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

I suspect that the predictions of howling gales and driving rain had more to do with it than whether the loco was going to run the following weekend or not.

What's wrong anyhow? It was a weekend to celebrate the std 5. So what if it has a few more duties after its celebration weekend? If the weekend had been scheduled for the VERY VERY end of its ticket and then couldn't happen for some reason, there'd be no chance to recover the situation and give it a good send off.

There's no pleasing some people I suppose.

 

Must admit I thought it odd for MHR to move their steam gala to another date so that they could have a goodby weekend to 73096.

Will they be keeping their steam gala next year in October or moving it again.....

 

Gala wasn't moved to put in the 73096 weekend.. The gala was moved due to Tornados visit for October but this provided an opportunity to do something for 73096 around the time of the original gala dates. In previous years, Wizard Week has occurred during the October half term, not this year.

 

Well here are a few of 73096 on its Last Mid Hants Goods working on Sunday 18th Sept 2011 .Wind and rain then a very lucky break with the clouds . David

 

I also took the liberty of taking a few photos on September 10th:
http://e-gmedia.blogspot.com/2011/09/farewell-to-std-5-100911-on-mhr-photo.html

 

Lovely shots of her David. Hope to travel behind her again this Saturday for free during the Open Day event. They will be my last runs behind her!

 

A few pics from our photocharter on Sat. For a slight change we went for an S&D recreation, conditions weren't great but we did get a few brief patches of sun. Thanks needs to go to everyone at the MHR who got out of bed very early to make the morning happen!

 

Here is a short video of her from yesterday hauling the freight train for the very last time up to Medstead. The driver got her raising the echoes in fine style:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-XngJ1Zoec

 

Here is 73096 leaving Alresford with the freight train yesterday lunchtime...

 

Well, going by the latest Ropley shed blog today was the last day of service for 73096 on a photo charter. After this her fire will be dropped for the last time and she will be heading for the headshunt to reside with 34016.........................

 

“That’s all folks!"

I've been told today 73096 worked her last day on the MHR. Working on the advance foot plate course.