Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

Ahem! Don't think the folks at Bridgnorth would be happy you've taken their new toy before they've had a chance to play with it! (75069) don't you mean 75079? Pedant mode off now, very unexpected but interesting news did not see that one coming at all.

 

Someone had better increase Green fives medication if this news is true then it will make a few peoples day

 

Oops. Knew I had a pair of glasses for a reason! Should have obviously said 75079!

 

Whoops! Even I cocked up, 75078's at Keighley!

 

well why not go for the entire set what standards will likily to be in steam in say 3 years time? std 3 tank duke of gloucester, britainia? 73096,75069 75079 76017 , 92212 your not quite standard steam gala

 

It will be interesting to see what work has been done on 73096 , if any, i heard she was stripped down at Southall, and that some work had been done, but as ever no official word, the bottom end was done half way through her last ticket wasnt it? the boiler also was said to have been overhauled to a high standard when it had the overhaul last time , i'm assuming its going to come by road or is it still on the tops list and capable of being towed rods down ?

 

Bloody brilliant news!!!

 

I'm surprised you posted this on the forum.

 

So am I but so glad he did!

It is VERY positive news for the MHR. They get a loco into their fleet that is both known and liked and at the same time get amicable closure to one of the lines more unpleasant periods. Thumbs up to all at the MHR for such a positive outcome.

 

Do you want to get off that fence and say what you actually think

Tom

 

I checked before I posted. I understand it's in the public domain as of today and already the subject of public discussion elsewhere. May I ask why you're surprised?

 

Actually this was discussed at the recent AGM of the MHRPS.....not a done deal at that point but certainly a reasonable chance that 7309 would return as an MHR loco. Well done indeed to the board for negotiating a deal that provides closure on an unpleasant period. I wonder if 73096 will make a comeback as 73080 "Merlin", which is how it appeared back in the late 90's!! I remember seeing it in this guise at Alresford fresh out of the shops.
80150 on the Alton set and 73096 (or 73080) on the Alresford set...perfect!

Morning Train for Templecombe by Arle Images, on Flickr

 

Congratulations to the Mid-Hants on this - a very wise Railway that realises the value of owning a sizeable fleet of useful locomotives!

Steven

 

Nurse nurse

 

I wont add much, except to say that the statement is completely true.

With this addition we have a fleet which very accurately represents the final years of steam on the Southern. The "MHR/MHRPS" now wholly owns 7 locomotives, part owns 2 more, and there are 7 more locomotives with a long term affiliation to the railway. This is a comparatively secure position that has been built over many years. 3 of the wholly owned fleet are already under overhaul / restoration at present.

 

All we now need is a nice big new shed to keep all these locos in.

 

If you take the innards out of 34007, you can probably get the Ivatt nicely under shelter inside the casing.

Tom (innovative undercover storage solutions designed while you wait...)

 

The news of the returning of 73096 has got to be the most unlikiest news of 2017 not in anyones wildest dreams would they have thought it possible, that John Bunch would even contemplate talking to the MHRPS, let alone agreeing the sale of the engine, As a former member of the loco debt i have fond memories of this engine

 

Hardly! As @Hampshire Unit has already mentioned, the possibility was discussed at the MHRPS AGM several weeks ago. It's no more surprising than the rapprochement with the owners of 76017 and 34105 and a few other things that have happened over the years. People move on, priorities change, hatchets can sometimes be buried. It may not have been in your wildest dreams, but that's a different matter... ;-)

 

As you have probably guessed I am over the moon with the news of 73096 being bought by the MHR.
The last time I travelled behind her over the MHR I genuinely had a tear in the eye knowing that this would be the last time I would see and hear this fine Loco at work over the Alps.
I was reminded earlier this year of what we were missing at the MHR when I travelled behind sister loco 73082 at the Bluebell during the excellent Scotsman event.
A superbly turned out loco in top form on a lengthy train was the highlight of my day at the Bluebell. How I wished we still had a BR Five at Ropley..............

What a turn of events though. I never thought it would be sold to the MHR. Nice to see that we can all put the troubles of the past to bed at last.
Now, when will I be able to capture a scene like this again?