Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

That or trading stories of dealings with the ever vain and boastful big express engines from their respective former companies, who rarely if ever did a proper hard day's work, pulling heavy but essential good trains like they did...

Or alternatively the elder 2800 and 7F are sharing tales and words of wisdom with the comparatively youngster 8F.

 

Was it WA Tuplin who wrote that after a talk on the latest manifestation of LNER Pacific someone described them as 'Chief Mechanical Engineer's Toys'. It was 0-6-0's earned the dividends.
Pat

 

101 uses for a Merchant Navy, part 101: Self-cleaning barbecue.
Pat

 

Thats fine, and good, but one day, their going to need it back .

 

A couple from this morning. I was out at 04:30 for a Dawn Chorus walk, quick coffee then to the bluebell woods, including a distant view of Wander's curve, then down to Bishops Sutton to catch 30925

Distant Ivatt by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

Cheltenham and Cowslips by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

 

It were an overcast, cold & windy morning when four venerable souls of the Saturday gang gathered atop the hill yesterday, but one that warmed up PDQ, though the wind persisited!

After the usual brew & catch up, it was time to set to on LMS van M517317.......

The London end corrugation was derusted & painted with red oxide.

Some more derusting of the underframe was done & the treated area's given a coat of red oxide.

Elesewhere, the first few of many reclaimed timbers recieved attention, mainly to see what we're up against, and what condition they're in under all the paint....... not helped by sanders being petulant & not having a lot of sand paper!

A new mesh was also made for the London end vent, and once its backing plate had been derusted, both were bought up to 1st undercoat.

Also on the agenda, was to remove a shot corner plate - easier said than done, given it had 13 rivets & one bolt steadfastly holding it in place & refusing to budge!

In between all that lot, the north side door frame was also looked at, as one of our number had been up at Quorn the previous weekend & had spotted & taken photo's of their LMS van...... & it was a case of checking things out....... cue confusion!

Our doors have horizontal timbers, where as the GCR one has vertical door timbers with a retaining strap across the front, so it was decided that a bit of research was needed......... which was done when I got home!

By the end of the day, the timbers were into ali oxide, and the corner plate, plus other bits of corroded metal had been removed.

It was one of those days where a lot of work was done, but we had bugga all to show for it!!!

Last nights research eventually proved useful, after trying to confuse myself........ it didn't matter what year the van was built, it was what diagram it was built to, that mattered, ours was built to diagram 2039, which has horizontal door planks, & the GCR one to a different diagram, which has vertical planks, so all is good, although we have to address the problem of a central G&G cross member to a T&G as we don't want any sections of T&G in upside down, inviting trouble!!!!

Good to folks out enjoying trips on the railway with the trains well loaded.

Some of the days action.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52026650799/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52026441748/in/dateposted-public/

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London end corrugation dreusted & into red oxide.



Londo end vent mesh & backing plate up to 1st undercoat.



Northside country end angle plate removed, along with surround.



The first of many planks recieving treatment - up to ali oxide.

 

Having had a fantastic three days up there. The MHR S15 No. 506 was my star of the show at the SVR gala this weekend by a country mile. An absolute credit to the Urie Society and the MHR.

 

Just needs the Q6 to top this off ;-)

 

Personally I'd go for the Robinson O4 myself, one of if not the best looking heavy freight locomotives in my opinion.

 

I went up for Saturday. Said 'howdo' to our 'minder' and had a chat to the E/T driver, who said 'You can't have her back!' I've since heard that every driver that had 506 said the same. Very gratifying for those that overhauled it.
Pat

 

Or the Q7

 

The Ghost of Freight Past

The Ghost of Freight Past by Tim White, on Flickr

Watch out for this apparition at the Watercress Line Spring Steam Gala this weekend.

 

Slightly less ghostly as the gala is only hours away...

Bishops Sutton Freight by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

 

Ben,

My Ropley Spy has noted your kind comments regarding 506, and says the following (His words, not mine)

"506 is testament to what can be done when everyone works together. The ULS engineering team and Mid Hants shed staff worked as one team to turn her out and we’re proud to hear that the fruits of our labour are so well received. Wonder what the reactions will be when 499 finally returns to steam!!!"

He would also like to know if you're a member of the ULS & if not, why not?...... to which end, if you're at the gala, he'll happily empty your wallet at Ropley for you....... failing that, you can always join online! https://uriesociety.co.uk/membership/

 

Some pics from Tuesdays charter.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52035049962/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52034045135/in/dateposted-public/

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52033567358/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52033567623/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52041177262/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52042222236/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52042731425/in/dateposted-public/

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52038406991/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52038459558/in/dateposted-public/

 

Sadly not a member just yet. Being a bit cautious with what I spend money on at present, an currently ill dog and other travels took an almighty chunk out of my bank will do as and when I can afford it though as I been a massive S15 "lover" since seeing 847 debut at Bluebell and 506 when it returned to service.. Will be at the gala today and maybe tomorrow.

 

506 yesterday in morning sun.

Freight at Grosvenor Road by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

 

Did any 8f's ever work south and run over southern metals, at any time during their working lives ? being a LMS design, there must have been some inter regional work, and of course, weren't some built at Eastleigh during the war for the war effort. did these southern build ones ever substitute for other classes when being tested, or would they have gone straigh into storage, prior to being shipped out to the middle east, and Europe after D day.

 

Latest YouTube video is now available to watch. This time we take a trip back in time to the 1970s and early 80s

 

Yes - I have seen a picture of one working through Haywards Heath with a pigeon special. They also worked through to Bournemouth via the S&DJR.