Watercress Line Autumn Steam Weekend: 7th - 9th October 2022

Sounds as though Cheltenham has slipped to a stand on the way up from Alton, 506 being sent from Medstead to assist

 

Scratch that, there's life in the old Schools yet. Just dragged herself into Medstead about 45 down.

 

Is 30925 behaving today? It’s been a cold night with heavy dew bordering on frost here

 

Can't speak for today but she had a proper run at the hill with the last train off Alton last night and crested it with ease (with the same set) so it might just have been a one-off issue on that run.

 

47579 vice 53808 currently. Unsure of reason

 

Superheater not being particularly super from what I've heard.

Thanks

Andrew

 

Pity to hear the 7F had problems. It sounded magnificent yesterday, took a ride on the freight set and filmed the climb to Meadstead:

 

Is the 7 F likely to be running on Sunday?

 

Just been officially announced that 47579 is running in place tomorrow.

 

Update about 53808 failure (as mentioned above) from the Watercress Line FB page:

Hopefully 53808 will be back in action soon.
I wonder if she will be rostered for the Wizard week event when I will attempt to visit?

Really frustrated about this weekend. Was really looking forward to attending the Gala on Friday but woke up in the early hours of Friday morning with a lovely stomach bug so had to abandon visiting the Autumn Gala. Seems to be a lot of stuff going around at the moment.



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Ok that’s me out then. Covid in the family and now my favourite loco out. First Gala I have missed for many years

 

You'll just have to hope that some wizard waves his magic wand over it. You may find that Cheltenham is running as although this weekend is billed as its last weekend in service, they are apparently hoping to run it till the end of the month when the boiler ticket expires.

Get well soon!

 

Not a lot to report from the gala really. All went well except for the failure of the 7F. All other locos appeared to behave themselves and everything ran to time. Quite well attended I thought considering there was no visiting loco and there was a rail strike so coming on South Western to Alton wasn't an option. Nice to see people enjoying themselves on a beautiful day. Thanks as ever to everyone at the Mid-Hants for making it happen.

 

Thanks for the info. A bit of a bonus for me if Cheltenham is also in use for the Wizard event. Fingers crossed.

Thanks also for the best wishes. Feeling a bit better this evening.





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The MHR roster page has it booked for Wednesday and Thursday next week.

 

Some photos from Friday now up at https://railwaygalleries.smugmug.com/MidHants/Autumn-Steam-Gala-October-2022/

 

A great weekend it was all round. My captures from the lineside and Ropley station:

 

Had a really nice day yesterday, very much a fan of the non-stop runs through Ropley they certainly create some theatre and draw the crowds! We spent the first part of the day visiting all the stations before settling down to a couple of round trips later in the afternoon. Thanks as always to everyone involved! Video below, photos to follow...

 

Honour and a pleasure to be driving Cheltenham yesterday. A brilliant day and a fine way to remember the many happy days working her over the last 10 years. She was going as well yesterday as the first day in service. Let's hope we see her again before too long.

 

Just to say a big thank you to all those who came and visited the Wagon Group stand at Medstead over the weekend, and to all who had a ride in the QMB on the freight - our fund for trying to tame the troublesome trucks has recieved a much needed boost!

A few shots from Saturday.....

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52418211089/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52418211464/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52418371210/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52417417802/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52417929376/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52417929871/in/dateposted-public/