Mid Hants Railway - Great Spring Steam Gala 2013

Just two photos from the gala 45379 from yesterday and 30777 from today.


Ps Bring on the deisel gala next month.

 

Spent today flitting between photting, sound recording and helping out on the 34081 stand. Blooming cold at times and not a lot of sun but the glint shot of 777 at Rookwood Lane made it all worthwhile. Anyone know why 30120 spent the afternoon being shoved around by 45379? Twice I went to record it and twice the 5 was doing all of the work.

 

Many thanks for these, gave Horse Lane a try and turned out not too bad. Enjoyable day at the MHR today, highlight for me was the first train out of Alton with 30120 single headed as 925 wasn't ready in time. Stormed out of Alton, didn't slow for the restriction and then slogged over the bank to Medstead! Probably worth the £20 alone...

Spent most of the day linesiding and came away with a few shots I think weren't too bad. If anyone saw a young-ish guy with a bike and untidy hair that was me... I'll upload some pictures soon. It was a shame about the weather as by the time it was sunny the timetable and loco allocations had gone haywire and I needed to be on the last train to Alton. Such is life! The Black 5 banking the T9 on that last train also made a hell of a racket. Many thanks to all involved in organising and running the gala. My brother (one of the MHR apprentices) has been prepping and disposing of engines all weekend and is back in the boiler shop tomorrow. He crashed out about 8 this evening!

By the way, did anyone else notice the small bit in the guidebook saying that Cheltenham was to visit the Bluebell later this year?

 

I, too, would like to congratulate the Mid-Hants for a splendid day out. I went there on the Sunday and although there was a lengthy delay following Wadebridge's problems on Medstead Bank, every effort was made to regain as much of the lost time as possible.

I shall be uploading some pictures to Flickr as time permits during the week, but I did manage to get a few on tonight. If anyone would like to have a look, this is the first one; clicking on it will enlarge it and take you to the others :


RD7791. 45379 at Ropley. by Ron Fisher, on Flickr

Hope that they are of interest.

 

Here's my video from yesterday:

[video=youtube;6T5dd2WCyJQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T5dd2WCyJQ[/video]

 

Just the one in sun from me. 777 at Rookwood Lane.

 

Well, there might only be one, but it's a jolly god one!

 

Well, after both MHR 2012 galas enjoying such wonderful weather, I guess that by the law of averages, it's no surprise that the sun's appearances were rather fleeting at last weekend's gala.

A but late, but as a reminder of the sunshine last year, I've just developed and printed a film which included this view of 5322 and 34007 from the 2012 Autumn gala. Echoes, perhaps of Barnstaple-Ilfracombe on a Summer Satuday? (By the way, this was taken from the public side of the fence/hedge between Ropley and Wanders Curve, aidied by a rather long stepladder.)

 

It was an entertaining day (Saturday) although my nose was put out of joint when the RAT bar was added to a different set.
You spend 2 hours planning your day only for the timetable to become void before the first engine has turned a wheel.
The ill-informed volunteers were of no help whatsoever, you would have at least thought they could make a note of the change of set!

I am not sure the engineers train added much to the occasion. It simply resulted in lengthy gaps between trains.
The new loco facilities at Ropley are superb and access for visitors was much appreciated.

I think the line is much nicer in autumn. (5.5/10)

 

[video=youtube;tmoaHB4K9zk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmoaHB4K9zk[/video]

My footage from the gala taken on Sunday.

Enjoy

 

I'm sure they'd welcome you down there to help them out...

 

Well said that man.
If Gunz412 had any idea how much time and effort the volunteers put in to keep the railway working, he wouldn't be so dismissive.

 

Thanks for sharing I think the ending is absolutely brilliant.

 

Actually you were on private land.

 

We as in the railway.Put in loads of time and effort.For are benefit and others to enjoy.I have seen some of the currant film of the line where a small band of us cut back and keep cut back to open up views of the railway.
It would be nice if others helped on other parts of the line and help the wild life as well

 

What a wonderful event that was! One of the best galas I've been to. My video has finally finished uploading, and is live via the link at the bottom of this message. Also in this message are two photographs of 777 and 34007 double heading up past Bighton with the 15:55 ex-Alresford, and 30120 being banked by 45379 on one of the late running services on the Sunday as a result of 34007 stalling.



My only gripe was that 5164 wasn't facing Alton, but that is one of those things. I still thoroughly enjoyed seeing (and hearing) that wonderful bark on the Alps. Thank you to all the volunteers who made this event possible, and I hope the T9 and N15 can return soon - they weren't bad either!

The link to my video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqEfrzjp3Zk

It was nice to meet up with a couple of familiar faces from NP, as well as (I think) BR 73082 on Sunday at Northside Lane crossing?

Your comments are welcomed...

James at SVN

 

Further to my previous message, I have managed to get another batch of pictures onto Flickr. This is the first one and, as before, clicking on it will enlarge it and take you to the others :


RD7805. 30120 at Alresford. by Ron Fisher, on Flickr

Hope that they're of interest.

 

Well said Andy . The lineside grows quicker than it can be cut back so more hands are needed but also the railway needs to use its flail more and in areas it seems reluctant to use it in for some reason.

 

Here is a link to my Sunday mornings efforts on the 3rd March. Not many shots but the flat light,cloud and cold didn't inspire !.
Mid Hants Gala Sunday morning 03.03.2013.

 

I think I could have been a bit clearer. I was not having a dig at the volunteers, but more so, the lack of information which they are provided with.
In the absence of understanding how the railway works, I would like to think that someone from the operations department would inform a senior volunteer of consist changes so the information has a fighting chance of filtering through to station staff.