Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

It seems that October is the 110th. birthday since the first Pines Expresses ran so that is, presumably, the reason for the Gala. I hope it happens, even if I cannot make it in person there will be good videos and photos I am sure.

 

I was wondering how the MHR was going to fill what looked to me like a loco shortage pending the completion of 34105 and/or 35005. Well, 53808 is something of a coup and I for one very much hope to make it over to the Watercress line to enjoy it in action over the next year or so. Fantastic news. I would expect that one of our regular posters on this thread who works on the wagons will be thrilled at the thought of 53808 coupling up to the MHR's impressive goods train at some point, hopefully in the not-too distant future.

 

The big question will be which way round will 53808 arrive and will there be a freight photo charter?

 

just the one charter? it's a good job the MHR don't have hang up's with engines from a foreign region , but saying that, the S&D went to Bournemouth, so not so foreign , but its worthy of note that at some point engines of every region have been visitors to Ropley , Castles, Halls, 52 tanks, A4'S A3, A1, Black 5, Jubilee, ivatt 4, and thats just the ones I remember,

 

As far as I can tell, the MHR has 41312, 76017, 30923, & 30506 available for what is normally a 2-train service with loads likely to be limited for the remainder of this season. I'm a bit surprised, therefore, that with three more locos in their pipeline (35005, 34105 and 30499) they are in a position to offer a meaningful level of work to 53808. I'd have thought they'd want to be giving priority to their home-based fleet, at leas until the post-Covid world returns to normal.

 

Let alone another S&D 7F. Great news that 53809 is going to the MHR as well as 53808.

 

Here is a taster of things to come. A shot I took of 7F 88 in her Blue livery at Medstead during her brief visit in 2010. Can't wait to see and hear her in action over the Hampshire Alps again


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Locos "in the pipeline" will all have been delayed by COVID based restrictions on volunteering and permanent staff furloughing, In addition, not all volunteers will (have) return(ed) immediatelt as there is still a pandemic out there, even though our glorious leader Mr Johnson, says it will all be over by Christmas

 

Yes. I would think that 2022 is a realistic target for 35005, 34105 and possibly 30499 at the very end of that year.

 

*Pedant mode on.* Surely you mean 506 and 499 rather than 30506 and 30499! *Pedant mode off.*

I hadn’t realised that 499 was only a year or two away from completion. Looking forward to seeing a S15 in LSWR condition and livery.

 

Offering dates for completion of overhauls is offering a hostage to fortune. (Once an engine is running predicting its withdrawal for another overhaul is less of a gamble.) But IF we can get 499 running for the centenary of the demise of the LSWR we'll be happy.
Pat

 

I have a video from Didcot in the mid 80s saying 7202 would be back in 5 years time.

 

.....and which Christmas would that be? <BJ>

 

When you take into account wash outs, and routine maintaince , even with 4 engines, its cutting it fine, all you need is one to be in bits, and another to develop a fault and your down to the bare minimum if your running a countryman, or other dining train, that's possibly 3 engines that are needed for service, so either Thomas has to be pressed into service, or one timetabled train is diesel hauled, so once things start to return to normal 53808 will be useful, I don't expect there will be many mainline excursions heading to the MHR next year,, but at least there will be a loco that can handle it, should it be required.

 

Beaming with excitement with the 7F 53808 news. Hoping a S&D gala is ran next year with some potential S&D era locomotives (73082, 30541, 45305, 92214, 53809, 34028, 34053, 34046, 45407 and 92203 all currently in service or nearly re-entering service) Or even some other types of locos classes but could be renumbered maybe. Just a thought for the future Pedantic O'meter is over. I mean I can dream but likelihood will have to wait a very long while till COVID-19 is over to run such event.

 

Finances will be stretched, so don't expect too much in the way of hired in engines for any S&D gala, most likily one visitor, and the rest home fleet

 

But i believe 53808 assisted by a couple of the home fleet engines could hold court on its own.

 

41312, STD4, 53808 sounds good. Shame no Spamcan or derivative but beggers can't be choosers.

 

plus don't forget there is still the Schools class and S15, , now i doubt the schools class ever ran services on the S&D , but it would be interesting to find out if any S15's ever worked any goods trains from Bournemouth onto the S&D .

 

not forgotten them just going with the confirmed worked over the mendips theme.