Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

You have! That and the prospect of a little publicity soon...

 

The latest 2020 MHRPS accounts show a 26.6% shareholding in 34105.

 

Absolutely agree. A lot of money has already been spent on 34105 with the overhaul probably about 70% complete. The wheelsets, bogie and pony truck have been fully overhauled and the frames are just awaiting a new centre cylinder to largely complete. The cladding has been entirely replaced and a new smoke box manufactured. The boiler was pretty well advanced when work was halted and the tender tank was entirely rebuilt.

Let's hope that if there are any issues, they can be resolved to the satisfaction of all involved parties.

 

Like wise, At least the MHRPS does hold quite a large percentage of the shareholding, wither that's enough to ensure no one can say, its my loco, because i doubt very much if one person would have 75 per cent of the shares, as if that was the case, the engine could have left ages ago, the main sticking point will be if people that fell out with the railway, between them owned significant number of shares, that if used together might come to more than the MHRPS shares.

 

On the latest subject of Bulleids - 34092 has been announced as Autumn Gala guest. Watercress Line Event - Autumn Steam Gala

 

The Pannier and Standard 4 were running today, so I assume they'll be doing the next few days too.

 

Although at £40 a day but without the reasoning of limited numbers (currently showing 2880 tickets remaining on the Saturday) will be interesting to see how it’ll go.

 

That's something I noticed too when I popped down for a trip behind 50027 on Sunday morning (starting from East Midlands Airport!)

A passenger was complaining to a member of staff that the train was a diesel and not steam and that they wanted to go back on the other train (which wasn't an option with the current set up). The member of staff politely informed them that the diesel locomotives are as much of a part of railway heritage as the steam locomotives. (Lion being 53 years old after all!)

As you've said, it would be nice to get that response from other railways too!

 

The opening of the new museum at Alresford looks really interesting and the roster looks good.

I like the idea of different days focussing on different aspects.

I think all three of the rostered main fleet locos worked over the S&D as well.

 

The issue of passenger complaint, I kind of see it both ways. Yes, let's not devalue heritage diesels, they absolutely have their place in telling the story of Britain's railways. However also, to much of the general public, they go to a heritage railway because they want to see and ride behind a steam train, and will expect that to be the default option unless told otherwise. It's how do you acknowledge that they weren't able to go for a trip behind their intended motive power and be sympathetic to any disappointment without telling them "suck it up and give us your money anyway", while also saying "We are telling a story of the railway heritage of Britain and this diesel has as much of a place in that story as the steam locomotives we also have based here".

 

Tickets have sold very well for the Friday. Down to 471 available when I checked earlier.

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That does sound exceptionally good as the website says no pre allocated seats hop on and hop off, so assuming the railway is back to using every seat that is an excellent situation at this stage.
Of course with a lot more people WFH maybe people have flexibility around a Friday that they may not have had in the past.

 

I’ve mentioned this story before but think it’s well worth retelling, about 10 years or so ago we (myself and a few mates) were at the SVR with one of 20059’s owners when the TTI came around and apologised for ‘the paraffin can on the front’ and left rather red faced after said owner politely pointed out he didn’t like his loco referred to as such.
I appreciate that if someone paying for a steam loco doesn’t get one then they’re going to be disappointed but if you explain properly that ‘this is a Class x built in 19xx it worked from A to B etc’ people tend to be a little forgiving.
It’s something that those staff in customer facing roles would do well to remember, regardless of their own personal favourites/dislikes.

 

Would there be any option of a fare reduction if a diesel was in use and advertised as such?
I mean for all lines in the UK not just the MHR.
Say a 10 - 20% reduction.

 

Not on the bigger railways usually. Some of the smaller railways run reduced fares when it's DMU/Diesel vice steam but it's not common place amongst the more well established lines like the SVR/MHR etc.

The only time I paid less for a diesel was at the NNR where the second service kettle had gone pop so it was just the diesel out solo (which was the reason I had come along). The steam engine however was repaired not long after I bought my ticket meaning I missed out on the 08 shunt release!

 

Taking the kids to the Mid Hants tomorrow for Days out with Thomas. Would anyone happen to know the timetable for the Ropley to Alton non-Thomas services? I can't seem to find any details on either the MHR or Thomas website. Thanks in advance.

 

Hourly service 9:45 to 14:45

 

What can you do though if something decides to blow up at the last minute? Run a train or not run? I’m sure there’s something in conditions of carriage, there’s usually something about reserving the right to cancel or alter any service due to circumstances beyond the operators control.

 

Ropley in the rain this morning!

 

Alresford in the sun this morning

Thomas departing Alresford by Stephen Morley, on Flickr