Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

Deleted!

 

Patchy, but reasonable from what I could see. Most people on the Alresford starting services

 

My steed for today

 

A cracking day atop the hill yesterday - warm with a tempering breeze in the afternoon, but rather fresh in the morning!!

Taming of the troublesome trucks continued unabated, with more work on the two plank & the underframe of the maroon CCT, that is until the paint ran out & thanks to a cock up in communication, no more was in store - but no bother, there's always stuff to do on other vehicles.

The Shoc open is now starting to yield to our demands, so hopefully soon, will be back in traffic.......

Whilst all this was going on, two of us escaped up to the Meon sidings to check on the three Dogfishn we got back int traffic at the end of 2018, as we don't want to see them back in the yard, unless its for a repaint....... so armed with fresh oil, we checked that the oil pots were topped up & the control wheels for the hopper doors were still free & the doors responded..... opertunity was also taken to have a look at the condition of other vehicles that might one day come into the yard........

But, boy was it nice to see trains running again, with fare paying passengers!

A couple from yesterday.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/50104068386/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/50104300967/in/dateposted-public/

 

It was good to spend a day at the Mid-Hants yesterday, savouring the sight and sound of steam after a break of four long months.

With 6 departures from Alresford and 4 from Alton it was a busy day. Well done to the person who put the timetable together, it appeared to work very well. <BJ>

 

The timetable certainly seemed popular amongst the traincrews on Saturday.

 

Lots of movements at Ropley too

Passing at Ropley by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

 

That's a nice shot. It brings back memories of the Somerset and Dorset. <BJ>

 

Great shot there Steve,

 

I took my family to the Mid Hants on Sunday for a trip behind the Ivatt. Absolutely fantastic to get back behind steam again. I hadn't appreciated until we got to Ropley that there was an extra trip to Medstead included in the run, so that was very welcome.

Next Sunday I'm going back again so that I can get a run behind the Hunslet, as I'll be on my own it then gives me a chance to do some sound recordings in the afternoon.

Can anyone please advise of the timings for The Countryman on Sunday so that I can be in the right place to get recordings of it going over the banks?

Thanks, JP

 

Number 1 will be the Alton engine Sunday....at least that is the current plan. Hope that helps?

So glad you enjoyed the day and thank you for coming. Hope to see many many more people having a cracking day out over the summer.

Sent from my SM-A405FN using Tapatalk

 

Lovely shot Steve, I think it works very well in black & white.

 

I will try a conversion Dave

 

Another pleasant day was had atop the hill yesterday, but with much reduced numbers due to a variety of reasons.

Still, steady progress was made on two fronts - the underside of the maroon CCT is almost fully up tp 1st undercoat, just need a small type person to get around the London end wheelset where its awkward to get into......

And work has resumed on the gunpowder van - the doorframes on both sides of the vehicle were found last year to be well out of true (hardly surprising given the age & state of it when it came into the yard), these have now been pulled back into more or less true, but deliberately left slightly out of true, to allow for when the doors are hung, as we expect the weight of the doors to pull them back into true for us.......

Also, the south side longitudinal beam has been trial fitted - only needed a slight bit of shaving & went home at the 1st time of asking - making two of us very happy indeed!!

A couple of pics.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/50129753811/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/50129754816/in/photostream/

 

After recently seeing 76017 at the MHR adorned with it's Pines Express headboard, it made me wonder if the loco ever ran over the S&D when I lived at Midsomer Norton in my youth.
76017 was shedded at Eastleigh for most of it's life. Does anyone know if it travelled over the S&D and if so when. TIA. <BJ>

 

Does anyone know the rostered locos for 25/26th. July please?

 

Probably 76017 & 41312 again, but keep an eye on the MHR website. They normally list the rostered locos a few days in advance. 30925 was in the yard on Saturday so perhaps she'll join the roster as an when one of the others needs a wash-out

 

Thanks.

 

According to the Wikipedia page on the S & D 76017 did operate over the route but unfortunately there are not any dates. 9F 92212 also worked over the S & D.

 

My video and a few photos from Sunday with anonymous Thomas running the Alton Set...