Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

By 'Eck, it were a tad on the warm side atop the hill yesterday!

So much so, that as the day got hotter, the work rate slowed down and the drinks breaks increased as there's no escape from the sun.

Still, that didn't stop the six hardy souls who gathered making progress with steel Highfit B481682 & LMS van M517317........ two of the lads worked on the Highfit, flattening back the north side body panels before getting them into red oxide, a task that took them the day to do.

On the LMS van, one of the lads went underneath to carry on glossing the underside, a task that would keep him in the shade all day, me mucker made a start on final fitting the south side London end south side external cladding, a slow process that again involved reaming existing holes, annnnd drilling new ones - just when we thought we'd drilled most of the holes we need to........ also the longitudinal beam was bolted back into place...... which required the roof to be jacked up further on the acrows as the bolt holes didn't line up.......

That left Muggin's 'Ere & me Oppo....... after helping out her and there, we took a trip down to Ropley to meet the ULS lads who are transferring stuff from a battered ISO container into a new one, and were having a clear out at the same time......... they've wagon related stuff that was liberated from Swindon donkeys ago, they thought would be of use to us....... we came back with the boot of an estate full of stuff, and there's probaly more to come........ Thanks Lads!!

So, despite the heat, we had what can only be described as a productive day!

Didn't bother picking up the camera, so here's a few more from the recent charter with 45690 and the gala........

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/53715999185/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/53715998780/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/53715565886/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/53715903599/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/53707035502/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/53708276159/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/53708276629/in/dateposted-public/

The steel highfit, north side panels now into red oxide.


The longitudinal beam bolted back into place.



The south side London end external cladding going back on.



The bootful of goodies donated to us by the ULS Lads.

 

Anybody know what is rostered for this Saturday?

Thanks

 

Can't speak for the steam, but should be a Class 20 on the Alton diagram. My money would be on D8059. Watercress Festival shuttle on Sunday should be T&T 20s

Was supposed to be 47579 but that's since been stopped.

 

Not exactly like-for-like.

 

Spam Cans - overrated;
Cl2 Ivatts - Pocket Rockets. (Good for 5 on up our banks (dry rail, obvs.).
Pat

 

Pat, i think your profile has been hatched , I had to read it twice expecting to see Paul's name at the end of it.

 

Watercress Line roster has been updated:
Saturday: 34070 on Alresford set, Class 20 on the Alton set.
Sunday: 41312 on the Alton set, Class 20's on Watercress festival shuttles between Ropley and Alresford.

Edited with a correction for the Sunday services.

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There is no Alresford set on Sunday. I imagine both 20s are on the shuttles.

 

I believe this is the final working of 34070 at the MHR this Saturday. Leaves for Swanage next week

 

Quite right. Just looked at the special timetable for Sunday and there is only one train running between Alton and Ropley.

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FINAL day for 34070 will be Sunday. Ivatt is not out that day.

 

But that is a change from the only just updated Watercress line website loco roster, that shows 34070 as only working on Saturday and 41312 only working on Sunday.

Does anyone know if the roster has in fact just changed- again - and if 34070 is now scheduled to work all of the Alton-Ropley trains on Sunday please?

 

Yes, the roster has been updated again. <BJ>

News from the Watercress Railway.

''Come along tomorrow (Saturday) to ride behind 34070 'Manston' and Class 20 D8059 between Alresford and Alton. On Sunday 'Manston' will take on the Alton set while we have two class 20 Diesels on the Alresford train.
This weekend will be the last opportunity to ride behind Manston, before she returns home to our friends at the Swanage Railway.
View the timetable here: https://buff.ly/35j8az9
https://buff.ly/49J3gHA''

 

Manston is out Sunday instead of the Ivatt and will be working the Alton set.

 

Hi Stinch. Will you be driving 34070?

 

Don. I’m driving her from 1308 until disposal. Stinch

 

Ok thanks. I can’t make it but brother Bryan hopes to be there. All the best. Don

 

Had a productive weekend at Urie Society Towers.
Firstly, cleared and cleaned the floor of Tender 3223. Holy cow, does it look big, or what!
Secondly, a trial fit of the feedwater sump. Not fitted over the trailing bogie (as built) but over the leading bogie, to reduce the faff of running 2 feed through and over any more bogie bits than necessary.
"And so the good work prospers". Josef Hašek 'The Good Soldier Schwejk'
Pat

 

Brother Bryan made it to the Mid Hants! And had an enjoyable time focussing totally on 34070 in that wonderful weathered condition.

My visit was purely because of the posts made here yesterday afternoon by those involved/in-the know about the Mid-Hants, who so kindly provided an update on an already once up dated loco roster.

Thank you guys one and all, and as I always do at heritage lines, I did buy a day rover ticket even though I didn't travel- so your helpful posts did get a rather modest return fo the Mid-Hants!

Some very low- res rough edits below- the last one is Stinch (Nat Pres member) bringing 34070 into Medstead on the 14.15 from Alton. Didn't get a chance to say hello, but I did manage a wave as you passed me.

Bryan B

 

I visited today with my Dad and sister to go to the Watercress Festival in Alresford for the first time. Blimey! I didn't realise how many people actually attend this event. The top and tail Class 20 shuttles between Ropley and Alresford were very busy all day. Diesel folk would have loved the shuttles as there was a fair bit of thrash from both of the 20's!
The streets in Alresford were absolutely rammed with people.
We had very nice pork, watercress and ale sausage baps in the West country buffet which was also doing very well today.
We arrived back at Ropley just in time to see the final run of 34070 over the MHR before she goes back to Swanage. A few low res shots below along with one of 41312 having a well earned rest in the yard:




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