Mid Hants Railway Autumn Steam Gala 25-27th October 2013.

There were problems with the Goods/Van train again today as we were told about the delay by station staff whilst waiting for it to appear at Medstead. Time was recovered well again but then the problems with 34046 occurred.

 

Excellent day in spite of the rain! I was there from 0730 - 1800 and I'm kn+ckered so how the volunteers feel can only be imagined! Thanks to all at the MHR.
I heard that 31806 was delayed shunting the goods (note not 'freight'!) at Alton - Tornado on the 11.50 off Alresford certainly arrived Medstead on time and had to wait about 20 mins for the 'U' to appear. Star for me was the Black 5 - certainly the noisiest in my opinion and highlight was watching the A1 dissappear north at Medstead on the last up train into the dark. Back tomorrow for more!!

 

A good day but disappointed as I didn't get my ride behind 34046 as the train I planned to get her on was the one she came off of with 70000 but as I was at Ropley when she came off so got some photos of her.

Trains were well loaded. I stood on most of my trips. Didn't notice any problems with 60163 and did hear someone they timed her from Alresford to Ropley and said it was a record for him about 8 mins I think.

 

My photos from yesterday and today (it is still just today, just) are now up;

http://railwaygalleries.smugmug.com/MidHants/Autumn-Steam-Gala-October-2013/

I'll update with a video (albeit only a shorter one) tomorrow.

 

As promised, the aforementioned video

 

Hi all,.
Can anyone who went to the gala tell me please what loco's were in the head shunt at Ropley
and what's the latest on 34058 .

Many Thanks
YRM,.

 

The same as it usually is I would have thought? 41312 minus boiler, 1874 which I still think is a shame to have gone to the effort to repaint to just have it on display once over a year ago, 34016 looking more grey than green, 31625 plus a couple of tenders. Think that's all of them. Haven't heard anything on 34058, I'd think updates on her wont be common until other projects are done such as 75079.

 

Basically the locos in the headshunt on Friday were boilerless 41312, 31874, 34016 and 31625 plus the part built tender of 31625 and the support coaches for the visiting locos. Interestingly 73096 was in the wheeldrop shed.
The large diesels were I think moved down to Alresford as they were not present.
34058 is still down at Alresford headshunt.

 

Well it's not much, but here's my offering from the Mid Hants autumn gala.

 

Afternoon All,

If anyone would like to have a look, my pictures from Friday are now on Flickr. This is the first one in the Photostream and clicking on it will enlarge it and take you to the others :


RD8881. 45379 at Alton. by Ron Fisher, on Flickr

Alternatively, they can be found in the Mid-Hants Railway - Set 3, along with the pictures from the Spring Steam Gala in March :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/train-pix/sets/72157632905909257/

Hope that they are of interest.

 

Pretty much second what has been said about the gala on here already. I visited on the Friday and it was a good show despite the unhelpful weather. Think I only managed one shot in bright-ish light and that was 34046 and 34007 double heading in the morning out of Ropley! The Kings Cross footbridge at Ropley is a good addition and has certainly opened up a new vantage point. Nice to see the freight split up during the day too so that you saw both a long set and a van train. Visitors all looked and sounded good and most of the late running seemed to have been clawed back by the end of the day. My thanks to all involved at the MHR and the support crews of the visiting loco's.

 

Three video sequences from me during yesterday's event.

 

Here are the best shots I took from Friday and Saturday (34007 goods, 34046 with 70000 + 60163 Sat, other two Friday): :

 

Some good stuff here guys considering the weather conditions have been some what variable and dyer to say the least!

 

Can someone explain to me that narrow gauge loco in the Carriage and Wagon works, which looks a bit like Polar Bear at Amberley Chalk Pits. I don't think it had any wheels.

 

It's part of the miniature railway that was running in the top car park at Ropley.

 

Ah right I never saw much of the miniature railway and now its seems to have been removed.

 

Is it still there?, nobody has worked on this for three years to my knowledge.



Chris:

 

Video from a very wet Saturday...

 

My shots from yesterday,

25 photos can be found here: http://khardy.zenfolio.com/p923795524





Cheers,