MHR Autumn Steam Gala 21-23 October 2016

A revised timetable is up on the website now, does anyone know if this was just for today or if it is applicable to tomorrow and Sunday as well?

 

Has all three dates on it, so I should think so. 53809 isn't going to be running; I was told that there's a leak from a joint between the superheater header and a main steam pipe. That will take more than a little bit of repairing before it's safe to run again.

Royal Scot certainly seemed to be drawing quite an audience, and who can blame them? Looks a picture, and waltzed up the bank from Ropley to M&4M about as effortlessly as I can remember any engine doing .... except Clan Line.

 

Cheers for the update

 

I should also add that I had a very interesting (for me) little chat with the chap in the light machine shop and I do really appreciate the effort the MHR goes to these days to make the works, carriage works and boiler shop accessible on gala weekends. Being able to have a nose around the place and see progress on overhauls is just as interesting to me as a shiny guest engine. Still haven't managed to be in the right place at the right time for an M&4M yard tour...

 

A brilliant first day of the Gala despite the loss of 53809. 46100 was deservedly getting a lot of attention but I have to say 43106 stole the show for me today with a cracking run up the bank. Will try to get another trip in behind the "Flying Pig" tomorrow. She also looked good at the head of the Vans. The Pines Express was another highlight with an astonishing run through Ropley. I was filming it from the train in the other platform (not leaning out I will add) and I felt my jaw drop as 76017 & 92212 were opened up in some style and thundered past me. My Dad said to me afterwards "We are travelling on the Pines tomorrow!"
My other highlight was travelling on the 16.50 from Alton behind 45379 in top form. Welcome back old girl!
We finished the day by capturing 43106 rolling into Ropley at Sunset.
Thanks to everyone involved for an excellent day and a big round of applause to whoever drew up a revised timetable in such a short time.
We are back for some more fun tomorrow.

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A real mixed bag today. It was disappointing that the 7F had failed, but full marks to the MHR for re-writing the allocations and distributing them with the tickets bought on the day. And I suppose thank goodness it failed overnight and not half way up Medstead Bank this morning/afternoon.

The Mid Hants always put on a show, and the Pines proved that. Top spectacle. I only wish I'd stuck around Ropley to film it rather than be round at the foot crossing where the sun came out seconds after the 9F had passed. C'est la vie.



James

 

Yes another top day at the MHR. I travelled am and then went photing. 43106 slow in the climbs early on but 46100 effortless. The Pines was spectacular in full sun at North Street and 46100 looked and sounded superb at the crossing in the low sun on the 1600. Good to chat to others there recalling good times in the DDR. Top marks to the guys at the MHR for coping so well with the loss of the 7F and burning the midnight oil to rejig the timetable with all that entails

 

46100 has just come off her first train of the morning at Ropley, going to cause some delays even if nothing is wrong. Currently sat over the pit in the yard with the 33 running up the headshunt. Hopefully precautionary.

EDIT - 33 now taking over the train from 46100. Doesn't seem the MHR having much luck with visitors this time!

 

Rather a lot of disappointed folks at Medstead just now as the Class 33 rolled in. Hope the problem isn't serious.

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46100 currently receiving attention at Ropley.

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But it's only a one orange jacket problem (see other thread), so easily fixed then.

 

Good news. 46100 has been tacked onto the rear of her booked train and will presumably resume her booked workings with the 1300 off Alresford

 

Announcements to the effect that 46100 is running again.

 

Another great day at the MHR Autumn gala. Two photos from today.

 

Another mixed day for me. Again, top marks to the MHR ops team for organising the 33 to stand in for the Scot at the last second and for fixing the problem with 46100 so quickly. And also credit to the crews for getting trains up to speed quickly when the timetable began to slip this afternoon...

My first shot from today... 46100 climbing past Grosvenor Road this evening. The sun is in the wrong place for this shot (it's an early morning shot), but being both out of time and imagination, it was the best we could come up with!



James

 

Spent the day mostly around Ropley and Alresford today with a bit of time at Medstead, it was nice to see the loading dock open to visitors! Full credit to the MHR team for sorting the problems with 46100 this morning (apparently it was reverser issues), the imaginative timetable worked well with the freights and Pines Express all being seriously impressive! Anyway, a few photos from today, I included one of the 08 hauled train, despite the apparent lack of interest from the majority I must say I approve of the occasional unusual working such as this one...

 

Another excellent day today despite the problems with the Scot in the morning. High praise to the folks at Ropley who sorted her out and got her back into the swing of things. Looked very much like a reverser problem. My picture shows a part removed for attention:
Had some good trips up the banks again today: 41312 was very lively on the first train out of Alton. A great start to the day. The Pines Express didn't disappoint again. I haven't heard 92212 make that much noise for a long time and the acceleration out of both Alresford and Ropley brought wide grins to the faces of most of the passengers. A terrific show from the footplate crews on both Standards. I hope the long formation non-stop services become a regular fixture at future Galas i.e. 76017 on the front of a Bulleid Pacific with the Bournemouth Belle at the End of Southern Steam Gala next year....
The "Hosking Special" from Alton with 46100 at the business end and 92212 banking was also impressive with 46100 making a bit more noise than she did yesterday. Finished the day off by watching the impressive shunting movements at Alresford with 76017, the QMB and the freight train before travelling on the last train from Alresford behind 76017 which was on good form.

In between travelling today we spent our time looking at the stalls and bought some great books from the Wagon group stand at Medstead.
Thanks again to everyone involved at the MHR and the visiting Loco support folks for a superb event.


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Can only echo the sentiments above, a superb gala and credit to everyone for pulling out the stops when things could have gone haywire!

More photos can be found at https://railwaygalleries.smugmug.com/MidHants/Autumn-Steam-Gala-October-2016/. A small sample can be found below, with a video to come at some point (probably tomorrow).

 

Something with a high-ish pitched whistle (not an LMS hooter and not a shrill Schools "peeper") was in steam in Ropley yard yesterday when The Pines roared through. I was on the hill behind "the shack" and heard the enthusiastic exchange of whistles. Do I see whisps of smoke from 53809's chimney in A1X's picture, above? Could it be that the steam leak discovered on Thursday is not as bad as feared?

 

It was in the same state on the Friday and managed a whistle or two as well.