Mid Hants Parry People Mover

Well heres an odd but interesting bit of news from the Alton Line users http://www.altonlineusers.com/news.php .
Shame its not 1125 earning some keep, it will be interesting to see how it manages.

 

It's a good idea but I'm surprised it's not operating from Alresford and I think the price will put an awful lot of people off. Utilisation of the line outside of normal heritage services can be nothing but good and I hope it succeeds.

 

At £5 adult return, the ticket price may appear expensive but if the alternative is parking your car at Alton station (£6 per day) it appears a bit cheaper! (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/aon/details.html)

Regards
Simon

 

i also cant understand why it isnt working from Alresford as there would be a fair few commutors who would pay £5 rather than pay £6 to park for the day? or is it that the users group only cover as far as Medstead? the staff would have to be MHR anyway, so would know the road and as the flywheel and regenerative braking would provide much of the power shouldnt be expensive to run over the full line, the boxes could be locked out so you would only need the box at Alresford open
The parry units should be able to cope with the 1 in 60 ok as stourbridge is that in places

 

If i remember correctly one of the key problems with the Parry units is that the flywheel and small engine philosophy simply isnt suited to climbing long gradients, which is presumably why the trial doesnt go any further than M4M - the long climb from New Alresford to the summit would not be kind on the small engine. It'll be interesting to see if reliability has improved with experience, it'll only take one or two failures for anyone using it to melt away.

Chris

 

be a good reason to get out the 2h

 

The reason why the unit is only working from Medstead & Four Marks is because the Parry unit needs to connect with the main line trains. Running the unit from Alesford would need two Parry units to cover the extra mileage to allow passengers to join the South west trains at Alton without a lengthily wait. There is also a free car park in station road at Medstead & Four Marks.

 

Parking in Alresford is also a big issue as there isnt the space for commuters to park at Alresford as that is full during the week anyway.I would also note if for any reason the Parry was not avaliable it would be replaced by a Dmmu not the 2H I presume.
If it brings the MHR revenue and people are willing to spend another 45 minutes away from home and cars it may work . Lets hope so .

 

While the Parry People Mover has a much lower engine power than most DMUs, it's also much lighter (12 tonnes empty, about 16 loaded, 69hp continuous at engine shaft), giving a theoretical sustained (i.e. not using the flywheel) speed of around 30mph up a 1 in 60. The reason for only going to M&4M may be that that is as far as one car has time to go while connecting with SWT's 30min service frequency at Alton.

 

I hope this works, I really do but somehow I have my doubts. Medstead & Four Marks signal box will have to be manned every day this operates and the station will have to be opened. Alton will also need to be opened as the MHR side is normally locked up.

I doubt they could maintain a service to connect with all the trains they wish to 5 between 06.44 and 08.44. Timings would be very tight indeed.

While the overall gradient is 1 in 60, one part is as steep as 1 in 45. The last part of the gradient is in a cutting where rail conditions are notoriously poor.

On street parking is to be controlled. There will be parking at an unused industrial unit which is fine for a four week trial but would be no use in the long run.

A Parkway station between Alton and Medstead & Four Marks would be a much better solution.

I really hope I am wrong.

 

Any pictures available of our little Peoples Mover.You know what they say...a picture can tell a whole story.
Im reading a lot,but no pics to back up the text.

 

They have run through autumn at Stourbridge (a fairly tree-lined route), but I don't know how punctual they were doing so.

At Heaton Park Tramway, we run similarly light vehicles on a 1 in ~20 and manage to stay open in autumn, but with frequent wheelspin, and a Parry's lack of tread brakes may make it even more susceptible.

Manufacturer's photos

The Stourbridge ones can couple to each other, but don't look compatible with normal locos.

 

Pray tell us, where exactly is the section of 1 in 45 and how long is it? I've walked the track from Alton to Medstead but did not notice anything steeper than the usually quoted 1 in 60.

 

There is lots of inaccurate information in the post you have quoted.

 

I help lay track from Alton to Meadstead.I cant recall the line being 1 in 45 ?

 

Unless the PPM has advanced considerably over the unit demonstrated on the Welshpool and Llanfair some years ago, I would regard it as an exercise in wishful thing as far as steeply graded lines are concerned.

P.H.

 

How much cheaper to operate is a PPM versus say an 08/20 and 2 coaches or a DMU ?

Fuel economy may be better, but purchase costs and maintenace of a new PPM vs using existing preserved stock onsite ?

I guess i'm trying to understand, what problem the PPM is trying to solve, if there was an existing demand wouldnt the MHR already have exploited several years ago using their own stock (or has something changed in the locality neccessitating a new service, or is it speculation of demand for a new service, that existing stock would make unfeasible ?)

 

I should have typed "exercise in wishful 'thinking' of course! Blame this on a second glass of Chateau d'Hugues with lunch.

P.H.

 

It seems the first trials have started, unfortunately including an opportunity to use their PPM-loco adapter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voB1hHRA38w

 

What was the reason of the failure can anyone report ?