35005 Canadian Pacific launch Gala: 20th-23rd March 2025

When I saw it back at the open day in 2019 it looked not that dissimilar to 35022 next to it. Although the tender was in the works, presumably for some sort of refurbishment eventually.

 

- The Dining trains for this event on the 20th March are now all sold out.
- Two of the CanPac Services on the 22nd are now Sold out (Morning run full, 1 seat left on the 13.00 service). Plenty of seats left on the last CP run of the day.

Still plenty of seats left on the 21st and 23rd March services.

 

35005 out and about on the Inaugural Dining Train today with 257 providing the stopper service. Great to see the mighty Merchant back in steam!

 

35005 Canadian Pacific hauling the Inaugural Dining Train. Enjoy

 

'Port Line' was always my favorite loco as a kid visiting the Bluebell in the early 90's. It's genuinely really sad that it's effectively a hulk again now.

Anyway, congratulations to the MHR on 35005's return. Look forward to (hopefully?) seeing it at the gala next month.

 

A great day to be at the Mid-Hants today, wonderful to be reunited with 35005 again. Plus to see 34072 in action, and the S15 30506, in light steam - or so it looked to me. I think as a back up, 'just in case'.

I came via Ropley as I had a good run round the M25 part of my drive, and I still got to the car park at Alresford station by about 09.30, 90 minutes before I was booked on the 11.00 with 35005. Booking office already open, exchanging tickets for booking reference numbers, and providing a Watercress Line car park voucher as I was staying longer than the three hour car park limit. Then, really full of myself after seeing 35005 at Ropley I bored a number of people with my tales of timing various runs behind 35005 in the 1960s; my apologies if any are posters here! I was not so vocally active on the train as I logged what was a nice and steady run with a loco that must surely still be running in.

Re the station car park. It looked to be rather busy as I left the 11.00 Alresford at 12.35 after the return from Alton. Maybe a good idea to allow plenty of time to sort out car parking arrangements for anyone planning to park there tomorrow

A few of my photos as I went through the day below; all low res quick edits as usual.

Very many thanks to all at the Mid Hants who made this wonderful event happen today - and of course that includes those who have got 35005 back working again, most certainly including the National Lottery.

Bryan

 

Meridian news report about the return of 35005:
https://www.itv.com/watch/news/the-...me-a-favourite-with-local-enthusiasts/h9sppjg

Sent from my XQ-BT52 using Tapatalk

 

Here's my footage of 35005 Canadian Pacific returning to steam on the Mid Hants Railway and powering over the Hampshire Alps. Massive praise goes to the Mid Hants Railway volunteers for restoring Canadian Pacific to full working order and hope the locomotive can continue to impress. I hope you enjoy the video.

 

A couple of images from Saturdays first round trip:






Richard

 

My video of the double Bulleid action from Friday and Sunday. Great to see Can Pac back in steam and nice to be able to catch a few more shots of 257 before she moved south. I hope you enjoy the video