving the 50 a run to keep it operational seems a good idea.

 

I suppose so - Don't know what they used today, maybe they got the 20 out for the same purpose.

 

50026 was out today. Keeping competencies current was part of the idea of running. Route refreshing can be either steam or diesel, but modern traction needs its own traction refresher. 47579 has been out on stock moves during the week, I've seen it in Alton twice in the last few days.
Pat

 

In terms of efficiency I'd have thought there wasn't much between the 50 and the 47, but that the 20 would be quite a lot better than either.

Using #1 also gave it an opportunity to stretch it's legs, as it usually just potters about at Ropley - apparently this was the first time it'd done the full length of the line for at least 20 years!

 

I've seen videos where it used to run the whole line on Thomas events. Perhaps, as a fundraiser, a morning or evening train with pre-bought seating behind Thomas over the whole line (or between Ropley and Arlesford) might be an idea? I note how good he looks with the freight - another opportunity there? I found some old videos on YouTube from when they used to race through the station, and have 'runaway trucks' - I assume Masters H. & S. are the reason for the stop to that. Certainly looked fun.

 

Lion has had a lot of work done on it recently (since the radiator failure). I'm guessing that this was seen as an opportunity to allow it to be given some miles of testing while there were other locos around *if* there was a need to rescue it. (I could be totally wrong of course).

 

I have no knowledge of the specifics of competency on the MHR, but if I were still at DB the I know that traction competence is class specific. Knowing 47s doesn't help with 20s, for instance.
Pat

 

Back in 1997, Thomas used to take his Troublesome Trucks back up to Medstead & Four Marks himself.

 

Thomas with some apparently non-troublesome trucks in tow!
https://www.anistr.com/-/galleries/...-437a-bb19-04d5faa40506-mhr-no-1-thomas-alton

 

https://www.watercressline.co.uk/pr...in-plandampf/db473903f3d2a3402147bccfe6d6198e

 

When they converted that Austerity to be a Thomas replica, did it not occur to anybody that the front splasher is supposed to be positioned directly over the front driving wheel and it would look a little odd for it to be offset?

 

Reopening Saturday 11th July. Pre booking only. Brilliant news.

 

Does anyone know what time 41312 will be running tomorrow or what time the event starts?

 

I think that's not being made public to deter people from just showing up without paying. If you've paid but not heard anything, best to email the Mad Hants Charters team?

 

Members only

 

Indeed, though you can join the society. Joining instructions were emailed to participants earlier today.

 

Indeed. It was advised during the initial emails that membership was required due to government regulations necessitating it being a private members only event. Mad Hants in conjunction with MHR put in place a process to allow non members to acquire membership in time for the event.

So...

If you have paid for the event and haven't received details, then chase the organisers - they are very responsive and I know that the joining instructions have been sent as I have mine.

If you haven't paid, then please note this is a private event.

The MHR re-opens to the public on 11/07
Keep an eye on https://www.watercressline.co.uk/ to get the latest info, I believe that pre-booking will be required.

 

Another great YouTube video has been released by the railway.