Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

It's a nice idea! Normally though the mainline steam would come off at Alton and go to Guildford for turning with a MHR loco taking the train with diesel assistance over the MHR. Having 35005 haul it over the MHR would certainly be the best choice however!

 

if the tour was worked back to Woking with steam on the rear though. it would then be facing right way for steam to lead running on the Bournemouth main line back to Wareham, thence.to Swanage,

 

They could have cleaned it!

 

If Manston is still in fine fettle as it was at Giants of Steam, then it's going to sound very good going over the Alps. Certainly did up to Holden Summit on the Bluebell.

 

No, no and thrice no!

 

I think the general public would agree with this! Whilst enthusiasts understand the reason for its current cosmetic condition, I’ve heard a few members of the public comment about it being dirty and uncared for.

 

Was restored in "weathered" condition to get an authentic 50s working look.
Perhaps some explanation needs to be somehow given to visiting public?

 

I doubt that the majority of the great British public are interested in that. As @Alan Kebby has mentioned above, they're more likely to see it as uncared for, or needing 'fixed'

 

I must admit, when I saw it at the Bluebell, I thought it just looked scruffy.

There is an important point to cleaning, which is both that it serves as another informal inspection over the loco checking for damage, loose fittings etc; and that it makes the driver's formal inspection easier.

Christmas trains are by design a bit "blingy" - it would seem strange to head e.g. a train of lights with a scruffy engine. Hopefully it will get thoroughly cleaned at Ropley.

Tom

 

It will be clean, but will probably need a repaint to remove the weathered look.
But if run at night will anyone notice?

 

I'd have thought so. Don't the passengers get off and get their chance to have their photo taken by the engine at the mid way point? (I'm unfamiliar with how the MHR run such things, but in our case there is a layover of thirty minutes or so at Horsted and plenty of time for the passengers to get up close to the engine).

Tom

 

Considering the loco is lit up like a Christmas tree, and passengers crowd around to see it run around, people probably will notice.

 

OH BOY! Not another livery debate!

 

More likely that the contrast will make any engine look black.
Pat

 

No....this is a cleaning debate...very different!

 

In my top 20 galas of all time is the Dirty Engines weekend on the ESR back in March 1996. I wish someone would do something similar again.

Not great quality from back then but I did find this, 9F looked spectacular

 

Perhaps it was a ploy to get someone else to clean it up and get it back looking smarter than when it left !

 

Livery/Cleaning debate Whatever!
Given that Manston has already taken part working TOL trains at Swanage last year I do not recall there being any comments/complaints then.
I also do not recall 34070 Getting any complaints ay the Giants in Steam event at the Bluebell railway, so why now?
I assume that the MHR are happy with it's current livery otherwise they would not have hired it in the first place?

 

I remember Llangollen did some weathering for a few events, always thought it looked quite good!
Some photos I found of said events.
https://flickr.com/photos/iangater/33403320855/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevepurves/5994908348/