MHR Restorations and Overhauls

Sure, I would love to do what the mhr clearly can't do, which is PRESERVE them, but you wouldn't catch me being a patron of that railway until it returns to being about heritage instead of money grabbing. The fact that you say the oil and grease can be provided does beg the question of 'why hasn't it been done already' then?!

 

Don't feed the...

 

If the MHR is money grabbing the money is going nowhere but into making the place better and better.....more locomotives, more coaches, more shed space, more visitor amenities, more green paint! One of the strongest line ups of steam locomotives on any railway currently, and thanks to Chris's gang an awesome collection of goods wagons. It is far from perfect, and there are lots things to "fix"....as Chris says there is always room for another willing volunteer.

 

Factfinder.

Please define "preserved" for me?. Surely restoring the Loco,s coaches and wagons, infastructure etc is "preserving" for future generations? , of do you mean letting them just sit there mothballed and rotting away.

Where is the money to come from to "preserve"the Railway and what makes the Mid-Hants so different from any other preserved Railway here? I agree that there is a very thin dividing line between "preservation "and running a business, but without the commercial side there would be no money and volunteers to "preserve",

i would welcome a reply from you please?

Chris Willis

Mid-Hants Wagon Group and Vintage Carriage Group, ( actively restoring both carriages and wagons).

 

Well said, here here.

The MHR is far from perfect, but to suggest that they are not interesting in preserving things is just plain rubbish.

If what Factfinder says were true, i doubt the NRM would choose the MHR as a partner organisation and place locomotives on loan with them.

So Factfinder, do what Chris suggests. Volunteer and find out the real FACTS, as your on screen name suggests.

 

Thank you Andrew, and if Factfinder would care to contact on or off list, I would be delighted if he would join me for a day and I will show him around behind the scenes.

My usual volunteering days are Thursdays and Saturdays if that helps at all?

Best regards
Chris:

 

I think factfinders comment is out of order. The MHR are making the best of it with what space they have. im sure they would love to have more covered accommodation. hell, most railways would give their right arm for something like SVRs engine house. but land and space is key and some railways are blessed with space, and some are not. I hope the MHR one day finds somewhere to build covered storage for their engines(but what about the carriages??) but if they dont so be it. the railway will still be fantastic.

 

And there was me thinking that in order to preserve and then maintain something be it engines, coaches or infrastructure you need to generate a revenue stream to do so?............................... so if the MHR, in this persons eyes are the only one doing it - how do the other 'non money gabbing' lines exist?................. go and harvest the money tree behind the engine shed or wave a magic wand and restore a Barry wreck in the blink of an eye?

I think someone on here is living in la la land and is too busy playing with his Hornby railroad set to know what the real world is......................................................

 

Hear hear, People dont realise how expensive it is to run a steam railway, and we all need to make money to re invest in our railways, i can remember ropley from when all you had was the shed and you prepped the engines laying on your back , iwould give my eye teeth to have the facilities you boys have now, every railway needs better facilities no mater how good your outfit is, you always think wouldnt our lives be easier if we had this or that in my case an electric overhead crane would be a god send when lifting bogies to change wheel sets !! and how can we afford it? by making sure we keep attracting people to ride our trains to eat in our buffets , to have a great day , to tell their friends

 

Couldn`t put it better myself.

 

This seems to be a good place to put this. This coming Saturday 26th May will be a four train operation.

Timetable for Saturday 26th May | Watercress Line

 

I guess most of you are already involved with MHR so will have seen the recent pictures of the completed Cheltenham, which I believe should be in York now.

I'd like to congratulate everyone who has contributed to this project - it really looks magnificent.

This must rank amongst the quickest overhauls completed since 1968 - I know it hasn't done much since its previous overhaul, but I'm also aware that it wasn't just a case of taking it apart and putting it back together either!

Well done chaps. Can't wait to see it on MHR.

 

Amen to that Archbishop! Congratulations to Smiffy and the Eastleigh MHR gang for a terrific job.

 

I saw the sad news that the Vickers tank factory is diue to close on Tyneside. Its known as the Armstrong Works. Does anyone know if this is the very Armstrong-Whitworth works where our Black 5 (45379) was born?

 

A great shame regarding the job losses. The original Armstrong works were demolished in 1979 and the modern tank factory opened in around 1982 (I could see it from my bedroom window when I was young). The original site was huge and the later tank factory only took up a small part of the original site, I believe some of the site was re-developed for a car showroom and other businesses. The old Scotswood Station and rail lines are long gone. In answer to your question, yes, it was the site where 45379 was born, but not the building.

 

has anyone got any more recent pics of whats in the two head shunts Ropley and Alresford

MANY THANKS

YRM

 

This coming weekend 9th and 10th June wil be War on the Line with three train service.

http://www.watercressline.co.uk/Events/War-On-The-Line

 

Any idea what is likely to be working up to and including War on the Line? The website roster is out of date. Thanks!

 

Going by what was in steam over this weekend which was 850 and 1806. I would say Monday to Friday will be 850 and 1806 and I hear 34007 could be the thrid loco for War on the Line.