Mid Hants Railway Autumn Gala featuring 'Bahamas'

As @Wagoniester says, all seating is allocated. the Mid Hants currently employ a 1 way system on the trains, with doors being opened by station staff and then sanitised. Masks will be required on the trains as per current govt rules.
As long as those attending follow these rules it will be safer than jumping on the tube to get to work in the city (which is what we're being encouraged to do).
I'm sure that the management are keeping a very careful eye on what is allowed and what is sensible.

It's worth noting that the rise in cases is prevalent in the 18-25 age bracket. The majority of Gala attendees tend to be in older age brackets.

The important thing is that everyone obeys the guidelines and self isolates if they have symptoms or have been in contact with someone with symptoms. That way risk of infection is reduced to the minimum.
The railway state "Anyone developing symptoms prior to the event and notifying the railway will receive a full refund." and "Anyone arriving on the day with symptoms of Covid-19 will be refused entry" so there is no excuse for attending whilst unwell.

Like it as not, Covid is here for the foreseeable future. We have to get on with life in the "New Normal" whilst taking every reasonable precaution.

 

I think the plan is to rotate engines so that loco B comes on the front of your allocated train and pulls the next service, with not much of a wait, leaving loco A in the head shunt at either end. I suppose there still could be a rush to see the new loco attaching, but I think the idea is basically for people to stay put in there seats for most of the actual journey. As Tim said earlier, not what we are used to, but the new normal for the time being

 

How will the latest announcement from the Government affect the event now? :
"Gatherings of more than six people outside and indoors banned from Monday"
Due to be another shambolic Government press conference tomorrow:

https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2...Twitter&utm_medium=&__twitter_impression=true

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I assume we'll see something on the web site once the management have had a chance to digest the new ruling.

Though I would argue that even a table load (assuming 1bubble) is only a gathering of 4, so within the rules of a gathering of 6.

They aren't banning train travel.

 

The provisional view is that ruling does not affect the gala. The ruling would have the effect of limiting the number of people who can gather in one party to visit the railway.

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Even though I have been looking forward to this strictly controlled event I am beginning to think that it might not be a good idea to go ahead with it due to recent events. With infections on the rise in most places and a confirmed case where I work this week I have held back from buying a ticket.

The colleague with coronavirus at my work place did not have any of the symptoms. He went to hospital for a pre-op assessment and was tested. He came into work on Friday and was in a department which many people visit. On Monday it was quietly announced that the guys Covid-19 test was positive. This created mild panic and confusion at work. Cue many members of staff frantically sanitising their hands several times after the announcement.
Regarding recent events it seems that my work place are currently planning on sending some of us home again to work (the vulnerable and those of us living with vulnerable people) if the situation gets much worse.
My work place of around 200 people thought that they were very Covid-19 safe but if someone comes to work without symptoms that seems to throw a spanner in the works quite easily.
What would happen with an event with 500 people attending? If someone that attended had the virus how many of the other visitors would have to go into isolation afterwards?
Even though this Gala is a strictly controlled event I fear some people may see the MHR as being irresponsible to stage it with the virus infection rate going up again. This might lead to some very bad press.
Perhaps I am just being paranoid as the virus got a bit too close to home. Could the Gala not wait until next year?

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whilst I can understand Green five's, position, I would have to say, your probably safer in a controlled environment , such as sat in a coach, we know how strictly it's going to be controlled, so safer than, the free for all in your local supermarket, As long as people remember the basics, and wear face masks, its going to be as safe as it's possible to be, short of donning full NBC suits , and anyone who like me, has had to wear one, on a hot summers day somewhere on Salisbury plain, ( can't tell you where, would have to kill you if i did ) will know just how uncomfortable that can be ,

 

The big difference is I guess that people need food, they do not need to attend a gala (or a pub or restaurant) for that matter. So it all comes down to as my Manager used to say
"It is not about the truth it is all about the perception"

 

Speak for yourself !!!!
I *Need* to get behind 88

As Martin says, as long as everyone follows the rules and are sensible, it's at least as safe, if not safer, than the supermarket.

Ultimately it comes down to how you feel about it and your personal circumstances.
Having been to a couple of normal weekend trips I feel confident that the Mid Hants are taking all reasonable precautions, and given that I am at work and have children back at school I feel we have to get on with living our lives as much as reasonably possible.
I fully understand that there will be some people with conditions that mean they have to be far more cautious than I do, and fair play to them.

 

recently, i took a chance, i drove 80 odd mils to Fratton, got on a train, then joined a queue for the fast cat ferry, to ryde, then after a break, both for me, and my dog, boarded a train to Smallbrook, Here I joined another train, that didn't stop until Havenstreet on the return, Mingled with a train load of passengers' walking round the site, all observing the 2m rule, of course, and I'm still here, I didn't catch anything, except maybe sun burn, And i'm in the age group most likily at risk, the over 60's, but I'm active and fit, with no underlying health concerns.

 

Oh, there we go then, there is no risk after all!

 

Time table: https://www.watercressline.co.uk/shopimages/sections/Autumn Gala PTT 16102020.pdf

If I've understood it correctly:
Bahamas hauls:
Set B - 09:15 Alresford to Alton, 10:15 Alton to Alresford, 11:15 Alresford to Ropley
Set R - 12:20 Ropley to Alton, 13:15 Alton to Alresford, 14:15 Alresford to Ropley
Set A - 15:20 Ropley to Alton, 16:15 Alton to Alresford, 17:15 Alresford to Ropley

7F hauls:
Set A - 10:50 Ropley to Alton, 11:45 Alton to Alresford, 12:45 Alresford to Ropley
Set B - 13:50 Ropley to Alton, 14:45 Alton to Alresford, 15:45 Alresford to Ropley
Set R - 16:50 Ropley to Alton

 

If I didn't know better i would say your being sarcastic , my post was to illustrate that, as long as you take sensible precaution's, traveling is about as safe as it can be made, when compared to the weekly free for all in the supermarket i fealt safer on the ferry, and the train, at some point we all will have to get back to living our lives, yes, the threat is there, I'm not denying that, but use common sence, protect yourself,

 

Seeing this timetable makes me even more dubious about the whole idea - people are going to be trying to chop and change between sets, unless it's very carefully marshalled. Anyone parked at Alresford or Ropley, and allocated to set R, won't be able to ride behind the 7F - are you seriously telling me they aren't going to be looking for "space" on the other sets?

Like others on here, I'm still highly dubious as to whether this event should be going ahead. Imagine how the tabloids would jump on it if there was a cluster of cases from people "playing" with steam trains, for no apparent purpose whatsoever. There must also be a risk of paying serious money to transport "Bahamas", only to find that government restrictions force the event to be cancelled at the last minute.

 

Seems to me you have a very poor opinion of your fellow enthusiasts. I'd like to think that 99% are fully aware of what is going on with Covid and will stick to the rules.

Like @martin1656 says, we have to get back to some semblance of normal life at some point, the new normal is a case of being careful and following the rules / guidelines. There will always be some idiots, but hopefully they will be at a rave somewhere in an abandoned warehouse rather than at a steam gala.

Personally, I think we have to let everyone weigh up the situation for themselves, understanding their own circumstances and doing what is best/right for themselves. If that means missing out on something (the gala, a sporting event, the pub, a wedding etc.) because they are vulnerable then that is their prerogative. But we shouldn't be per-scripting at the lowest common denominator.

 

I feel that the overall situation with the virus spreading again is becoming less safe by the day.
Today at work I learned that several departments are now isolating due to their contact with the confirmed case I reported about on here the other day.
I was also told that we now have another guy with symptoms in one of the offices not far from me. He is now off isolating and trying in vain to get tested. He has been nowhere near the other department with a confirmed case.
Finally, a colleague that works in my office told me that she had a text message from her sons school this morning saying that they had a confirmed case and they sent the whole year bubble home. Today it was reported that more than five schools in Hampshire have reported confirmed cases of Covid-19.

I think I will continue to send donations to the MHR Covid appeal to show my support. I will not be going anywhere near this event.

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Will we be allowed to get off at, Ropley say, take photos and wait for your allocated seat to come back and board it again?

 

Maybe not just government restrictions, Southampton Council in the past few days have cancelled their approval of two boat shows and three fairs. Three of those were cancelled at less than 24 hours notice after everything was set up.

 

The MD and technical director of the company I work for were supposed to be going to the Southampton boat shows. The MD was not impressed when they were cancelled three hours before they were due to start. But he did understand the reasons why.

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That must have made the turnback at Wootton interesting!