Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

7F running all weekend (Alres) along with Ivatt (Alton)

 

It’s that time of the week again. Here’s the latest YouTube video to watch.

 

I think these videos are really Good!
So informative and an excellent advert for the MHR. Well Done to all involved.

 

Great. Will try to get there Sunday

 

Agreed, as someone with no affiliation or connections to the Mid Hants Mr Stratford and his team really show other railways how communication should be done.

 

My loco today.

 

The 7F sounded good today and climbed well out of Alton sustaining 23-24 on the climb. She was also very clean.Thanks to the engine crew for the good work with what is now a tired loco. I will dig out my shot if 53808 on the S&D in 1962 and send a copy to the enginemen. Good stockpile of coal noted at Ropley and the fireman told me it was ok but goes to ash quite quickly. Had a ride on the miniature railway with 46100 and 1001. They were worked quite hard on the 2 in 50/40 gradients.

 

After five like minded nutters gathered atop the hill yesterday & consumed breakfast baps (kindly provided my muggins 'ere from the bakers ) washed down with a brew or two , it was exam time - for some wagons, not us!

First up was the Urie lads box van B 772824, due a 12 monthly...... two of the lads set to on the axleboxs to do pad & oil exams, two of us started to give all the brake rigging, blocks, hoses & couplings the once over, whilst the last man standing cracked on with sanding more planks for LMS van M517317!

In amongst all that, one of the lads had made some washers for the box van B760337, which we red carded last week, in the hope that somewhere in the workshop PMV, there would be a spare buffer keep......... along with a suitable damper....... as it happened, the keep was fund within a few minutes, but a suitable damper eluded us - so we found some suitable rubber & fashioned our own!!

So back to the van we went, only to find that the buffer shank wasn't quite at the right angle for the keep to go home....... , but lady luck was on our side, as even though it was up tight to the box van the others were doing the axleboxes on, surprisingly we managed to get one small twist on the buffer from the outside & that was good enough!! So, that's one small step to bringing the van back into traffic.......

Back on B 772824, the body work & paint job were also given the once over & once all four axleboxes were drained on what little oil that remaind & gunk cleaned out & from around them, the pads & tails were livened up, the boxes filled with fresh oil & refitted.

The only things amiss with the van were cracked vac seals & one suspect vac hose, so that should keep my Ropley Spy happy ...... until we send him the bill!!!

At the end of play, another wagon had also had the once over & on LMS van M517317, the bottom end had had a bath to remove the gunk, so that we can see what we're up against & another dozen or so planks had been sanded back!


The new washers, dampers & replacement keep now in place on box van B760337.

 

More on Peckett 1788 (the engine that dare not use it's name!).
Taken a couple of weeks ago, since then the laps have been patch screwed and the stay ends tooled over.
Pat

 

A cool & windy day greeted the five hardy souls who turned up atop the hill yesterday - but it soon warmed up - or was that the morning brew & beakfast bap from the bakers?!?!

After that, it was time to crack on with the days jobs..... but we noticed the freight rake had disappeared elsewhere, but was due back later behind 506 as part of the Urie lads open day!!!

One set themselves up to carry on sanding back the planks we've removed from LMS van M517317, the pile of planks is now a lot smaller than it was!

Another was volunteered to gloss the internal corrugations & then continue on the chassis.....

The third was nominated to repair the London end vent plate, part of which was wasted, it would be hit or miss as to whether the repair would be possible...... happily, it was, as matey worked his magic & you've never know that it had been repaired!

The two of us left flitted between various tasks - the first one being to replace the vac coupling seals on box van B760337 which has now been removed from th rake until we can fix all the various issues - we have a cunning plan.......

After that our attention was split between fetching sanded planks & undercoating them - another thankless task, and finally finding the time to assess the northside door..... Hmmmm....... its not in the best condition as the main side timbers seem to have been bodged several times over the years & these haven't been effective, which would go a long way to explaining why it was warped & sagging!

The door has now been flat packed & taken off site for a more detailed examination, as the first investigation seems to suggest we need new structural timbers all round......

When the freight finally came 'home' we went & had a shufty..... turns out the Banana van was not behaving itself - the brakes were off, as all the rest were on! Once the rake was back in Bennett's, it was time to investigate....... so began the Heath Robinson test, crude but effective, thankfully the vac cylinder was found to be working properly, so the release valve was removed & taken apart - it would appear that all the seals inside are not doing what they should, even though they appear to be fairly good nick - so we'll get some replacements & take it from there........ after that, the vac cylinder was isolated so that the van can remain in traffic.

After that, a couple of us nipped down to Ropley at last knockings to see how the Urie open day had gone....... very well it would seem, according to my Ropley Spy, with plenty of folks enjoying a short footplate ride on 506 as part of the day.

After that, a quick mooch inside the carriage workshop to have shufty at Traincare's BY - its in the process of being completed, but the main priority is the kitchen car for the Belle, which last I saw was a mere shell & is now in the process of being fitted out & very smart it looks too!

Now, some sad news, and a personal appeal - something I've known of for a while, but not been able to write about until the owner made the first move....... the class 50 is not in good health - it suffered a power to earth fault just before Xmas last year, which has now been traced to the generator.

The generator is/has been removed & will go away for a full assessment as its something Ropley has no experience with - so best left to the experts - either way, it isn't going to be a quick or cheap fix - so for anyone reading this, and you are on face ache, please search for 50027 Lion & buy some of their merchandise, or message them & offer them a donation, as the loco is family owned & they aren't rich - yes I know times are hard, but for them its just become a lot harder!!!! So any help, large or small would be a great help to them to get the loco back up & running.

Right - some pics from the day.......

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52190826159/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52190826754/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52190568541/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52190569076/in/dateposted-public/


The London end corrugation into gloss.


A weld repair undertaken to a cross memeber.



The north side door flat packed.



The first of many timbers now in the process of being painted.



The corroded sectiom of the vent plate cut out.



The repair.



The vac cylinder isolated on the Banana van.

 

Cheers for those kind words, I'll pass them onto Andy (not sure if he's on here but he certainly doesn't post here!)

Hoping to have 50027 open for cab visits over the gala so feel free to come have a chat and find out what needs doing and how you can help! There'll also be a sales stand on the platform at Ropley too!

Speaking of the gala, timetable should be out this week. All very interesting and has definitely got a Southern Region flavour about it. Also worth noting that the Alton Bus Rally takes place on Sunday too so why not combine the two for a grand weekend of classic machines!

 

Does anyone know if any of the visitors for the Diesel Gala have arrived at the MHR yet? I was hoping to see the stock movements on the Main Line but just noticed that there were some movements on RTT from Southampton to Alton yesterday and on Tuesday. Not sure what they were for.

Sent from my XQ-BT52 using Tapatalk

 

None yet as far as I know. 33111 is coming by road, everything else by rail.

66 moves this week were a route learner for upcoming engineering works, just so happens that they're coming to the gala too...

 

Cheers. I will keep an eye on RTT. Hoping to see the positioning moves as I am not sure if I can make the Gala.

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It's good news everyone!

Timetable is now available and can be found here: https://watercressline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Diesel-Gala-2022-PTT-070722.pdf


Highlights include:

3x Trips down Alresford Carriage Sidings with the 2EPB + MLVs
2EPB+MLVs working Medstead-Alresford solo.
3x Round trips between Alresford and Ropley utilising the shunters (so each one gets a round trip)
17.05 Alton-Alresford is 20x2 load 5 with the 47 on the rear as extra weight.
Two train evening service Fri/Sat uitilisng 47579 and 33111 (in push-pull mode). Pre-empting the question, Class 20s couldn't be used due to noise concerns.

Seems a good time to remind about tickets.

£35 day rovers in advance, £40 on the day.
£70 in advance for a 3 day rover, £80 on the day.
£20 'Barn Owl" tickets for Friday and Saturday evening if you cannot attend during the day. Includes a pint too!

Child & Family discounts available, no other discounts on offer. See website for more details / to book

 

I wonder whether anyone has info regarding rostered locos for this Saturday (9th)? It’s partly camera related with a bit of idle curiosity thrown in as I’m heading over MHR way that day. Website roster only goes up to today. Thanks!

 

4TC arriving tomorrow

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:55084/2022-07-08/detailed

 

Link updated, small revisions took place this afternoon

 

Were there really noise complaints about the 20’s? I know 188’s was a bit louder than 59 but really?