Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

I have only driven (I think) 3 Black 5s all good, but the std5 just does everything at least as well feels stronger and is much less tiring on the footplate

 

The big difference for me would be that you can drive a standard in reverse whilst sat down facing inwards; with a Black 5 (and most other locos) I always stand up with my head out of the window

 

The tender isn’t great backwards, but yes better than Staniers

 

Double Fives by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

Stanier and Std 5, one going backwards

 

That’s a nice photo Steve. Never seen it before on your flickr site.

 

The disposal of 73096 in April 2024 to a private buyer is confirmed in the latest PLC accounts uploaded to Companies House this week.

 

Just found this on the Government website.
I find it a bit odd that the members of the Railway were not told about this last year as there was much fanfare in 2017 when the PLC bought the locomotive back from JB.

Sent from my XQ-BT52 using Tapatalk

 

It is on there, just a long time ago!

 

I find it disrespectful. It is the kind of thing that can create an atmosphere of mistrust. It is clear that the announcement which was a footnote in an internal briefing was only made because it was about to be public knowledge due to the accounts being filed.

 

I totally agree. I wonder if anything will be said about this sale at the AGM this coming Saturday?
I can't make it but I would be very interested to hear if it is mentioned or brushed under the carpet.

 

Seen someone post a video on Facebook of 35005 undertaking a light engine test run from Ropley to Alton

 

The things I do to keep you, dear reader, upto date with goings on of the Saturday gang atop the hill..........

Saturday was exam time for five of the lads...... wgaon exams, that is!

But before they could undertake any of them, we had to ask Google, as there was a strange ball in the sky, that hasn't been seen in these parts for a long while, so long in fact, that we'd forgotten what it is...... after much searching through the possible answers, it turns out that was something called the sun.........

So, with five engaged all day on wagon exams, that left Muggin's 'Ere, me Oppo & me Mucker to crack on with other things.... first up was to isolate the vac cylinders on the Shock open & the Pipe, job's good 'un & both are now through piped & still able to run.

After that, it was time to fettle the new south side door........ if we could get the damn thing off, as somehow the top was binding on the door runner........ so brute force & ignorance was called for, and after a while, we finally got it on the deck & after examination, much discussion was had on the best way forward........ evntually, it was decided to shave some off the top, but question was how much?....... the jigsaw soon answered that one, once half a dozen screws were eventually removed!

The rollers were than reattached & the door rehung......... it now moves freely! But more fettleing is required, as other things have come to light since it has been outside for the first time...... these will be addressed in the coming weeks, we hope!

I wsn't expecting to photograph anything on Saturday, so here's a final few pic's from last months charter......

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54360514105/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54360514185/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54360341088/in/dateposted-public/

Annnnnd................ as a Billy Bonus, 35005 came past us on a round trip from Ropley to Alton - it caught us all unawares as it came up the bank, looking and sounding the |Mutts Nuts - but were lying in wait for it to pass us on the return!!!!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54360320679/in/dateposted-public/

The new south side door in the process of being fettled......

 

It's a while since I read Mendips Engineman, but IIRC, Peter Smith preferred the Std 5 to its LMS predecessor

 

35005 ran with a short train yesterday - first time with a trailing load since 2008

35005 Test run by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

 

Yes, between Boxhill and Evening Star around the turntable.

 

Lovely day for it today

 

Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, I wonders where the birdies is?........ The bird is on the wing, but that's absurd as the wing is on the bird....... I'll get me coat!

So, once more Dear Reader, Saturday saw a gathering of liked minded souls atop the hill, and once agin that strange ball appeared in the sky but at least we now know what is is, plus it seems someone even put 50p in the meter, as it soon warmed up - or was that the bonfire Muggin's 'Ere set?!............

Any road. three of the lads set to on the steel highfit taking back areas where there was still rust, before getting the areas into red oxide, and then everything they could into undercoat.

That left Muggin's 'Ere, Me Oppo & Me Mucker to crack on with some of those outstanding & mundane jobs on the LMS van...... but the first job was to get the new south side door off the van so that where it was trimmed last week could be painted up, once on the deck, it was doen to Muggin's to get it sorted, so that the paint had dried before it was put back on the van at the end of the day......... however, when it came to undercoat, the only stuff available was l e y l a n d......... whoever went and got that rubbish nees to be shot, as it's been agreed that it is a waste of money - Muggin's was sorely tempted to cut out the middleman & just chuck the whole pot on the bonfire!!! But sdaly he was persuaded otherwise..... we'll leave it for the midweek lot to use...... At least after some searching some proper undercoat was found, with just enough in the pot to do the job on the door!

In Between coats, and helping the other two with various jobs, including removal of rusted bolts and the setting of scaffolding, the rail heads of the buffers on road #2 were given a tart up, they look a bit smarter now & now make those on road #1 look tatty!

Whilst Muggin's was busy with the paint brush, Me Oppo was busy buzzing off bolts all over the van & Me mucker picked the pain in the arse job of getting the country end external roof hoop off the van which is now life expired.

By the end of the day, the roof hoop was off, bolts were buzzed & the paint had dried on the door to allow it to be hung back on the van!

It was good to see both @Stinch and @21B yesterday, even if it was only in passing, but at least pleasntries could be exchanged.

Didn't bother taking any pics of yesterdays progress, as there's not a lot to show for our efforts......... however, the camera did record some comings and goings of the passing trains........

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54375280103/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54375436745/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54375279528/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54375043141/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54375435020/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54375436975/in/dateposted-public/

 

Lovely pictures (of 506 anyway)

 

I was working in my garden at 15:05 on Saturday and heard your departure from Alresford.......as did most of the Town I should think!