Mid Hants and lovely winter light!

Managed to get over to the MHR yesterday afternoon, great to see 73096 and 34007 in action.

Something equally nice which I take for granted is the nice uniform sets of stock. Can't beat seeing a Bulleid on 5 green coaches! Recent visits to the GC have revealed some really messy mixed coach rakes.

The light was absolutely killer yesterday, lets hope it holds.

Happy Xmas to all.

 

fantastic photos =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

 

Great pictures Matt. =D> You were brave as well as it was freezing in the afternoon when we went for a walk around Alresford. We were on the Std 5 train and my Father said he saw "that photographer with the pony tail!"
Nice to see Wadebridge in good Volcanic form. We had hoped to get on her service but in the end we got to Alresford later than expected.
I understand 34007 had a bit of trouble with the climb to Medstead from Alton again yesterday and had to be rescued by 73096. 73096 had a bit of trouble on Boxing Day on the bank from Alton and slipped several times nearing the summit.

A few pictures from Boxing Day. Nothing fancy on the railway side but managed to get the sun going down in the lanes around Alresford:[attachment=2:121ceolr]std wade pass boxing day.JPG[/attachment:121ceolr][attachment=1:121ceolr]std5 alres box day.JPG[/attachment:121ceolr][attachment=0:121ceolr]alresford walk boxing day.JPG[/attachment:121ceolr]

 

Firstly I'm pretty sure we had 6 on, And I think I'm to blame for the colour out the chimney on this one \/

 

Ah good point.

In which case you are to be applauded! You can imagine I was very happy with clag like that, many thanks.

 

I'm just glad you got some good shots, I think if we can help photographers then we should, like today on 73096 a guy came up to me at medstead and asked me to blow off at a certain point for effect so I saw them and the loco blew off, almost as if I planned it it was perfectly in time :-k

Man and Machine working in one? =P~

 

Great stuff, you must let me know when you're firing!

 

Why do you want clag in a photo?

 

Very nice photographs as usual, Matt.

The GCR have certainly gone downhill as far as coaching sets are concerned. A mixture of stock including southern green at the rear seems to appear every time I visit. Is there a southern engine running on the line at present? <BJ>

 

"BR-pimped" Sir Lamiel when not on main line adventures and up to October, SR 850 - Lord Nelson.

 

Getting back to the MHR does anyone know which loco is rostered for New years Day and the weekend services alongside the DMU? My plans for New Years Day were cancelled this morning due to illness. I now have a chance to get some photography in if the weather is okay. I'm hoping #34007 will be in action but I guess it will be #73096. Or will #60019 be in action? The MHR downloadable roster only goes up to 31st December.

 

Quite! A nice clean exhaust is a sign of efficient firing, but difficult to achieve consistently.

 

Could just be becuse it looks good in photos and shows an engine working .......

But new years day i THINK is the standard as sunday just gone was wadebridges final day for a while till its anual exam sometime soon but dont hold me to it.

 

The Standard is running New Years Day as Mitch said 34007 is now stopped for its annual.
And with only dust in the tender its fun to make smoke like that 8-[

 

gee that Spam is dirty......dont change a thing!

 

I truely am a super-third!! (or cleaner as more commonly known)

 

Go on, how does it shows the engine is working because the smoke is black?

This is no criticism of 73096's firing. I am just curious why the photographer thinks clag makes a better photo.

 

I would, I've seen his firing!!

 

Matt,

The picture of 34007 climbing Medstead Bank looks pretty impressive, but where was it taken from? I hev found very few locations accessible to the general public in that area, especially south of the line. There is a field that runs parallel to the line for some distance where the railway runs quite near the dual carriageway bit of the A31 and there are one or two places where the vegetation is not too rampant. However, the farmer seemed none too pleased to see me when I tried to take a photo in that area a year or so ago.

 

The farmer is not the happiest of chaps. On Sunday he spent the afternoon racing across the field in his Land Rover to tell a few lads that they were tresspassing. Then he came towards me and parked about 15 metres away. I was stood on a set of steps next to the fence but just inside his field. He shouted to me but I couldn't hear so I walked across to him. He then told me that I had walked across his field and should have asked permission before doing so. I asked where I should obtain permission and he said that it was at the local farm. Due to the fact that I live ninety miles from the Mid-Hants I don't know of every farm or farmer in the district. I did stay calm and was polite (it comes with old age) but I believe that particular farmer has a serious problem ....and it has nothing to do with a few lads standing in his field.

Happy new year to you all. \/ <BJ>