MHR Goods Weekend 16/17 January 2010

Have you checked the website?

Regards
Chris

 

Yes, as of 30 seconds ago it still said one steam one DMU.

 

Good choice of weekend as I think it only clashes with Churney Valley and I can make the Saturday!

The next weekend wouldn't have been good as it is the big freight weekend in Germany - any of the steam freight fans on here going? Two thousand tonne coal trains working pit to power station with two 2-10-0s will be something very special and has the makings of the steam event of 2010.

Cheers,

 

OK I will pass this on to Ralph Chadkirk as it should be on the website by now.

Regards
Chris

 

Hi all


There does seem to be some confusion over what's happening. I'm trying to find out ASAP, as I myself am meant to be there on Sunday! Will get back to you all.

 

Right, have checked.

We will be running Service 1, with one steam and one DMMU.

However, there is a different timetable as all trains will cross at Ropley.

http://www.watercressline.co.uk/mhralp/files/16_17_Jan_Replacement.pdf

 

What steam locos are rostered for tomorrow and Sunday?

 

9F was in steam at Ropley earlier, so that'd be my bet.

 

Thanks Matt.

 

Well if the weather continues like this, it should be a cracking weekend.

A little snippet of information for you, I have just completed some "Elf and Safety proof" step into the PMV that we use as a workshop so that on the yard tours I will be able to show you around it.

Regards
Chris

 

I saw yesterday that track has been laid into the new C&W works at Ropley. The reason I understand is get at least one perhaps two wagons on display inside for the Freight weekend and for the grand opening ceremony in mid February.

Because of the time of year when the weather is so unpredictable, I think the idea is to have a items of interest undercover along with the modelling displays at Alresford .

So far everything else looks good including the yard tours.

Regards
Chris

 

Hi folks:

A major update to the freight weekend is as follows,

Due to the freezing weather and W S Atkins testing the new signaling much has been delayed and altered for this coming weekend, however it is still going ahead as follows:-

1, As the USA tank is at Cheddleton there is no Freight shuttle or Brake Van rides from Alresford to Ropley, however they are going to run as big a Freight train as they can behind the 9F on the three round trips a each day.

2, As the Alresford Goods shed was double booked for a commercial event this weekend, the model Railways will now be held at the down waiting room and the upside booking hall at Medstead and Four Marks Station. Yard tours are still going ahead and refreshments will be available at Medstead, although Henry,s slide show will not be available due to an earlier commitment.

3, The Thorneycroft vintage vehicle display is also still on at Alreford car park, the WTT remains the same as before, and i understand that our restored coal wagon and possibly one other may be on display in the new C&W shed at Ropley although nobody knows for certain until the shunting is completed later this week

My apologies for these alterations folks at such short notice, but I did feel that if only as a common courtesy I should let you know for as you are proberbly aware the railway has just lost it,s Marketing Manager.

This is a first for us and please lets not forget that last year we did not have such an event on the Railway. Assuming the weekend is a success, we can build on this for a bigger and better one for 2011.

Best Regards
Chris:

 

Good news about the 9F on all three freights..will start negotiating a pass!

 

Thanks for the update Chris . Shame the 9f couldnt alternate with the 42xx as that at least is facing the right way for more photographs .However Mustnt Grumble !!.
Lets hope the weather holds up and people turn up to support the event . Maybe time for a one day photos pass to obtain more revenue from photographers so the event doesnt
fall foul of a lack of income .But having broached this last year it fell on deaf ears.
For those that might attend be warned that the farmer in the sheep field on Medstead Bank may well be in attendance to keep people off his land and unless you
have a MHR pts or permit the line side is also out of bounds .Sorry David

 

David,

Thanks for the warning and your efforts to make the Mid Hants see sense on lineside permits. As shots of the 9F may well be limited with no access to the fields and the lineside limited to the lucky few might give it a miss.

Compare and contrast with the following weekend with 2,300t steam hauled freights on Europe's biggest and most successful mainline railway where lineside and countryside access will be available to all....sometimes I wonder where we went wrong in this country...

Cheers,

 

I agree on the lineside issue but if a farmer doesn't want you in his sheep field and it isn't on a public right of way then you have no right to be there. It is his land he can do with it what he wants

 

Yes I do agree David, it's a shame the Mid-Hants doesn't take a leaf out of the Bluebell's book. They've stopped lineside passes and brought in PTS, which ok yes is disappointing, but at least they are offering us photters a chance to obtain these PTS passes by running courses. My Dad and I are booked on the 13 March PTS course as our linesinde permits don't expire until the end of February and I gather the 6th February course is fully booked. Whilst I do agree with some points about the inconvenience that the Bluebell have stopped issuing lineside permits they're still giving the photographer a chance to carry on with lineside photography with these courses.

 

Well theres the problem with the Bluebell for me !! I have an MHR pts and WSR am a formerMid Hants and BR Driver safety trackside on AC and DC lines and had a Bluebell pass . But Im not driving for 4 hours just to take a pts course on the Bluebell . I work every other Saturday and have very limited time . I will now have to take my chances ... Not the right attitude I know but I used to pay for my permit there and now cant .. shame,

 

Didn't realise I said otherwise.......although it is a shame we haven't got the right to roam in this country like some of more civilised European neighbours!

 

Well Dave you can blame the photographers for trespassing on the Branch line weekend a few years back. Walking threw the cutting near Alresford with a train coming towards you isn't very clever.