A FAREWELL TO STD 5 73096 WEEKEND AT THE MHR 10-11 SEPTEMBER 2011.

Looks like it is going to be a good mini-Gala to see 73096 "off to pastures new". I think a nice touch would be to paint the Smokebox door hinges white like they were when she ran for the end of SR steam Gala in 2007.

 

Time table now available to down load for the End Of 73096 Weekend.

http://www.watercressline.co.uk/Files/2011-07/FarewellStd5Timetable.pdf

 

Ah, you beat me to it 73129! Should be a good weekend. Will be glad to see 34007 back in action too.

 

Erm, I might be missing something here, but is it not a little odd for 73096 to get just one solo passenger run per day at the '73096 farewell weekend'? Hotel's booked, but I'm not sure I can afford the 350 mile return trip for one solo trip behind it first thing in the morning Looks like an excellent weekend for those who want to sit behind 31806, but not so much of a farewell to the 5. That's not to be disparaging of 31806, I was quite looking forward to a quick spin behind it, and indeed the black 5, but it doesn't look like 73096 will get much of a chance to demonstrate the noise for which it's become known and loved!

 

Agreed - for a 73096 centered weekend it spends the majority of it's time away from the limelight on a non-passenger working and doubled up with 31806. Looking at the reputation this loco has it appears it'll go out with a whimper rather than a bark. I'll be sadly elsewhere.

 

Now I was looking at that too. If you arrive at Alton by train you will only get 1 1/2 round trips behind '96..of that only 1/2 is by herself.... Maybe better planning could help....

Wont be going for 1/2 a round trip.....

 

Would have to say the same. I can understand the use of double headers to add a bit of variety, but, given that it's a 73096-centered weekend, any chance of knocking that 73096+31806 trip on the head in favour of '096 on its tod please guys? That said, it IS good to see a line releasing their event timetable so far in advance!

 

After having had more time to look at the timetable I agree with others it's a bit odd for an event marking 73096's farewell. Perhaps it might change..............

 

Well if you're not happy with it let them know - no use just moaning on this forum! It's not too late to change as the event is nearly two months away.

 

well said........ i could not have put that better my self......... a mod should be doing this but all the same well put

 

"they" might be reading this thread anyway......you never know.

 

Hi Everyone,

Just for the record I've e mailed the MHR and have asked if we can have a change to the time table to allow passengers/customers extra round trips behind 73096.


Ps The more people that ask for a change in the time table the more chance this could happen.

 

Likewise, here's hoping!

 

With regards to the future of 73096 after her ticket runs out I have had this interesting comment posted under one of my videos of her on Youtube:

"73096 will be going up the headshunt at Ropley once her boiler certificate expires in mid-September 2011, and she requires a major overhaul before returning to steam - including a brand new firebox. Along with SR 'U' Class Moguls 31625 & 31806, SR 'N' Class Mogul 31874 (painted up as 'James the Red Engine'), and SR 'West Country' 34016 "Bodmin", 73096 will leave Hampshire in 2014".

The video I recently posted (1 of 3 parts) was of a run behind her over the MHR on Boxing Day 2007 when she had six carriages on the drawbar:
Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIoPDXs1j8o
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV2VEul7XCE
Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpUNDPoFAjQ

 

It's hardly breaking news though is it. It's pretty much what we all know anyway?

 

I wouldn`t choose to believe unsubstantiated tittle tattle, posted as a comment on YouTube interesting or otherwise.

Remember anyone can post and not know a thing, its easy to speculate!

Lets just wait and see what happens to the loco after 10/11 September.

As for needing a new firebox, it`s possible but unlikely as it had major firebox repairs on it previous overhauls.

If Ropleys water treatment has been doing its job then i would think that it is in fairly good shape. Now i`m speculating!!!! Enough.

 

I found the comment a bit odd, particularly about the firebox when so much work was done on the last overhaul. It also raises the question that someone or the MHR have already evaluated the state of the loco for overhaul.

 

Further to issues raised up the thread, have any changes been made to the diagrams making better use of 73096 over the event?

 

Looks like peoples wishes for the Five to be hauling passenger turns may just be coming true - the timetable is currently unavailable on the events page - be interesting to see what they put on the non passenger turns instead.