MHR Spring gala 25-27 March 2011 City Of Truro 3440 & Earl Of Berkley 9017

Re: MHR Spring gala 25-27 March 2011 City Of Truto 3440 & Earl Of Berkley 9017

Very disappointed that 6024 won't be coming. Did have a gut feeling though that the gauging would cause problems as they have been doing a lot of track work recently between Aldershot and Farnham. It was a very tight squeeze for 6024 last time she came down (2002 IIRC). Lets hope the gauging doesn't affect other loco's coming in by the ML link in the future. Still should be a great gala. Looking forward to seeing and hearing 31806 in action and seeing the Earl stretching his/her legs.

 

Re: MHR Spring gala 25-27 March 2011 City Of Truto 3440 & Earl Of Berkley 9017

Reading the MHR web site 850 will be running and I saw her last weekend being moved around Ropley yard.

 

Re: MHR Spring gala 25-27 March 2011 City Of Truto 3440 & Earl Of Berkley 9017

The Mid-Hants web site states the following:

That is not the same as being out of gauge, or is it?

Full story here - http://www.watercressline.co.uk/News/Latest/View/451

 

Re: MHR Spring gala 25-27 March 2011 City Of Truto 3440 & Earl Of Berkley 9017

Yes it went to Alresford an back today

 

Re: MHR Spring gala 25-27 March 2011 City Of Truto 3440 & Earl Of Berkley 9017

I think notworkfail have let the Mid Hants railway down badly. If they keep changing the gauging then this could be viewed as trying to dodge the requirements of open access by stealth.

I will still be attending to show solidarity with the MHR and I am sure they will still put on an outstanding Gala.

I am just sick and tired of bodies the Public own setting out to do what they want not what we, the real owners, require of them, and yet the powers that be all sit on their hands (which ever Political Partie(s) are in power) while organisations such as NR, The publicly owned Banks etc.etc. pursue their own agenda's against the public interest. Rant over!

 

Re: MHR Spring gala 25-27 March 2011 City Of Truto 3440 & Earl Of Berkley 9017

:confused1:

 

Re: MHR Spring gala 25-27 March 2011 City Of Truto 3440 & Earl Of Berkley 9017

I too shall be showing my support with my attendance.

I just feel so gutted for the staff at the MHR who have had their aspirations dashed against the rocks by notwork rail, who must have known about the proposed movement months in advance and could have said something then instead of waiting 'till the last minute.

How to disappoint a lot of people in one fell swoop! - I know a lot of people were looking forward to the event, I just hope that the absence of the King doesnt deter people from attending.

Hopefully the MHR can pull something out of the bag as a replacement - hey if we cant have the King, maybe we could have a Castle, if not a Hall.

Even if they cannot secure a replacement, I am still looking forward to it, it'll be nice to see the U - Boat in action alongside the Duke & Truro. (fingers crossed it doesnt rain!)

 

Re: MHR Spring gala 25-27 March 2011 City Of Truto 3440 & Earl Of Berkley 9017

Paths aren't always down to Network Rail. Certain operators have rights to paths before others. A few years ago DBS wouldn't allow WCRC a path to run a railtour in Scotland over a freight only line so the tour was cancelled. It's not necessarily Network Rail's fault....

 

Re: MHR Spring gala 25-27 March 2011 City Of Truto 3440 & Earl Of Berkley 9017

Deleted, duplicate post

 

Re: MHR Spring gala 25-27 March 2011 City Of Truto 3440 & Earl Of Berkley 9017

Not a likely scenario in this case though. Having been involved in main line steam since 1982 I can assure you that 99.9% of the pathing and gauging cock ups in recent years have been down to NR. As this issue seems to relate to gauging after re-ballasting (and I did not get the information from what has been posted on here)it rests solely at notworkfail's door. Just like when their cock up @ Battersby cut the NYMR off a few years ago!

From the quality of the current batch of NR staff that I have had to deal with I would not trust them to maintain and operate the layouts at the Hornby Visitors Centre let alone the real railway with passengers lives in their hands!

 

Re: MHR Spring gala 25-27 March 2011 City Of Truto 3440 & Earl Of Berkley 9017

I agree, it's a disgrace. This has been known about and promoted for so many months. NR have let many many people down. It's not just the gala, MHR have worked really hard on the King for a Day driving experience too, and pricing for private hire charters. I just can't believe there's no way the could have got it to Alton with the will to do it.

 

Re: MHR Spring gala 25-27 March 2011 City Of Truto 3440 & Earl Of Berkley 9017

Regarding the use of the word "pathing" on the MHR website - I suspect we have to make a few allowances for the fact that Tim B, fine marketing and publicity chap though he is, is not skilled in all the ways of the operating departments, and probably doesn't realise the subtle distinctions between technical terms such as "gauging" and "pathing".

If the issue with Spud 1 is clearances (rather than axle weight) then you probably won't fit a Castle through the same restrictions, and you certainly won't get a Hall down there!! It seems to me that any replacement would have to be of Black 5/Bulleid/BR Standard dimensions, or come by road. I can't see 5029 or 5043 coming in by road.

At least the 4-4-0s will be there. 6024 didn't really fit the DN&S theme, and nor would a Castle. A Prairie tank, mogul (GW or BR) or perhaps a Hall would be more in keeping, I think. Do any of the currently active Halls travel by road?

It will be interesting to see if Colin C can pull (another) rabbit from his hat! I'd guess a tank loco (hence needing only one lorry) from a preserved line would be the most likely last-minute replacement. Perhaps a Std 4 2-6-4 from either Swanage or Bluebell could be available, with the promise of a reciprocal loan later in the year? Is the GW 0-6-2T still at Swanage? IIRC, the folk in charge of that loco enjoy visiting other lines and making new friends. Personally, I'd love to see the GNR 0-6-2T, but she would not be suitable for a DN&S gala, and I'm not sure how she'd get on with our gradients.

Besides, as noted already, the MHR's own fleet is pretty impressive at the moment: Nellie, U, Black 5, Std 5, 9F, Wadebridge. With the 2-8-0T, CoT and the Dukedog too, that's quite a roster.

 

Re: MHR Spring gala 25-27 March 2011 City Of Truto 3440 & Earl Of Berkley 9017

Both currently out of traffic - 80104 in Herston Works for a short period, and 6695 undergoing work in Swanage shed.

 

Re: MHR Spring gala 25-27 March 2011 City Of Truto 3440 & Earl Of Berkley 9017

80151 currently in the works at Sheffield Park undergoing a retube in order for it to run over Summer/Santas

 

Re: MHR Spring gala 25-27 March 2011 City Of Truto 3440 & Earl Of Berkley 9017

The same issue happened at the Autumn Gala a couple of years ago when 4936 and 5029 visited. Both did actually arrive by road. Interestingly though 5029 was able to depart under it's own steam as the guage problem then only seemed to affect the down line.

 

Re: MHR Spring gala 25-27 March 2011 City Of Truto 3440 & Earl Of Berkley 9017

Just uploaded some photos from the charter with 31806 last Tuesday on the Picasa web albums that I'm now using as my replacement from fotopic.

https://picasaweb.google.com/105454327852537837128/UClassNo31806PhotoCharter15311#

Cheers

 

Re: MHR Spring gala 25-27 March 2011 City Of Truto 3440 & Earl Of Berkley 9017

I was under the impression that there is an open access policy on the national network these days. If Network Railway can’t regauge their track after track maintenance to allow all operators access to the complete net work. They should have to pay companions and regauge the offending stretch of line to allow all operators access to the offending stretch of line again.

Maybe it’s about time a steam charter company/loco owner didn’t roll over and stood up to NR and demand NR to regauge a particular stretch of line that is causing a rail tour from not taking place.

 

Re: MHR Spring gala 25-27 March 2011 City Of Truto 3440 & Earl Of Berkley 9017

Ridiculous. Are you seriously suggesting Network Rail pay tens of thousands for possessions, infrastructure contractors, staff, equipment and materials to re-gauge a length just to move a kettle down it, which, let's face it in the case of the King and the MHR, less than once a year?!

Following your logic if a charter company wanted to run an electric tour to the Kyle Of Lochalsh, should NR have to pay millions for electrification just so it can happen? Of course not.

 

Re: MHR Spring gala 25-27 March 2011 City Of Truto 3440 & Earl Of Berkley 9017

Why ridiculous? If NR's actions effectively bar certain operators from gaining access to the tracks, especially when that access was available prior to their work, then it must be contravening open access agreements.

 

Re: MHR Spring gala 25-27 March 2011 City Of Truto 3440 & Earl Of Berkley 9017

If Network Rail have done anything illegall then it's up to the operator to take NR to the ORR and complain about it.

In reality, if NR work on a piece of track to improve its condition or to improve running speeds on it, for example, but it means that certain steam engines are out of gauge then that's just tough. There are more important things going on than moving engines to and from the Mid-Hants or any other railway.