Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

Are they not the same TOC? They show on RTT with the code of SO but I think Railadventure is now the TOC

 

I don't think RTT knows about steam locos, so it always says Diesel haulage - I think FS usually goes round under it's own steam.

 

They are, RA took over SLC Operations in 2022.

 

It is diesel hauled on this occasion as the Diesel is returning to base on Sunday morning:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R35104/2026-03-08/detailed

 

It wasn't a TSC that I recognised so I started searching. ( My former work records are years out of date.)



This what Live Rail Record came up with -



It did puzzle me why a development planning company would have a Train Service Code because as far as I knew they project managed and used specialists for activities like train and on track machine movements.
From an inside source I have heard that both workings are operated by Rail Adventure with a pair of HST power cars.

Train service codes are a bit of a minefield, one digit wrong and costs can and do go to the wrong company with all the problems which follow.

It just proves that it helps to look at headlines as well as the detailed schedule details.
It seems that 5944 has the definitive answer and no one cleared up the database of TSC codes!

Cheers, Neil

 

Not on recent moves, not sure if any of the moves since it changed away from Riley care have been without diesel, there may have been one or two, not a loco that I follow closely.

 

Excellent news from the Heritage Railway Association Awards last night.
CanPac won the Steam Locomotive Award!
Well done to everyone involved with her overhaul

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Very well deserved. The team did a brilliant job on her. I look forward to seeing the next loco out of Ropley workshops. Likely Wadebridge I expect.

 

Hmmm.......

Mother Nature did a complete 180 atop the hill yesterday....... having been baked by a strange ball in the sky for most of the week, she took it away yesterday - it was cold, damp & above all foggy and cold!

That meant plan A went straight out of the window on our efforts to pull the workshop PMV back from the dead..... So a plan was formed on the hoof over breakfast.

Two were in charge of angle grinders removing corroded steel from the outer frame, that was until one gave up the ghost!

The rest of us decided to try and remove the noggins on the lower central sections of the frame...... they're either swollen or cut over length - they're supposed to be hardwood, but I have my doubts, as they were proving stubborn to remove, and it doesn't help when there are what is left of bent bolts preventing any movement!

With the lads now knowing what they were doing, Muggin's 'Ere & Me Mucker decided it would be a good idea to work out just how many sheets of ply we're going to need to re-clad the PMV..... lets just say there was a lot of measuring and remeasuring inside and out, never mind working out what was wood and what what was steel and then having to measure again....... let's just say that by the end of the day our collective brain cells hurt - it's a miracle that they were actually working on a Saturday!!

It was good to see trains running again, and well loaded - the Sprinter seemed popular & @21B I think I saw you at the controls?...... it's going to take some getting used to!

With 506 on the other diagram, normality was restored & @Steamage it was good to see you again and chat, especially about a certain 4-6-2!

Some pics from yesterday......

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55135618866/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55135852834/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55134732637/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55135804078/in/dateposted-public/

 

Not I on this occasion.

 

Ivatt Banker today

 

I visited with my Dad and Sister yesterday for a ride behind 60103 Flying Scotsman. The day was great from start to finish. It was clear that a lot of meticulous planning and organisation had gone into staging this event which went like clockwork.
We had our first ride behind the new member of the fleet, the Sprinter unit, on the shuttle service from Ropley to Alresford. It was certainly earning it's keep yesterday with a very frequent shuttle service in operation.
Our trip behind the A3 was excellent as we were allocated seats in the first carriage behind the loco. It was wonderful to listen to Scotsman working really hard over the steep gradients. She sounds to be in fine fettle. You don't often get to hear Scotsman working hard these days. The return journey from Alton was just as good with 41312 putting in a sterling effort hauling a heavy load with 60103 providing powerful banking assistance.
We had great food from the West Country buffet before our trip (14.25 from Alresford) and picked up a few Scotsman souvenirs from the shops afterwards.
We ended the day at Ropley watching the mighty Ivatt Tank power through with the return leg of the final trip of the day at sunset with 60103 coasting on the rear. I will try and upload my video later. The sound from 41312 was superb.

Thank you to everyone involved for a really superb day. All of the staff and volunteers should be really proud of what has been achieved with this impressive event. Everyone was very kind and helpful and there was a fantastic atmosphere around the whole railway. I am very proud to be a member of this great Railway.







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Here is my brief video of 41312 powering through Ropley yesterday evening with the final Scotsman service of the day:


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Here is my video of 60103 Flying Scotsman running along the Mid Hants Railway, on the 14th and 15th March 2026, enjoy

 

An excellent weekend spent filming the A3 along the line, great to see it visit again. Conditions on Saturday were superb with the sun out all day!
Big thanks to all the volunteers and staff involved for making these scenes possible in the first place:

 

There was no working party atop the hill yesterday, as Muggin's 'Ere found himself on lineside patrol duties along with @Hampshire Unit - some serious ballast yomping was done & we'd already done the two evening Nikon Shoots - helping those who'd paid to be there - it was good fun if tiring! Me Oppo was otherwise engaged at home & Me Mucker fancied a lie in, so it stuffed up the lads who wanted to work - for that read, watch 60103 coming & going!

Some pics from the Nikon Shoots......

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55141764981/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55142154645/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55141787931/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55140872462/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55141940013/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55145561656/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55145941045/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55145563441/in/dateposted-public/

Some from the running day.....

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55147824387/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55148724356/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55148952909/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55148881873/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55148882833/in/dateposted-public/

 

Great sound. No lit tail lamp on Scotsman?

 

I was also there on Saturday. A really well run event, everything seemed to fit together without friction or delays, even when all three operating services were somewhere within Alresford station limits. I was slightly curious about what was up with CanPac, which went from sitting in the yard, to what seemed to be an early afternoon short shakedown run up towards Medstead, to a period sitting at the Ropley Down Starter, and back to the yard. In its place the S15 was providing its usual sterling unfussy service on the Alton feeder service.

I have seen some comments about the "round trip behind Flying Scotsman" being half behind the Ivatt, but from the other people around us on the train I really don't think that was of much significance to many of them, and it certainly seemed well-filled. We were on an early departure, which left a lot of the day free to wander around Ropley, see what was going on, and watch what turned into a near-constant stream of train movements. The signallers at Ropley and Alresford were certainly kept busy.

The main event, Flying Scotsman was beauitifully turned out, although from the second coach the customary quiet Kylchap meant it seemed rather subdued, but there's no other draw like it for getting the public in.

 

We are hopefully visiting again tomorrow to have a better look around the Railway as we didn't get time at the weekend. Will the stalls for 75079 & 80150 in the marquee at Ropley be open tommorrow as they were packed up by the time we got back from our trip with Scotsman on Saturday.

 

Yes, the 80150 and 75079 stalls will be open in the marquee from about 10.15am until 5pm this Friday and Saturday.