Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

Very sad news. Remember Barry from those early years. Last time I saw him must have been 10 years ago now, still beavering away under a locomotive down at Minehead. RIP

 

Heck, I almost forgot.....

My Ropley Spy informs me there's a Urie Blog due to go up on the MHR website....... apparently it contains some information therein, that folks are either going to like or loathe!

Don't ask me what it is, as he's not telling, so you'll just have to read it....

 

A clever engineer to say the least and it was a real pleasure to work with him on Lord Nelson as well as the odd occasion at Lakeside in Eastleigh, the two Merchant Navy loco's are a real credit to him and Jesse. I always enjoyed catching up with him and his dry sense of humour, he was a real character and his experience and knowledge will be a great loss.

 

The 9F, the Standard 4 and 47579 were in action today. Here's my take on what was a very dull day, with one very brief glimpse of the sun. All taken from publicly accessible areas.

 

Looks like the S15 is coming along nicely.....

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Thats only the tender!

 

Yep, I know that but you beat me to posting some other images tweeted by Heritage painting this week:

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Great stuff! Really looking forward to seeing the S15 back.

 

Looking good! Also surprising, as I thought she was going to be in BR black...

 

The plan is for her to go into BR black later in the ticket, so I believe (open to correction if someone more knowledgeable than me is aware of a change of plan.) 828 will return in SR livery and 499 will be restored to LSWR condition and livery.

 

According to my Ropley Spy, you are correct - she's currently being out shopped in Southern wartime black & 499 will be in LSWR holly green replete with Stovepipe chimney.

There is no time frame as to when 506 will go into BR black, as I'm sure they'll want to run the two together....... (They were in the process of overhauling 499's cylinder blocks today)

Soooooo if you want to see 499 join the party sooner rather than later, they would love to see more folks join the society & would be more than overjoyed if some showed the same generosity as @domeyhead & join the 499 club so that they can contract work out to get 499 up & running a lot sooner!!

Then I guess after running 499 & 506 for a while in pre BR livery 506 will then go into BR black......

 

Meanwhile, atop the hill. the gunpowder van got some serious TLC this weekend......

Close of play Saturday.



Close of play Sunday - most into undercoat & at least half into 2nd coat - by which time I had melted after two days being baked in the sun!

 

Out of interest is there any more news on the 506 front?

I'm wondering if I mightn't get a chance to see it on Sunday.

 

It will be ready when it’s ready and not before.

 

Indeed. I’ve never understood the reason why people feel the need to give such a sneery patronising response to a straightforward question ‘is there anymore news’. I mean how dare someone ask how a project is going and a project that has been discussed in this thread? Last we heard the brick arch was going in - so it doesn’t seem to be too outlandish to ask if anyone has any further news.

 

What a disappointing response. I wonder if it would be the same if a group or the railway were asking for financial support. <BJ>

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Last I saw, which was almost two weeks ago.......

More bits are on the backhead & some fettling was going on with the tender & the paint job is coming along nicely, which I'm guessing is now done.....

So she will look & sound the mutts nuts when she's back, as for when that will be - be patient!

 

Ah a more positive response, thank you.

 

I don't think the initial response was actually from the Mid Hants management or the ULS though...
Anyway, the steam crane was out today, now that a certain "Really Useful Engine" has returned to the island of Sodor, and performed a bogie transplant on the coach that has been sitting at the end of my garden all winter. All went well and now, complete with the correct number of wheels, the coach has toddled off to rejoin the running fleet. Its always a pleasure to see the crane in action, and it sounds interesting too!
Real Ale Trains recommence on the 4th May (so it will probably snow) and May 5th is a Hampshire Unit running day. 1125 performed well over the Thomas event, running hourly shuttles from Alresford to Ropley. May 19th sees more shuttling, as it is the annual Watercress Festival in Alresford

The lineside views are improving too as the flail has been in action plus various volunteers (including myself) have been out with saws and loppers removing some of the bigger stuff.