Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

There’s a decent picture of yours I think of 506 on 6 Bullied coaches there too?

 

We visited the railway today to have a look at the Railway 200 Inspiration train. Very impressive exhibits and displays on the train. We were just glad we made it in time for our booked viewing slot after being stuck in a horrendous traffic jam in the Farnham area on the way down. The Farnham bypass was closed to a single lane for tree cutting and the queue was the worst we have ever been stuck in along that route.
Eventually arriving at Alresford after 13.00 we found the 13.00 service still in the platform as the services had been delayed since the beginning of the day (not sure what caused the problems). So we were able to catch the heavily delayed service with 35005 up to Ropley to visit the Railway 200 train in platform 1. After visiting the Inspiration train we headed to Ropley station shop to snap up three of the Sprinter mugs. Very good quality mugs.
It was great to see 41312 in her new livery. We had hoped for a ride behind the Ivatt Tank but we didn't get time. We finished the day with a round trip behind CanPac in the warmth of the steam heated carriages as it was a bitterly cold day.
The return run from Alton was spirited from Butts Junction as 35005 left a smokescreen behind as she was opened up in some style.
Thank you to everyone involved for a very good day.
A few low res shots of the motive power variety today captured at Ropley:










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506 at Wander's Curve by Stephen Morley, on Flickr
Weather not great though!

 

True, but the noise!!

 

I got stuck in the same holdup on the Farnham Bypass, which was made worse by diverted traffic from the A3 which was closed southbound by a crash near Liphook.

 

The introduction of the Sprinter Dmu to operations had caught my eye and spurred me on to organise a half term trip to the Mid Hants with some of my grandchildren. We had such a fantastic time that a return visit was organised for the next day with 2 further grandchildren in tow. We loved the chance to see and ride on the steam and the diesel services. The kids loved the entertainment and I must say the MHR staff/volunteers were SO welcoming, patient and kind. I really hope the line has done really well financially out of the week!

 

Pacer? I thought the MHR had got itself a Class 150 Sprinter

 

It is a Sprinter, not a Pacer...

 

They will (mostly) MU together, so …

 

A quiet day atop the hill yesterday both in terms of the weather and those who gathered!

Truth be told, we're eking out things at the mo. yes we need to sort the workshop PMV out, BUT, you can't paint outside in the current conditions, as you'll only be inviting more trouble down the line, so it was a case of more 'gentle' scrapping on the chassis, along with a few more wagon exams, along with having another bonfire, thanks to some bright spark suggesting it would be a good idea to trim what's left of the old floor boards, so that what we are walking on is sound...... could we find the buzz saw?..... nope!

So, it was decided to set to with a jigsaw, which wasn't liking it, and then threw a hissy fit & spat the blade out, which flatly refused to locate back in the jaw, so eventually the buzz saw was found and employed - job done!

Oh, and @21B the noise from 506 on the Bulleid charter could be rated as 8 or 9/10........ however, the noise from 30925 when you took over, down at Arleside was definitely something else, never has a gallery just stood there & gone WTF!!! So, I think we rated your efforts somewhere around 13/10 as the runs just got better.

As for run pasts at Wanders as the sun went down.........

Some pics of yesterdays happenings......

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55108895787/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55108896647/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55110043399/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55109782966/in/dateposted-public/

 

Enjoyable day at the Mid Hants today, even if the sun did mostly hide it’s face at crucial moments. The Ivatt 2 looks good with its new branding.

 

Yes very smart. We made it there on Saturday and enjoyed a storming climb out of Alton on the 1200 train behind 35005. Once clear of Butts Junction speed rose all the way up to MP 53. Had a break at Ropley and then a run behind 41312. There was a film crew there one of whom fixed a camera to the front of 35005 on the 1300 train. Great to see 35005 again and remember its record breaking runs though the driver said he would not be doing 105 mph!

 

Film crew there on Sunday too. Reading University students so I was told.