MHR Autumn steam gala 7th-9th Sept

Timetable seems to have been rearranged for today. 5322 brought the 10:55 Alton to Alresford then took out the 12.25 Alresford to Alton train instead of 850. 850 took the RAT and we just passed 31806 and 92212 on the freight instead of just 31806 at Alton and 925 and 45379 at Medstead on the way to Alresford instead of just 45379 but 34007 was on the correct train at Ropley. I'll have to wait for my 925 and 850 double header pictures until tomorrow

 

Haven't had much time to look at my footage from today, but shot a fair amount (about 55 minutes). I found it annoying that 850 and 5322 had swapped duties on the RAT at lunchtime today, but this was corrected a little later on (thankfully!). I was pleasantly surprised how many people were line side, all my favourite locations were packed early in the day and stayed that way to the end. The trains, too, looked busy, the double headers especially. Everything ran to time and so managed to stick to my plan... Until 850 and 5322 swapped duties!

Spent around 3 hours at Ropley this evening with friends for the night shoot - I enjoyed it very much, even with a little bit of shouting and the occasional shoulder barge from one VERY inconsiderate person. It was nice to see 925 in complete form for the first time.

I was very impressed with the gala, despite the obvious lack of an N15 or S15. 34007 was making a good noise, as was 92212 and 31806. But the star of the day had to be 5322 - Not only did it look in superb condition, but it sounded it! The 15:37 departure from Ropley was deafening, and could hear her right the way to Medstead.

Am off up there again in the morning, focusing on the Alresford - Ropley section. Hope to see you around!

James at SVN

 

Agreed. I travelled behind it on the 12:25 from Alresford( had planned to take the 13:00), 13:50 off Alton, managed to get the front Coach and the noise from Butts to the summit was deafening, and the 15: 20 of Alresford ( as planned) as far as Medstead. Can we have a Manor next year?

 

Yes for me the GWR Mogul stole the show and if a Manor could be hired in next year that would be superb. Don't forget GWR 2-6-0's and Manors did haul green coaches on the Redhill-Reading route in the 60's so they'd be nothing wrong with that combination again next year.

 

Here are my photos from a very enjoyable day at the Mid-Hants Railway yesterday. Had a round-trip behind Cheltenham, it sounded really good heading up towards Medstead.

Flickr: DaveStubbings' Photostream

 

Had a brilliant day here today, 5322 really stole the show. I know it's a resident but 45379 always puts on a show worth watching, one of the highlights of the day was freight trains without the front brake van, (shunted out at either end) which also started in the headshunt at Alresford and was at speed as it passed the platforms non-stop, similar non stop running through Ropley in the down direction.

34051 looked good at Alresford, noticed one of its injectors is missing !

 

with all the talk about the operational steam engines at the gala
did anyone get any pictures from inside the works
were such as 76017,75079,34105,10 douglas , 30828.
and also whereabouts on line is 80150
if anyone who attended the gala has any pictures of it
many thanks
YRM,

 

some shots from saturday of the gala

Flickr: 37427's Photostream

 

I took a picture of 76017's boiler if that helps :


RD7299. 76017's boiler at Ropley. by Ron Fisher, on Flickr

Clicking on the picture will enlarge it.

 

Some more of my Friday pictures are now on Flickr. Here's the first one; clicking on it will enlarge it and take you to the others :


RD7320. 34051 at Alresford. by Ron Fisher, on Flickr

 

I have a few pictures of some of the boilers in the Boiler Shop and Douglas. 828's frames had the SR cabside number plate and Harry A Frith namplates on the running plate.

80150 from one of the other threads is in one of the headshunts at Alresford but is out of view to the public (I certainly couldn't see it) as is 34058. I did see the Hampshire Unit and the Class 50 down the far end.

I finished off 3 great days at the MHR and finished it the way I started on Friday. With 925 and 850 double heading (though 850 came off just outside Alton although 5322 was still at Alton and then ran down next to 925's train (I left after 925 coupled up so not sure if they double headed). After spending a few trips with the Cunarder headboard yesterday on the RAT, 850 spent most of the day carrying it again today until she double headed with 925 when the headboard was fitted to 925. (Did a Schools ever haul the Cunarder? I know Nelson's and Bulleid's did). Also saw 92212 carry a Pines Express headboard. I think the timetable roughly to scheduled today (although a few people thought 45379 was hauling the freight which arrived at Alresford with 34007 and 45379 was on the following passenger train at Ropley when I was on 925 and 850.)

I noticed on 34051 when I went up to Railfest that she was missing her shedplate and it was still missing when I saw her over the last 3 days. Also saw some missing paintwork on the bottom of both cab sides.

I'll try and get my photos up soon.

 

We were on the same train, given it was 850+925 going tender first, there wasn't a window seat or window to be had !
I was expecting 45379 to back on the freight with 34007 on the passenger (indeed that was what's on the timetable) but they came back opposite.
have to say good show with the "extras", putting the sections of the boiler / fire boxes to be replaced next to the new steel, the tube plate etc on display, and highlighted firebox of the urie etc was very educational.
Is the line planning a rake of bulleid coaches next (there was 2 in the shops) ? .. In southern green would be nice partners for 850, 925 etc.

 

Today's was a great show by any standards; despite the disappointment of unavailable visiting locos, this was the Mid Hants at its best. All the engines came through the weekend unscathed and were a credit to our engineering staff whilst Bob Deeth and his team made sure that there was never a dull moment with some really imaginative loco rostering. The 9F and U-boat double headed will live long in my memory as will Chessie's ear-to-ear grin at the end of it.
Great event to be a part of; can we top it next year?

 

Not two Bullieds John but three, the other brake third is under wraps at Alresford.

members of the wagon group are working on them having moved on from gaining experience with wooden bodied CCT,s and PMV,s .

S4211 is progressing well with S4367 next in line followed by S1456 on loan from the Bluebell. These three coupled to By 653 will make a fine vintage set.

Regards
Chris:

 

Morning all,

Photos and a video now available as follows.

Photos - Autumn Steam Gala - September 2012 - Railway Galleries
Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3Y6uA

Many thanks to the MHR for a good event. And to the chap who leant right in front of my camcorder, almost knocking it over and blocking my shot of 925 and 850 leaving Ropley on Friday afternoon, may your photos turn out blurry and overexposed. Next time, think before elbowing in.

Cheers.

 

It was a good gala and the trains seemed packed which is a good sign. My pics from Friday. Thanks to the wagon guys for showing us around the yard

Zenfolio | Simon Whittingham Photography | Mid Hants autumn steam gala September 2012

 

Cheers Chris,

I was planning to drop by and say hello, but I didn't sit down for 7 hours yesterday ! A lot going on.
saw the ccts and MPV's at medstead, I think I counted 4 + 1 at Alton ? Looks like you'll have a parcels train next ?

 

My photos from Saturday can now be seen here Mid-Hants Railway - Saturday 8th September 2012 - Paul Gildersleve's Photos | SmugMug

Thanks to everyone for putting on an excellent show.

Regards,

Paul

 

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 wish to clarify that all locations were taken from public locations - the locations I used at Wanders Curve were the road-side of the fence, not in the field. Unfortunately, a couple of people thought they could still wander into the middle of the field, even when there were signs that said 'Private - Keep out'.

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

 

80150 is down the headshunt at Alresford (or at least it was when I saw it last month).