MHR Restorations and Overhauls

That AA van got around, I saw it in the top field in the morning looking to working on one of the Jeeps

EDIT: Just saw GreenFives post in the other thread

 

The war on the line was a brilliant event and one of the best days I had on the line. Took my 2 kids along and they both enjoyed it. A big thank you goes out to the fireman on the Black 5 on the first trip out of Alresford this morning and the signal woman at Alresford who both took the time to explain and show things to my 5 year old daughter who was amazed by it all. She is already asking to go the Thomas event in August I think the steam bug might have bitten

 

Now that I've been fed & watered.

What a crazy day today has been!

Came down for WOTL today - but was not alone......... Had the Mrs, a mate of hers & her two teenage kids.......... so what do you do to keep that lot entertained - given they are Polish, and have never experienced a heritage line?......... you get them on the footplate of the Black 5, and then a visit to Alresford Box - so a big Thank you, to Phil & Matt of the footplate for explaining how a steam loco works, and to Steve Crowther for having the patience to explain how a signal box functions to two "rabbit in the headlight" kids!

And that was just the start of the day......... I got the Mrs's mate to window hang between Ropley & M4M & video the Black 5 pounding up the bank - she loved every minute of it!

After that it was off to the Dene Rally, then back to Ropley for the air display, via partly finishing a round trip on the line by going from M4M to Alton & down to Ropley..... visit yard & carriage workshop, see & mingle with the re enactors, then the air display, and after that........... back to Alresford and off to Weir House to catch the grand final at Alresford Duck Races (Thanks Steve for putting that idea in my head! )

As far as photo's go today - I hardly took any of the loco's - more of the goings on - but the one person who really F'd me off was the "press" photter shooing people out of his "perfect" shots, but having the temerity to just walk though others, including mine - next year pal, I wont move out of your shot!!

So, a very long but enjoyable day, and a very big thank you, from my guests, to one and all who managed to keep four mad Polak's well and truly entertained!

Finally, one shot the "Pap" couldn't get in the way of - its just a quick edit, but I like it already!

 

Call your self a photographer? You're holding your camera upside down, mate...

Tom

 

Great minds ;-)

That Spitfire and Hurricane put on a great show

 

Pilot was an Aussie, apparently............

 

So close & we never met!

 

Wadebridge has evidently had her injectors seen to as she was out last night on the Watercress Belle (Nellie was rostered last week, so presumably Wadebridge was worked on after WOTL).
Nellie was once again in fine form last night on the RAT
It was good to see 37324 running last night on the ECS moves (I seem to recall some kind of gremlin with 37324 recently).

A few shots from Ropley yard last night.

Nellie being prepared for her night's work:

Lord Nelson Class 850 Lord Nelson by Tim White, on Flickr

Wadebridge having just been coaled up, alongside a cold Black 5

LMS Black 5 45379 & Bulleid West Country 34007 Wadebridge by Tim White, on Flickr

37324 returning to the Ropley head shunt:

BR Class 37 37324 by Tim White, on Flickr

Gratuitous Black 5 shot (with Nellie & the 37 in the background)

LMS Black 5 45379 by Tim White, on Flickr

Really rubbish shot of Bittern at rest

Gresley A4 4464 Bittern by Tim White, on Flickr

 

Popped over for the Thumper and Wadebridge today - bit more Bulleid than DEMU in the end after 1125's problems, but an ace day nevertheless. Didn't spend much time with Nelson today as I had several trips with it when visiting for Lion the other week.

Question that I'd be grateful if any knowledgeable Mid-Hants people can answer: 08377 spent a lot of the day shuffling between the platform and headshunt at Ropley with the maroon Mk1 and the Toad brake van and a lot of people in hi-vis in the brake van. What was going on there? Looked unusual and interesting. The 08 seemed to set off for Alresford at the end of the day with that rake too.

Seemed a challenging day for the line operationally with the Thumper's troubles and some other delays, but the final arrival in Alton wasn't too late and the guards were keeping people informed well.

I've ended up at least tripling my MHR visits this year due to the lack of the diesel gala - going to a running day each for Lion, DEMU and the 37 trio as I can't get them all at once on gala day, and to do my bit to prove that there is an appetite for heritage diesels up that brilliant hill. Enjoyed the visits a lot so far, back for a 37 in September and then the steam gala too.

 

I believe there was a Cl 37 diesel pay and play last Friday. Not sure if there will be any more though.

Maybe there should be some more to cater for the heritage diesel lovers.

 

Wadebridge on the Belle last night
Wadebridge on the Watercress Belle by Arle Images, on Flickr

 

God you have produced some stunning photos over the years

 

Some stunning photos, yes, but calling him God is probably taking it a bit far!

(It is a cracker, BTW)

Tom

 

We were passing out a new cadre of Porter/Guards. They each had to take charge of the train as it was propelled from the yard into the station, and when the examiner made the call, drop the brake handle. As each one finished the practical test, they were sent off to do a theory test. Those that passed can now be rostered for Toad rides during Thomas, and so on. I was Ropley signalman yesterday. It was a busy day in the box with, as you say, Hammie's problems mid afternoon and then Nellie running out of coal. I'm told the crew helped themselves to the coal on the cranes at Alton to get enough to get back up the hill!

 

That's a bit dumb - someone forget to coal her?.................

Still, the spectacle of the crew running back and forth at Alton would have provided some entertainment, given the cranes aren't always near the running line & the 16T mineral wagon is generally in No,3 road - !
parallels with the Titfield Thunderbolt spring to mind!

 

Thanks for the info Steamage, much appreciated. And I also now understand why one of the volunteers was carrying a lump of coal around at Medstead as Wadebridge was waiting for Nelson on the delayed last down train ready for some banter with Nelson's crew...

 

If anyone's interested, the 9F returned today, and unless the trailer was turned - could well be facing London.

Where's @Hampshire Unit when you need him?.........

 

Any idea what will be out and about over the weekend? Doing the IoW one day, but might stretch to a 2 railway weekend in celebration of Summer arriving at last!

 

According to the website, the Hampshire Unit is out to play as well as the vintage bus shuttle to Chawton from Alton, on Sunday.

As for what steam is rostered - check the website Thurs/Fri......

 

Been very busy, had a couple of clients fall this week, and the hot weather is not so good for those of more advanced years......might get out Saturday night, though have the "on-call" phone over the weekend, so can't stray too far into the areas of no phone signal around the MHR!