Schools Class "Cheltenham"

It was normal service, she was on the 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00 out of Alresford,this was the 13.55 return from Alton about 10 mins down. Didn't seem to be many passengers though

 

Interesting. I thought her first public trains were due to be the Gala weren't they.

 

Well she wasn't running as "Cheltenham"! She also needs to acquire some miles and crews some experience.

 

I wonder if any of the passengers on board realised that these were (unless she's done any other passenger trains while running in) her first passenger trains in about 50 years (she was withdrawn in 1962 and I think only steamed again briefly at Rainhill and didn't carry any passengers as far as I know)

 

She did do some Thomas duties too! (Saw some pictures on FlickR, I assume she also ran round at the bottom of the garden, but I don't get a clear virw of the locos from the house and I'm not great at whistle identification. Stanier Hooter is easy, and Wadebridge and Nelson both have distinct beats, need to tune into the three cylinder Schools sound!

 

Roster on Mid Hants Website shows 925 working 11th 12th 13th 15th 16th 18th 19th 20th 22nd and 23rd of this month. Not always accurate of course, this week 92212 and 925 were absent from the roster but present on the line (with 92212 facing Country too, although this is apparently due to a misfunctioning lorry trailer and may be rectified with a "trailer turn" according to a poster in the MHR Autumn gala thread)

 

Last Friday was her first day in traffic and she worked all the services from the Alresford end. These were her first solo passenger trains since 1962.

The previous Thursday she double-headed with Lord Nelson on a round trip during the Thursday of Thomas week.

The joke nameplates will be gone by Friday morning, so come to our gala and get some nice shots of her!

 

Re: The Mid Hants Railway Autumn Steam Spectacular 2012

What a fantastic gala that was! I spent Saturday and Sunday at the MHR, and left both days with a huge smile on my face.

I must admit, I was a very sceptical when BOTH 777 and 825 were announced as not attending - I was debating whether or not I should attend. If 5322 had turned up facing Alresford, I would've visited Swanage instead, and not bothered going on the Sunday. My word, am I pleased I did go! As I said in a previous post, 925 looked outstanding (I finally got my shot of her working solo!), but the star of the show was 5322. That bark is quite something!

I think it is time to explain my film! First of all, I wish to apologise for how long it is - a massive 54 minutes long, with almost 25 minutes of footage unused. I will post the link below. My film goes through every locomotive - the locations are in order (if the engine is chimney first out of Alresford, the locations are going from Alresford to Alton, and chimney-first-out-of-Alton locomotives are seen at locations between Alton and Alresford). I have only included chimney first workings (with the exception to 850, 31806 and 5322 departing Alresford on Saturday evening).

Here is my video link, the locations list is below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki15yVIWeW4

If it isn't too much to ask, if an advert appears before the video, would you all mind clicking on it - I spent an awful lot of money getting to/from the MHR (as well as the costs to get into Ropley station on Sunday). By clicking on the advert, YouTube pays a very small amount of money per click/view - I would appreciate you clicking on the advert, as it means I can pay (and get paid!) for more days out like this on the MHR!

925: Sat in Ropley yard on the 1st September, then at Horse Lane, Wanders Curve, Ropley and Northside Lane at the gala.
925+850: Wanders Curve, Rook Wood and Bighton Hill
850: Wanders Curve and entering Sun Lane cutting, near Alresford
850+31806+5322: Departing Alresford at Sun Lane
34051: Alresford
5322: Sun Lane Cutting, departing Ropley (a favourite clip, what a noise!) and Bowers Grove
5322+31806: White's Wood (Northside Lane) and Horse Lane
5322+92212: Departing Alresford on the first train of the Saturday and storming up past Bowers Grove and Rook Wood (another favourite clip!)
5322+34007: Northside Lane Foot Crossing
34007: FREIGHT - Northside Lane, Bowers Grove, Wanders Curve and Borovere. PASSENGER: Bighton Hill, a new panoramic shot at Park Wood and finally departing Ropley
34007+92212: Recreating the Pines Express, 50 years to the day of the last Pines Express under BR at White's Wood and at Wanders Curve
92212: Departing Alresford at Sun Lane Cutting and charging up the 1in80 bank to Ropley at Bighton Hill with the freight.
31806+92212: Charging past Northside Lane with the Pines Express headboard and accelerating past Horse Lane with the freight.
31806: Northside Lane, White's Wood and Wanders Curve with the freight and Bowers Grove and Rook Wood with the RAT
45379: Borovere, arriving into Ropley, Northside Lane and Bighton Hill with the freight train, and Rook Wood and Bowers Grove with the Pines Express.
The night shoot at Ropley, with 1874 starring in her new livery.

I must say that the freight train looked outstanding, as did the RAT coach in Blood and Custard.

A huge well done and thank you must go to all the volunteers at the MHR - you put on a seriously good show! Here's to next year - Maunsell Magic II anyone?

Enjoy the video, any constructive comments are welcomed!

James at SVN

 

Today 925 Cheltenham worked its first goods train in preservation even if the weather was disapointing

 

Nice David. I went up to M4M this afternoon as I was busy working earlier, only to find that the second run from Alton was cancelled! Did mean that Lord Nelson ran wrong line into the station as 925 was fouling the loop! Was that you lurking with a camera by the PMV's?? Missed Cheltenham on the Belle last night as she failed last thing Saturday afternoon. Good to see a swift repair.

 

No it wasnt me I just did the first one and just as well I did !! .

 

Anyone know which train she is rostered on for the Open Day this Saturday? I hope she isn't on the freight. Only managed one run behind her at the Gala as the trains were so full.

 

The MHR tweeted that the 9F would be on the freight today. 925 should work the standard services

James at SVN

 

Thanks for that.

 

A good day yesterday at the MHR. 925 was taking it easy on the four coach rake while the crews of 92212 were really putting on a show hauling the six coach rake (later used in the evening for the RAT). A really enthusiastic climb was made of Medstead bank on the 14.18 departure from Alton. If you shut your eyes you could easily imagine you were storming over the S & D. Very smoky coal though with both loco's leaving dark, black trails after their trains.

 

Pretty busy yesterday, but I did manage to catch the 9F on the first trip out of Alresford, and Cheltenham on the Churchillian diner in the evening. Nelson was on the freight!

Night Schools runs through | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

I managed to photograph 925 on the 14.18 out of Alton at Brick Kiln lane. Clagging very nicely.

 

Nice shots folks.

I think I got my times mixed up as I thought the train I was on with the 9F was the 14.18 out of Alton?

 

Looking on another railway forum tonight 30925 Cheltenham and 31806 should be back at the MHR this coming week. On the MHR web site 925 and 31806 are both in steam this coming weekend.


Locomotive Roster | Watercress Line