MHR Diesel gala 2009

Yes....
and i presume that these fireman are MHR fireman?

 

Sorry to question you 34007, but do you mean 'passed out firemen' or 'passed firemen'?

By 'passed out fireman' I presume you are intending to mean someone of the firing grade, whereas a 'passed fireman' as in the old BR grade is a totally different animal (quite literally in some cases...!)

 

Sorry 34007 was just that was a bit confused by your last statement" The MHR though will take on Diesel 'Trained' drivers who are passed out fireman!"

How i read it was that the MHR would welcome Diesel Drivers to drive(at the Gala) who are also passed out as fireman.
I also read that as these driver would be from other railways?

 

It's obviously my wording - If so I aplogise. Basically Passed Fireman can get the opportunity to be a trained Diesel driver. Hope this makes sense?

 

OK. No worries at all.
Its that same at most other railways.

Some railways have steam lonks along with a mixed traction link.
And some have steam only and diesel only...

Anyway a clear understanding was reached in the end....

 

Just to set a couple of things straight here.

1. Mitch may be surprised to learn that 2 to 3 years as a cleaner is about par. I can't comment on whether he is ready to pass out as a fireman, but I can assert that NO ONE has the piss taken. Everyone passes or not on merit alone, and great efforts are made to ensure that everyone gets a fair crack. If he feels he is ready to pass out then he is welcome to discuss this with any of the inspectors.

2. Whilst it is normally the case that you need to be a Passed Fireman before being type trained on the DMMU and Diesel fleet we have a number of people who are not steam drivers or passed firemen who are Diesel drivers. An extra element of confusion is that for a time when the DMMU link was being set up there was a call for volunteers who could be firemen (I am not sure how many there actually were though). In addition we have a number of 08 drivers who are neither diesel, DMMU or firemen. The point is that the progressions are separate as they should be given the difference in the traction.

 

I hear that 45060 (D100) Sherwood Forester should be a guest loco for next years gala.

 

Dont believe everything you hear..... :-#

 

Hi all got this off the MHR web site today
From: Colin Chambers
Sent: 12 January 2009 14:21
Subject: Diesel Gala, 29-31 May 2009, current lineup
#37905
#73107 & #73201
#33053 & #33208
Selection of 08's from the 3 we have here
#12049 Class 11
Hampshire unit
117 DMU
122 DMU

Regards
Colin Chambers
Managing Director
Mid Hants Railway Ltd 'Watercress Line'

 

Full line double or triple headed 08's please! I hope that they'll run the galas a bit later this year - always a little dissapointing when they finish around 4.30-5pm.

 

Somehow cannot see the third 08 to arrive running as part of a triple header.Perhaps three isn't too accurate a description.Done a full line return on the black 08-bit too much for a gala.

12049 piloting an 08 would be nice-perhaps 08032,so two industrial liveries.

Agree re the recent years early finishes,for some mainline trip-the Trainspotters Ball with 37906 and 506 running until late into the evening will still be remembered for years to come.

 

maybe we can have BE show how much clag he can get out of them (plenty of opportunity between crompton turns) :-# :-# good to see 208 (BEast) still expected to soldier on :smt023

 

Not the most inspiring gala lineup ever, especially compared to the Swanage event a few weeks before.

Dave

 

Very uninspired, but remarkable that there is a Diesel gala at all given the antics of some visiting crews at the last one. Also the MHR doesn't have many people passed to drive Diesels, and the aforementioned antics meant that piloting probably wasn't a viable solution. Mind you as a committed steam man, diesel galas aren't all that inspiring anyway unless a kettle has to rescue one of the tin cans (oh, alright the Deltics and Westerns sound quite nice, and to the irritation of a good friend of mine I have an unaccountable soft spot for class 37s, but apart from that.....). BTW did you know that you need an A4 to start a 33?

 

Yes, so have i, its called a swamp =D> =D> =D>

Oh is that a fact ? Maybe if some of the 'expert' puffing billy drivers at the MHR knew how to dispose of the Class 33 properly, it wouldnt have ended up with flat batteries in the 1st place would it ?.........
=; =;

 

You need to acquire a sense of humour about these things. I thought it was a funny, not to mention a creative solution.

For those not in the know the A4 was used to charge the air tanks on the 33 to save the battery (which was low on charge) from having to run the compressor, leaving enough "juice" to turn the engine over.

 

As much as i find it funny , i got to say i think alot of people have broken thier funny bones latly .

 

Did they have any in the first place??............

 

I am going to be a bit controversial here, but I think that the reason that the diesel guys get upset at the MHR is that there isn't much interest in diesels amongst the majority. The preservation of diesels is on the MHR a means to an end not end in itself. They are very useful, in fact it would be difficult to do without them, and the DMMU in particular is cheap way of increasing the train service, but they are seen as a tool only. If you asked the "railway" (whatever that means) I think they would be perfectly content with just one very good 33, the DMMUs and a couple of 08s. I suppose the DEMU might make the list on historical grounds. With that background I guess it is a pretty thankless task. Personally speaking I think we shouldn't have too many more "tin boxes", but we should look after the ones we do have as valuable items in their own right.

 

One very good 33-not seen 33208 being described as that for many years.Do you sell used cars for a living?