Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

As far as I know (which isn’t very far) it is coming by rail, I don’t know when though before anyone asks.

 

Yes, looks like a big area of filler where just a small section has fallen out. So, do you remove the whole big lump and start again, or just patch the hole?

 

No, you would, if your not just bodging it, take it back to bare metal, do a proper repair, cut out corroded platework, red lead, primer, and a skim of filler, then paint,

 

Out of ignorance I ask; is the damage filler in steel or in fibreglass?
Pat

 

These are essentially monocoque bodies, aren't they? So how much is it possible to cut out rusted sections and repair them before affecting the strength of the monocoque? Wasn't one of the arguments against Mk 2s that they were very difficult to repair?

 

Some of the FGW 150's look to have had new end roof caps fitted in recent overhauls as noted in this image by Rich Martian Browne of a newly outshopped 150219 at Exeter St David's and go down the front sides to the affected areas. It appears they are riveted and mastic sealed over the top of the bodywork.

 

30506 is back in service today

 

Saw 30506 running today, so all is right with the world!
I believe that it has run nearly 39,000 miles since returning to traffic in June 2019. By comparison my car, which was new in September 2019, has done just over 33,000. Not bad for 105-year old kit.
Pat

 

You really should buy a newer car Pat. (Though I'll give you, at 105 years you don't need tax or an MOT for it)

 

I always thought offered why you took so long getting to Ropley Pat

 

It's the man with the red flag walking in front, that holds him up

 

It's been a funny old few weeks atop the yard........

For the first two, there really wasn't anybody around for a multitude of reasons, so trying to form a working party was pretty pointless!

However, Me Oppo has been up for the last two weeks along with some of the lads, Muggin's 'Ere is currently confined to barracks for reasons I won't go into. & it's currently all hands on deck to try and get LMS van M517317 as near as damn it finished/looking presentable in the next few weeks before it has a 'starring' role in the ASG!

It won't be in the freight rake, but it will be down at Alresford........ I'm not, at this point going to say why, but you'll no doubt find out soon enough.....

Sooooo....... having had several chats with me Oppo about exactly what can get done in the next few weeks, volunteers depending, and that's always the unknown factor, making it look as good as it can be is the priority, so it's been out with the paint brushes, getting it into a uniform undercoat, and yesterday into first gloss all round.

There's still plenty to do, and when it does make it's way down to Alresford, it won't be quite the finished article, but we're going to do our damnedest to get it there or there abouts!

So, a pic, not mine from yesterday.

 

Rather than spending a Bank holiday Monday at home we decided to pay a visit to see 30506 back in action after her boiler repairs and sporting her new BR livery.
The start of our journey did not go well as we got stuck in a major traffic jam at Farnham. A car had broken down in the fast lane of the bypass.
We arrived at Alresford a little later than planned so we missed 30506's first departure from there. With the Class 47 on the next departure we decided to wait for 13.45 service with the S15.
Time for lunch in the West Country buffet. We enjoyed some delicious sausage baps and chips. We finished just in time to board the 13.45 service with 30506.
After Ropley we enjoyed some lively running even though the lineside was still pretty dry. Thankfully rain is on the way this week.
The return from Alton was also very good. It was great to hear the S15 forging her way over the Alps again.
Well done to all involved with returning 30506 back to service. The paint job is also first class.

Below are a few shots from a very hot but enjoyable Bank holiday Monday.







Sent from my XQ-BT52 using Tapatalk

 

Oh, I've somehow missed the return of 30506 to service.

I had been working on the basis of the line mainly being diesel operated (shuttle still steam) due to fire risk.

Has the return to steam operation gone ok please, re fire risk?

Our forecast rain in mid Kent has so far resulted in something for 5 minutes yesterday that didn't even count as a very light drizzle!

Bryan

 

I see 34059 is being let out to go to the Mid Hants Autumn Gala in October. I'm not sure I've ever photted a rebuilt Light Pacific there.

Bryan

 

No images of Bodmin Bryan?

 

Thanks. I thought I may have missed an obvious one. Yes, I have photted Bodmin there.

Bryan

 

Braunton? Sir Keith Park?

 

Double Bulleids by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

 

Neither of those two at the Mid-Hants. I had a long gap away from much of my steam loco photography studying and then writing and pubishing my book on Short-eared Owls in Britain.

Bryan