Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

I would too but I guess massive engines take priority over little-uns.
Pride before practicality, as usual.

 

Seeing that things aren't exactly on topic on a personal observation...and also seeing that it hasn't been posted in this thread. The MHR released special event dates for 2022 https://watercressline.co.uk/2022-dates-for-the-diary/. A birthday visit over the Diesel Gala weekend is bound to be a highlight.

 

Then maybe you ought to try respecting other peoples opinions (even if you disagree with them) rather than reacting like they've insulted your own beliefs. It's not their fault they don't recognise the perfection that is GWR. I blame their upbringing.

 

I think just as a rule of thumb, everybody should just respect everyone's opinions on every single region, then visits to local and far away places, engines from home or away would be much more enjoyable.

Friendly banter instead of just plain insults.

 

Really??? Kilmersdon only arrived on the MHR in April and the agreement for the MHR to overhaul was agreed/announced in June. So 6 months to overhaul a loco is a long time in your opinion? How long do you think it should take?

 

I don't want to fan the flames here...but there wasn't a problem until you took offence that the MHR are restoring 34058 - that wasn't respecting anyone's opinion was it? Maybe you should reread that private conversation we had a while back...

 

I've never quite got why people live their lives vicariously through inanimate objects or companies.

BTW I must have missed the all important slate traffic that the GWR carried. So many photos of GWR slate trains thundering down the mainline.

But allow me to just puncture your balloon of ignorance and send you hurtling to the ground. The Southern transported amongst other things coal from the Kent coalfields, oil from Fawley, freight traffic from the channel ports, military traffic across the network, and of course freight traffic across London. So not just an extractive railway line unlike other companies.

Here is something to muse on, it is true that freight made up 25% of SR traffic pre-1939, but during WW2 the volume of passenger traffic remained constant at pre-war levels but freight went from 25% of all traffic to 60% of all traffic. Chew for a little while on what it meant in terms of the absolute amount of traffic on the SR and the demands that made on the SRs loco fleet and the need to re-orientate from passenger to freight, think then about the shortage of labour and then ask yourself why Bulleid built 110 mixed traffic and 30 freight locomotives which were designed to have wide route availability and to make maintenance easier.

 

4P 3F on the cabside of 31806

 

Where have you been in the last decade? To take just one of the engines you mention, the T9. I made several visits to Swanage in between its arrival there and the end of its "ticket". It is a 260-mile round trip for me but I was happy to do it. It's one of my favourite preserved locos. My normal format for a day at Swanage is a mixture of travclling and photography. Both while on the train and at the lineside I heard nothing but praise for 30120. It is indeed a well-liked engine and although it's a way down the overhaul queue, that does not imply any ingratitude on anyone's part. I'm sure that if you were to approach the NRM and Swanage Railway with the money to fund a contract overhaul, you would be welcomed with open arms. As this is the Mid Hants thread, I would say likewise that in my experience, 41312 and 76017 are both well-liked on the Mid Hants, while 45379's withdrawal was greeted with sadness and 73096 definitely has a fan club.

You must have been talking to some very strange and atypical enthusiasts if you believe that fans of the Southern and its constituents rave about Bulleids and turn their noses up at everything else. This certainly isn't my experience and I definitely don't feel like this personally.

 

Can you just stop lying?

You don't have a shred of evidence to back up your claims.

Bluebell current operational fleet
BR x 2
SER x 1
SECR x 1
SR x 2

under overhaul/restoration
LBSCR x 2
SECR x 1
SR x 2
BR x 1

Mid Hants current operational fleet
LSWR x 1
SR x 1
LMS/BR x 1
BR x 1
SDJR x 1

Under overhaul
LSWR x 1
LSWR/SR x 1
SR x 1
BR x 1

Swanage - operational
SR x 3

under overhaul
LSWR x 2
SR x 3

In short, I can visit any of the three main former SR preserved railways and travel behind engines dating from pre-grouping, grouping and through to BR.

It is possible for me to ride behind locos from almost all of the pre-grouping companies and to ride behind non-southern designs that worked on SR metals.

So once again, the evidence of reality stands in stark contrast to the baselessness of your claims.

 

JTFC. Having WRH AND COTF in the same thread spouting their special brands of manure is the sort of lead in the bowls that drove the Victorians mad. Anyway, just in case, I have the solution for such cack posting. ⤵️

 

I’ve been a MHR member and volunteer for many years and there’s a few anti Bulleid people around the Railway. I’m looking forward to seeing 35005 in steam again.

PS Don’t all GWR locos look the same

 

Which is why I have put them both on the Naughty Step (aka 'Ignore'). I've run across some herberts in my time, but they take the cake. My blood pressure can only take so much ... ...
Pat
(Apologies to anyone actually called Herbert.)

 

Oh I have them on ignore then the last two pages make no sense so I see ignored content and whoosh met with utter ********

 

How could you forget the greatest British railway manager ever?

Tom

 

Crewe trained of course.......

 

Ah, but he declined the opportunity when offered to be the first GM of the LMS with loyalty to the LSWR trumping the opportunities of the much larger job; in his words, "they gave me a chance which the North Western denied me".

Tom

 

Latest MHR YouTube video is available to watch. This weeks video looks at firing and driving a loco on the MHR.

 

Indeed.
Colonel Sir Herbert Ashcombe Walker, KCB, TD. Colonel Commandant of the Engineer & Railway Staff Corps 1924-1937.
Pat