If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Mid Hants Railway Autumn Gala featuring 'Bahamas'

Discussion in 'Galas and Events' started by pete12000, Aug 25, 2020.

  1. LC2

    LC2 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2012
    Messages:
    845
    Likes Received:
    999
    Occupation:
    IT
    Location:
    70B
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    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.
     
  2. Hampshire Unit

    Hampshire Unit Well-Known Member Friend

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2012
    Messages:
    1,511
    Likes Received:
    2,838
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Carer, Gardener
    Location:
    Alresford
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    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
     
  3. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2006
    Messages:
    6,595
    Likes Received:
    2,242
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Hampshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Last edited: Sep 8, 2020
  4. LC2

    LC2 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2012
    Messages:
    845
    Likes Received:
    999
    Occupation:
    IT
    Location:
    70B
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    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.
     
  5. 21B

    21B Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2009
    Messages:
    2,944
    Likes Received:
    6,303
    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.

    Sent from my SM-A405FN using Tapatalk
     
    Oakfield53, Paul42 and LC2 like this.
  6. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2006
    Messages:
    6,595
    Likes Received:
    2,242
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Hampshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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?

    Sent from my I3312 using Tapatalk
     
    Last edited: Sep 16, 2020
  7. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2014
    Messages:
    17,609
    Likes Received:
    11,222
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    St Leonards
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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 ,
     
    Last edited: Sep 16, 2020
    Oakfield53 and Romsey like this.
  8. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Messages:
    6,078
    Likes Received:
    4,891
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Swanage
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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"
     
    green five likes this.
  9. LC2

    LC2 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2012
    Messages:
    845
    Likes Received:
    999
    Occupation:
    IT
    Location:
    70B
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    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.
     
    martin1656 and Oakfield53 like this.
  10. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2014
    Messages:
    17,609
    Likes Received:
    11,222
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    St Leonards
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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, :oops: 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.
     
    Oakfield53 likes this.
  11. Robert Heath No.6

    Robert Heath No.6 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2009
    Messages:
    1,513
    Likes Received:
    99
    Oh, there we go then, there is no risk after all! o_O
     
  12. Paul.Uni

    Paul.Uni Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2008
    Messages:
    1,284
    Likes Received:
    584
    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
     
  13. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2014
    Messages:
    17,609
    Likes Received:
    11,222
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    St Leonards
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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,
     
    maureen and Oakfield53 like this.
  14. Martin

    Martin New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2007
    Messages:
    65
    Likes Received:
    42
    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.
     
  15. LC2

    LC2 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2012
    Messages:
    845
    Likes Received:
    999
    Occupation:
    IT
    Location:
    70B
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    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.
     
    maureen and 6026 King John like this.
  16. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2006
    Messages:
    6,595
    Likes Received:
    2,242
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Hampshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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.

    Sent from my I3312 using Tapatalk
     
    MattA likes this.
  17. Nidger

    Nidger New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2008
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    7
    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?
     
    Graft on likes this.
  18. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Messages:
    6,078
    Likes Received:
    4,891
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Swanage
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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.
     
    green five likes this.
  19. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2006
    Messages:
    6,595
    Likes Received:
    2,242
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Hampshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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.

    Sent from my I3312 using Tapatalk
     
  20. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2011
    Messages:
    1,158
    Likes Received:
    1,158
    Occupation:
    Insurance
    Location:
    Good Old Sussex by the Sea
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    That must have made the turnback at Wootton interesting!
     
    Jamessquared likes this.

Share This Page