MHR steam galas March & Sept 2009

You may find it won't be aired on the website until nearer the time....

 

Even so it looks like we've got a superb gala to look forward to in September.

 

The official line up will be provided in due course. As with all things, this may not happen as soon as some would like as things do and most likely, will change. Rest assured, we are working to make this a great line up and another great event.

Regards

Tim Beere
Marketing Manager
The Mid Hants Railway 'Watercress Line'

 

As promised, here is the official lineup for our Autumn Steam Gala:

'Braunton'
Super D
9F 92212 (scheduled to return to traffic)
'Wadebridge'
'Bittern'
'Lord Nelson'
5224 ex GWR 2-8-0 Tank

Static Displays:
'Canadian Pacific'
'Bodmin'
'Swanage'
Standard 5
Ivatt Tank

We will be running a number of different combo’s during the event, the 9F with ‘Wadebridge’ and or ‘Braunton’ double heading the ‘Pines Express’ will be one of them. Representation from the big 4, will be a great event!

We will also plan to stage a photo opportunity at Ropley with all the Bullieds, should be quite a sight.

You will also be able to see the progress to date of our Black 5, the Boiler being united with its Frame today at Ropley.

Line up subject to the usual availability clause.

We look forward to seeing you 11 - 13 September

Thanks

Tim Beere
Marketing Manager
The Mid Hants Railway 'Watercress Line'

 

Nice line up Tim, looking forward to it.

Regards
Chris

 

I take it that the LNWR super D came under LMS ownership during the big 4 grouping.............if so then it is a better big 4 line up than last year.............

 

Thats a great line up. Nice to see there will also be a photo event with the Bulleids.

 

Wow an impressive line-up, well chuffed about the Super D as I've visited the NYMR 3 times in the last couple of years hoping it would be in steam and it never was and has been stuck at the back of the loco shed so finally I can get some good photos of it. =D> Are there any plans to run the Super D with the BR wagons at the gala?

 

Just all i beg from you Tim is that the trains run for more then a few hours ..9:00 start and possibly 18:00 - 19:00 finishs atleast on the weekend ?

 

So the plan to swap Bittern for Manston has been dropped? - or was this never a plan and just a rumour in Stem Railway?

I would agree with earlier comments - an impressive line-up. I've never seen the Super D in steam, so hope I can get over.

 

A shame that 34070 is now not coming to the gala. Let's hope that the service trains start a bit earlier and finish a bit later at this event

 

I hope the comments from the Diesel Gala will be taken on board.

And that it runs to time.

This proves that a gala can be run correctly.

 

I too would like to endorse the idea of later/earlier running.

After all the Severn Valley run throughout the night at their Autumn Steam Gala!.

Now im not suggesting that the MHR are that adventurous, however perhaps a 7-8 pm finish on the Friday/Saturday and a 6/6:30 pm finish on the Sunday would be appealing. I fully understand that volunteers will be wanting to go home earlier on the Sunday.

 

A shame there is no RAT out that weekend? Maybe Tim will read this post and find out the possibility of running an extra RAT. This could make good commercial sense if people are going to stay over for the weekend? :smt044

 

Maybe its time we make a sensible list of possible things that would attract people to the gala and send it to Tim ,,,,Even if he can sort one of the things out . Still shows his doing his best to listern to what others want .

 

I'd quite happily work on later on a gala and given the chance would love to drive through the night (I'm used to night shifts anyway!) I agree we definately stop running too early.

 

So long as the train is kept open for customers of the Gala and not booked up beforehand, it's a good idea.

 

i agree wholeheartedly with Lee, Mitch and the others about another RAT and staying open later if people are staying overnight, it would be nice to put faces to some of the names on this forum.

Well done chaps that is thinking on ones feet and I for one would be delighted to help out in any way I can.

Tim Beere?, over to you Sir.

Best Regards
Chris

 

Same here , unless something important turns up , im quite happy to help all 3 days of the gala.

Im sure we can all agree that everything on our "wish list" or what will grow into quite a long list wont all be do-able / cost effective or what ever reason But even if just one or two of the ideas on here are put forward and used i think it can only be good for the MHR getting differant things put into the gala and also to show that the paying public are being listerned to.

Just gotta find a way of keeping the linesiders happy now ...Maybe have a vauge timetable on the website for all passanger workings only ....but in a small cheap booklet , have any ECS movments , frieght workings and all passanger service with engine allocations ( all to the normal subject to avaliblity ) Along with which way each engine will face in a small table of some sorts?

So another one for the list of things that might be worth looking into maybe?

 

I think the line-up is cracking and a good start, I think earlier start and later running would be the things that I'd agree with most, again as a member of the footplate crew I wouldn't mind working later. Even if you ran three evening service trains you'd still only need 3 crews, possibly 4? and that wouldn't take up much more resources than a RAT train or belle out. Also if you had the night watchmen having the locos ready for the crews in the morning, the crews could turn up a bit later and then be able to work longer throughout the day.

I think everyone would be willing to run later/start earlier however it was worked out, I know that all the guys in Ropley shed I've spoken to are keen to do night running and make the galas more adventurous...