MHR steam galas March & Sept 2009

Manston is still at Eastleigh, having been 'sorted mechanically' by SR fitters and staff. Awaiting movement back to SR.

Apologies for going OT.

 

whilst you may have been able to carry out the necessary repairs at eastleigh, running around the works at low speed isnt as sure a way to know 100 per cent its correct as running at 25mph with the dead weight of a train in tow, to my way of thinking, it would have more sence to have either returned the engine by road to swanage, or brought it the short distance and made use of the facilities at ropley, and then returned it by rail, in the knowledge that it was going to run with out problem for the foreseable future

 

Why would running on MHR prove anything different to running at Swanage?

(The photographers would like it, I suppose)

 

it not so much about what different railways can offer, i just think that it would have made more sence to put the engine where it could be tested,with a decent run, after all running up and down a siding isnt the same as running in service for a day to proove the repair , yes you could have done that just as well at swanage, what concerns me is you are going to possibly now run the engine at whats the speed 45mph for a light steam move after only testing it at a lower speed and as the MHR is mainline connected it to me should have been a either send it back by road and repair it at swanage, or to have once repaired had it brought to the MHR, and earnt some money and if there was any other areas that need attension, the facilities are there and im sure that in due course a MHR engine would make an appearance on SR metals

 

Why would Manston need to go to MHR to earn money?

 

How is it going to get from eastleigh to the Mid Hants? If by rail, the same distance would see it well on the way back to Swanage! Once it gets back to Swanage, unlerss I'm mistaken, the length of the Swanage branch isn't too different to the Mid Hants, so where is the advantage?

 

I think you will find that the Mid-Hants has a higher running speed than than the Swanage unless i am mistaken.

Regards
Chris

 

I always thought swanage was 25mph as well ? .....

 

Swanage is 25mph line speed.

 

I always thought swanage was 25mph as well ? .....[/quote:3bbxi2tw]

The Mid-Hants can run up tp 40mph.

CW

 

I always thought swanage was 25mph as well ? .....[/quote:3e1fatty]

The Mid-Hants can run up tp 40mph.

CW[/quote:3e1fatty]

Thats good, but I presume thats just for light engines / freight / ECS etc and without passengers. Still it would be good for Manston to go there for the 40mph testing.

 

I always thought swanage was 25mph as well ? .....[/quote:2k2347sk]

The Mid-Hants can run up tp 40mph.

CW[/quote:2k2347sk]

That's news to me Chris.

 

The Mid-Hants can run up tp 40mph.

CW[/quote:vx769wq0]

That's news to me Chris.[/quote:vx769wq0]

So Frank Twine informs me the p/way has been brought up that standard, whether it has permission to do so is another story.

Regards
Chris

 

The Mid-Hants can run up tp 40mph.

CW[/quote:qyd2e02t]

That's news to me Chris.[/quote:qyd2e02t]

So Frank Twine informs me the p/way has been brought up that standard, whether it has permission to do so is another story.

Regards
Chris[/quote:qyd2e02t]

I thought there was an issue with inspections if a railway runs at more than 25mph. That is safety inspections are free for railways that run under a light railway order which limits speeds to 25mph, but if the railway does more than 25 then the inspections cost. I would imagine that having the track in a condition where 45mph could be run safely would be better for the stock and passengers though. Well done MHR!

Regards

 

The Mid-Hants can run up tp 40mph.

CW[/quote:u42vsv2s]

Thats good, but I presume thats just for light engines / freight / ECS etc and without passengers. Still it would be good for Manston to go there for the 40mph testing.[/quote:u42vsv2s]

Well , ive never been above 25 ( well we once done 25.4mph )

But no seriously . our track is up to a good standard but as for being aloud to run at 40mph , ( please correct me if im wrong)i dont think the signaling is up to standard for 40mph?

 

:-$ [-X [-(

 

Not yet Mitch, that is correct.

Which is why the crimson CCT is at Alton as a mobile workshop while the S&T are working on the signalling upgrade.

Regards
Chris

 

I can’t see the point in running above 25mph you just get to your destination sooner? Far better to sit back and enjoy the scenery. I maybe wrong but the faster you go the more coal and water will be consumed which will increase the running costs and also eat in to your profit margins? But like I say I maybe wrong about the increase in fuel consumption.

 

I'm happy to be corrected as I don’t think I’m understanding this all....

As far as I personally was aware (and I know that I could be wrong) The signalling at Alton is being upgraded so that we can use Alton as a signalled station and not a stop and proceed at caution type of signalling station ...In the sense of you need to get the signal into Alton station, you need signals to run around and you need the starter clear to proceed back onto the Alton / Four Marks section.

I didn’t think that any part of the MHR sections ( again , talking personally and not completely sure) was being upgraded to be able to maybe one day run at 40MPH.

Also 73129, I would have assumed that as well as you’re using more steam and effectively more steam = more water = more cold water to heat etc...Although like you, I may be wrong.

 

I was also told that once you start running above 25mph you no longer come under the light railway order and you are required to come in line with main line running health and safety procedures like chain link fencing to keep trespassers out and central door locking on coaching stock? And this could become very expensive with little gain for the railway.