Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

To get back on track publicly announced today that you can visit Ropley to watch the illuminations from the picnic area with the T-junction open and the miniature railway running (subject to staffing).

Parking is by the campsite entrance and there is no access to platforms (but the view is still pretty good!)

 

I've now edited the next instalment of my Mid-Hants Railway Autumn Steam Gala video and it's now on my YouTube channel. It features the Standard Class 4, the Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T and the Somerset & Dorset line 7F 2-8-0:



Hope it's of interest.

TTFN,

Ron.

 

Isn’t there a small band of volunteers looking after 73096. Always found it an enjoyable loco to be on when I had my time on the footplate. Two photos of 73096. Maybe one day I’ll get to ride behind 73096 again.

 

Compared to last week, the weather was almost tropical in comparison when the hardy souls of the Satuday gang gathered atop the hill yesterday!

It was also a day with a difference....... we'd been asked to give a vehicle an FTR/the once over, which turnd out to be SR Pillbox Brake Van S56506....... so we set to with the check list & by the end of the day the once over was done & some minor niggles rectified!

In amongst all this, there was still time to fix a few bits on the Shoc open & the workshop PMV bodyside as well as a quick trip to Alton - who says we can't multitask?.....

Later in the day, the two 20's went through on route proving duties, before returning & stabling in Bennett's on Thunderbird duties, followed a short time later by 53808 on the Steam Illumination ECS!

So, what seemed like a nice easy day on paper turned out to be anything but - but that said, even though we were all knackered by the end of it, but happy!!! PLUS we were still getting more plaudits from folks who've only just seen the transformation of the gunpowder van.......

Amd before you knew it, the two 20's were off back down to Ropley, and the 1st Steam Illumination trains were rolling into M4M & after watching them arrive & depart, that was our cue to head home for some well earned ales!!!

So, a few pics of the evenings comings & goings......

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/51726942810/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/51726713614/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/51725254147/in/dateposted-public/

 

Wow what a great video about rebuilding BY 765. It’s a must watch video in my humble opinion. I was unaware of the amount of work that goes in to rebuild one of these vehicles.

 

So, a dank day greeted the three hardy souls who gathered atop the hill yesterday......

Our numbers being depleted by one having to sit things out waiting for the result of a PCR test & another being dragged out around the shops to do aomething called 'Christmas shopping', whatever that is?......

So, after the usual brew & catch up it was time to start making good some of the items raised during the FTR exam on SR Pillbox brake, S56506......

One was charged with washering up the brake hangers to reduce the excessive amount of play that had developed.

Another decided to tackle the two drawbars, as there was excessive movement in them, the 1st one tackled was the country end one, which proved to be a bugga to get out, as the split pin didn't want to play ball, but between two of us, it finally gave in!!! This revealed that the socket was badly worn, so was built up with layers of weld, smoothed back & greased up & whilst that was going on the fixing pin had what was left of the split pin knocked out of it (eventually!) and the build up of rust on it & the washer cleaned off & both greased up before being refitted with the drawbar, which is now back in with no movement.

As for the London end drawbar, it was found that all it needed was the locking nut tightening right up - nice & easy for a change.

Next job tackled was at the request of the traffic dept.... when trying to attach the vac hose to the dummy, the support arm at both ends had a tendancy to travel down the train pipe....... & they needed as many arms as an octopus to make the two marry!

So, after trying various methods of keeping the dummy hangers in place without success, it was time to bring the welder back into play & tack weld the dummy hangers to their corresponding train pipe support brackets - jobs a good 'un!

Then it was a case of easing off the dummy's, attaching the vac hose & marrying the two up until they were happy & then tightening up the dummy - the London end vac hose needs a new rubber seal, but thats a job for another day, as the light was fading & rain was coming in,just as the last of the brake hangers was being attended to, but was proving a bit of a pig as the legs didn't want to bend, but with a bit of teamwork, brute force & ignorance, they finally succumbed!

Before we knew it the two class 20's on route proving & Thunderbird duties were stabling in Bennett's & the Steam Illuminations ECS was climbing out of Ropley Soke cutting - that was our cue to pack up & bugga off - tired & dirty, but happy!!!

A few pics of the nocturnal happenings last night......

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/51742408990/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/51741762718/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/51741523101/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/51741761723/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/51741520251/in/dateposted-public/

The country end drawbar removed & the bottom of the socket built up with weld.flattened back & greased up.


The drawbar back in position, all nice & snug.


Country end vac dummy secured.



London end vac dummy now firmly in place.



London end hose & dummy now happily married!

 

Having helped dismantle my fair share of wagon drawbars over the last few months it's nice to know we weren't suffering alone! Nicely done.

 

They're stubborn bugga's for sure, but we're used to it & we don't call 'em troublesome trucks for nowt!

 

If anyone would like to have a look, here's another short video from the Mid-Hants Railway Autumn Steam Gala; it features the Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T, a B.R. Standard 2-6-4T and a Hunslet 0-6-0T that, in a parallel world, doubles up as No.1, THOMAS:



TTFN,

Ron.

 

This weeks YouTube video has been released.

 

A strange thing happened atop the hill yesterday........

For once we didn't meet up until midday then as numbers increased the kettle was doing more work than us, except for our jaws as there was much talk of what the last year had meant & what the approaching new one heralds for the Saturday gang....... then before we knew it, the one member we'd all been waiting for arrived, late as usual, but carrying various bags........

Then over another brew, we relocated to SR Pillbox brake to set up for the afternoons BBQ!

With Planet Rock playing on the radio, providing tunes for everyone, out came the BBQ bucket & before you knew it.we were tucking into burgers & sausages - MAN FOOD!!

As the afternoon progressed, the two 20's went past on route proving duties & before we knew it they were stabling in Bennett's & the ECS for Alton was climbing up the bank!

After that it was time to pack up & head for Ropley, as thanks to the Engineering manager, we were going for a ride on the Steam Illuminations in Traincares BY 765!

We'd already had a ride on our BY earlier in the year, so were keen to see what they'd been up to & what the ride was like & compare notes....... & before we knew it, we were back at Ropley having enjoyed a ride window hanging watching the display unfold - its something else when you actually see it up close!!!

Then it was time to head home for some well deserved ales.

I don't think our other halves would be too chuffed if we wanted to put a shift in next Saturday (let alone the residents of Four Marks!) & the Saturday afte that is likely to see most of us under a duvet until late in the day.......

So, dear reader, I will wish you a restive festive & a happy new year, and leave you with a few pics from an illuminating evening......

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/51757270019/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/51755787247/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/51756618221/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/51755789872/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/51756863343/in/dateposted-public/

 

Footage from Steam Illuminations last night with the S15 and Standard 4:

 

I've just put together a gallery of photographs of Santa Specials, taken at the Mid-Hants between 1998 and 2017. A lot of them were taken while I was working on lineside clearance, which is why they don't cover the whole line. Any footplate crew who would like a copy of any particular shot, just use the "Contact Me" link on the site. David Franklin aka NightRail.

https://www.nightrail.photography/Latest-Uploads/Santa-Specials-at-the-Mid-Hants-Railway/

 

2022 will see 53808 and 30925 both coming out of service towards the end of the year, when their 10 year boiler certificates expire, At the moment nothing seems to be that advanced that its going to replace them, ,499, might possibly be ready some time in 2023 as might 75079 until these two are finished does the MHR have enough motive power for the 2023 season, with 76017, 40312 and 506? before anyone mentions 35005, a can't see that being ready until 2024 at the earliest .

 

Might we see the return of 92212? Not sure how the overhaul is going at Butterly but LSL were going to do a boiler swap with 92245. The boiler from the latter was being overhauled at Crewe.

Sent from my XQ-BT52 using Tapatalk

 

I'm fairly sure that 92212 is still at Margate, so probably unlikely to reappear in 2922. I suspect the MHR may be joining the hire market.

 

Possibly , unless 53808 and 925 can get a 12 month extension on their boiler tickets with limited steaming days, that would at least give the railway overlap and cover until 499, and 75079 are fully tested and in service .

 

92212 is at butterfly having a contract overhaul by the princess group. I believe a late 22 date has been mentioned?

 

45379 from the MHR and 4464 Bittern were taken to Margate. 92212 went to Llangollen for overhaul but due to the situation there it moved on to the Midland Railway Centre.


Sent from my XQ-BT52 using Tapatalk

 

I don't think there will even be a planet in 2922, think you mean 2022.

As for MHR joining the "Hire Market", 9466 doesn't have a home ATM so a possibility?