Mid Hants Railway Spring Steam Gala 2014

Excellent. Will definately be going now. Haven't been behind 35028 since 1999!

 

I wonder if Matt Allen and his merry men will now be trying to put together a photo charter for 35028. There can't be to many chances of running a photo charter with 35028? The only issue will be when will 35028 arrive and leave the MHR. Going what has happen in the past visiting locos seem to arrived Wednesday night or Thursday day time and always seems to leave on Monday after the gala. I would think if Matt could get a photo charter arranged in time there would be a big up take for a photo charter with 35028.

 

I suppose any photo charters would be down to the agreements reached.

I was thinking more of 34046, as she was offered for charters last year, but the MHR declined because of daily running, so maybe this time round.......................

Can't really see any happening with Met1, but I could well wide of the mark!

And so far I've not heard anything from Matt or Warwick................ so who knows, maybe a late notification?

 

Great news about 35028 visiting. Three Bulleids in steam at a MHR Gala = Heaven!

Not the first time 35028 has visited the MHR though. She came down to Ropley some years ago (9th-16th October 2009) for some attention requiring the use of the Wheeldrop. I remember going to see her coming back from the MHR at Bentley station. Quite a turnout at that small country station that night. There was a video on Youtube but it seems to have been removed. Could only find this one at Brookwood:

 

A few photos from Dave Warwick flicker site taken when 35028 visited back in 2009.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/linesidephotos

 

Worked plenty of times at a railway centre in Herefordshire....

 

Great news about 35028. Besides the visit in 2009, I'd be interested to know if she ever visited the MHR in the 1960s when Bournemouth line trains were diverted via Alton. Apart from one shot of 35008, most of the pictures of diverted Bulleid-hauled expresses I've seen had a WC/BB on the front.

 

Well, there is a big gap between her rostered ML duties with a VSOE on the 1st March and the next on the 22nd March. I wonder if the two Bulleids will meet up before heading down to the MHR together?
34046's first charter is on the 15th March.

 

It would make a lot of sense for the two of them to come down together, only one path to be paid for.........................

 

Getting 35028 is a real coup! I was always going to attend but the chance to travel behind Clan Line without paying £hundreds is the icing on the cake. I wonder if after the gala the MNLPS will be making use of the wheeldrop or other Ropley facilities before her 2014 VSOE season?

 

Fantastic, that is a score.

 

Mind you, it's worth paying £hundreds once in a lifetime - the food in the pullmans is fantastic, and 35028 has to work pretty hard with those heavy coaches. Pity VSOE have cut back on the routes on which steam is used - it's now only a couple of trips to Bath and some 12-15 runs round the "Surrey Hills" circuit. Canterbury and Southampton used to feature, and I even remember a run down the Brighton Main Line.

 

A big coup indeed. Unless I have missed something I would be interested to find out if this visit by 35028 to a preserved railway is strictly a one off or does this visit 'open the door' for this fine machine to visit other railway centres in between its mainline commitments ?

 

35028 was due to visit the Bluebell for the opening gala until flats were discovered on its tender wheels.
35028's maintenance period is mid September to November to fit around its VS OE commitments.

 

I too remember a VSOE run on the Brighton Line about 1998 when I was about 7. My teacher at primary school told me her husband was driving 35028 (it could have been Don Clarke as my teacher at the time was called Mrs Clarke).

 

Hmm, was the box on the back pushing

 

Individually its a great gala but it does seem Met 1 is out of place. Looking forward to seeing Clan Line on MHR metals would also be a great opportunity for the MHR to raise funds for there own Merchant Navy.