Mid Hants and lovely winter light!

Mixed liveried rakes were not unusual in BR days so it's certainly prototypical for the GCR and others to run them in this day and age. Yes, a uniform rake looks nice but IMHO it's not the be all and end all.

 

Whilst I admit to having stood in that field - post harvest so I wasn't trampling on any crops (but that's no excuse), I do have some sympathy with the farmer. It is his land after all and the OS maps show no rights of way across it and he uses it for crops not grass land. I'm not sure too many people on here would be sympathetic to finding someone in their back garden trampling down their veg just because there is a steam railway at the end of the garden.

 

Did I mention any of us damaging crops? :-k <BJ>

 

nope the point I was making was generic not aimed at anyone in particular.

 

I'm certain that the photograph of 34007 was taken from the boundary of the field/railway that I was next to at the weekend. The other side of the railway is Chawton Park Woods. The field in question has only grass planted. Are you sure that you are talking about the same location? <BJ>

 

It really is a criticism to 73096's firing ,,,,he thinks his a super third ...oh dear ....i should have him know im the super third

But no , it shows an engine is working just becuse you can see the exsust being chucked up into the air instead of just floating round the front of the engine ...plus i find it just adds some more interest to a photo . either way , well done to Matt for a brilliant photo .

 

Thanks for the info guys. I might come down in the afternoon as I won't be up early tommorrow!

 

Nope - but the field I have been told the farmer gets upset about is the one between the dual carriage way and the railway, which fits a description used by someone above.

Doesn't negate the fact that its his land and he can ask you to leave if he feels so inclined.

.

 

Wow, lots of points to answer!

Mixed rakes - no problem with mixed rakes in general but when it's every colour under the sun with an engine that doesn't match then I'm not the biggest fan. I understand for the travelling punter it makes little odds, I was just talking from my photographic point of view (we always want everything perfect!).

Clag - Simply because it looks better photographically. If you go on a photo charter the crew are normally asked to produce some serious clag for the odd run past.

Unhappy farmer - not met him before. Luckily I have a lineside pass so can walk down the track. There's no crops in the field it's only used for sheep, but its his field I guess. The lineside vegetation is quite heavy in places, so your spot needs to be picked carefully.

Happy NY everyone.

 

And you know my firings better!

After all I am THE Super-Third and Small Prairie you wouldn't know a super-third if it hit you in the face!! =;

 

I once had a shovle hit me in the face if that counts?

 

Surely making the loco blow off is not good boiler practice and must be detrimental to the boiler and the safety valves. I can’t see the boiler department being very happy about this sort of think going on.
:-k :-k :-k :-k

 

But surely if the safty valves were being damaged by blowing off then the safty valves arnt up for the job and if its bad for the boilor , then surly so is running with black smoke as its cooling parts of the box down ?

 

Just general bad management - You could say the same for letting the boiler cool down and then lighting the box up again for a days running? ](*,)
There is a post from last year about checking and setting of the safety valves and when you have engines running into areas where there are lots of homes etc, they don't like to hear more than they have to........

 

Some years ago before I came off the foot plate I was told not to let the safety values to blow off. I asked my drive/fireman why I shouldn’t let the loco blow off and he replied by saying that you are putting the boiler under unnecessarily strain and the springs in the values will become weaker over time. Maybe I’m wrong about this or I have been given wrong information in the past. Am I right about this or not please can someone tell me.

Thanks

 

If you don't try and help people then its not a good impression on the railway.
I asked my driver and he agreed, so i don't see a problem. You're meant to test your valves every so often anyway so i was just checking they work

 

What's the trick? I would love a lineside pass for the MHR. I used to have one but it was withdrawn along with (so I thought) everyone else's about four years ago due to an incident at a diesel gala at which I was not present. I wrote to Colin Chambers and was sent a reply saying they don't do lineside passes and don't plan to change their policy in the foreseeable future.

How did you get one? I would love to know. Are you a volunteer on the MHR? The Bluebell are more relaxed about permits (I have had one since about 1980) and although Swanage doesn't do permits, there are plenty of good accessible locations. The Mid-Hants, however, is pretty tough photographcially without one.

 

Maybe the fact that Matt has published a photographic book about the MHR has something to do with it. I know there are a number of "official photographer" permits still valid but they
certainly aren't available to one and all.

 

Once again someone blames the diesel gala for the line side permits being taken away. Sorry you are wrong it was the Branch line weekend that this incident happened. I've copied the letter that was put on the web site some time ago for you.

14th May 2004: LINESIDE PHOTOGRAPHIC PERMITS
It is with much regret that the Mid Hants Railway have taken the decision to withdraw this facility, but following untoward incidents at the recent Branch Line Event, the whole ethos of Lineside Photographic Permits has been called into question.
Since the Railway first put permits on sale in December 1983 much has changed, especially with regard to the safety of personnel who need to be On or About the Line. MHR staff are required to comply with the Railway’s Safety Case, which calls for ALL personnel who are required to be On or About the Line to comply with the following conditions:
1. They have to be medically fit, especially vision and hearing, and sign an undertaking to that effect
2. They are required to undertake a training course
3. They have to pass written and practical tests
4. They must wear approved high visibility garments
5. They must carry their identification certified at all times
6. They must undertake a retest every two years
With all that in mind the decision has been taken that the sale and use of Lineside Photographic Permits be withdrawn WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT
PLEASE NOTE THAT COMMENCING FORTHWITH LINESIDE PHOTOGRAPHIC PERMITS HAVE NO VALIDITY ON THE MID HANTS RAILWAY
Photography from stations is unaffected provided the person concerned holds a valid ticket or authority issued by the Railway.
P.Hawley
Superintendent of Operations

 

Well, perhaps over time the springs would become weaker, but the valve could be adjusted and the spring eventually replaced as with any other 'consumable' part. The real reason blowing off is discouraged is the sheer waste of it. It is a huge amount of energy needed to open the valves and to hold them open whilst your hard gained steam pressure exits to the atmosphere without doing any productive work. That energy comes from the coal that YOU have shovelled so save your own back and shovel less!